Focused Passage

Jeremiah 9:23-24

Let the One Who Boasts Boast in Knowing the LORD

The chapter moves from Jeremiah's overwhelming grief, to the LORD's exposure of a society trained in falsehood, to the refining judgment of the people, to a lament over ruined land and scattered bones, to the summoning of mourning women, to the call to reject boasting in wisdom, strength, and riches, and finally to the warning that outward circumcision without heart reality leaves Judah under judgment with the nations.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

23This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches.

24But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 23

Cross-references

Proverbs 3:5Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 1:27Classic cross-references John 17:3Classic cross-references Philippians 3:8Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 1:31Classic cross-references

Original words

This is whatכֹּ֣ה׀H3541Adverbthe LORDיְהוָ֗הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaysאָמַ֣רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularLet notאַל־H408Adverbthe wise [man]חָכָם֙H2450Adjective - masculine singularboastיִתְהַלֵּ֤לH1984Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singularin his wisdomבְּחָכְמָת֔וֹH2451Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularnorוְאַל־H408Conjunctive waw | Adverbthe strong manהַגִּבּ֖וֹרH1368Article | Adjective - masculine singular-יִתְהַלֵּ֥לH1984Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singularin his strengthבִּגְבֽוּרָת֑וֹH1369Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularnorאַל־H408Adverbthe wealthy manעָשִׁ֖ירH6223Adjective - masculine singular-יִתְהַלֵּ֥לH1984Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singularin his richesבְּעָשְׁרֽוֹ׃H6239Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

Verse 24

Cross-references

1 Chronicles 28:9Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 10:17Classic cross-references Galatians 6:14Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 1:31Classic cross-references Micah 6:8Classic cross-references

Original words

Butכִּ֣יH3588Conjunction. . .אִם־H518Conjunctionlet him who boastsיִתְהַלֵּ֣לH1984Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - third person masculine singularboastהַמִּתְהַלֵּ֗לH1984Article | Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singularin thisבְּזֹ֞אתH2063Preposition-b | Pronoun - feminine singularthat he understandsהַשְׂכֵּל֮H7919Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absoluteand knowsוְיָדֹ֣עַH3045Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteMeאוֹתִי֒H853Direct object marker | first person common singularthatכִּ֚יH3588ConjunctionIאֲנִ֣יH589Pronoun - first person common singularam the LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularwho exercisesעֹ֥שֶׂהH6213Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularloving devotionחֶ֛סֶדH2617Noun - masculine singularjusticeמִשְׁפָּ֥טH4941Noun - masculine singularand righteousnessוּצְדָקָ֖הH6666Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularon the earthבָּאָ֑רֶץH776Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singularforכִּֽי־H3588ConjunctionI delightחָפַ֖צְתִּיH2654Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularin these thingsבְאֵ֥לֶּהH428Preposition-b | Pronoun - common pluraldeclaresנְאֻם־H5002Noun - masculine singular constructthe LORDיְהוָֽה׃סH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

Cited in 1 Corinthians 1:31 and 2 Corinthians 10:17
Forms of the Hebrew chesed are translated here and in most cases throughout the Scriptures as loving devotion; the range of meaning includes love, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and mercy, as well as loyalty to a covenant.

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