Chapter Overview
Summary
Restoration promises and the Davidic covenant. THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS THE SINGLE MOST THEOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT LXX OMISSION IN ALL OF JEREMIAH. MT vv. 14-26 — THIRTEEN FULL VERSES containing the promise of the Righteous Branch, the perpetual Davidic covenant, the perpetual Levitical covenant, and the covenant with day and night — are ENTIRELY ABSENT from LXX. These are among the most important messianic texts in Jeremiah.
Notable Variants
LXX LACKS vv. 14-26 entirely. This is a block of 13 verses containing: (a) the Righteous Branch prophecy (vv. 14-16, paralleling 23:5-6), (b) the promise that David shall never lack a man on the throne (v. 17), (c) the promise that the Levitical priests shall never lack a man to offer (v. 18), (d) the covenant with day and night as guarantee of David's line (vv. 19-22), and (e) the affirmation that the 'two families' chosen will not be rejected (vv. 23-26). This massive omission may indicate: (1) these verses were a later MT expansion elaborating on 23:5-6, or (2) the LXX Vorlage simply lacked them. The material partially duplicates 23:5-6, which IS present in LXX, supporting the expansion theory. This is one of the most debated textual issues in all of Jeremiah.
Structural Notes
MT ch. 33 = LXX ch. 40. LXX ch. 40 has only 13 verses (= MT 33:1-13). MT 33:14-26 has NO LXX equivalent whatsoever.
The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time while he was still confined in the court of the guard:
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
This is what the LORD says — he who made it, the LORD who shaped it to establish it, whose name is the LORD:
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Call to me and I will answer you; I will tell you great and inaccessible things that you have not known.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that are torn down for siege ramps and for the sword:
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
They come to fight against the Chaldeans only to fill them with the corpses of the people whom I have struck down in my anger and my wrath — those on account of whose wickedness I have hidden my face from this city.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
I am going to bring healing and remedy to her, and I will heal them; I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and faithfulness.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and I will rebuild them as they were at the beginning.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they sinned against me, and I will forgive all their iniquities by which they sinned against me and rebelled against me.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
This city will become for me a name of joy, a praise and a splendor before all the nations of the earth, who will hear of all the good I am doing for them. They will tremble and be shaken on account of all the good and all the peace that I am bringing about for her.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
This is what the LORD says: In this place — of which you say, 'It is a ruin, without person or animal' — in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without person, without inhabitant, without animal,
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
there will again be heard the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the sound of the bridegroom and the sound of the bride, the sound of those saying, 'Give thanks to the LORD of Hosts, for the LORD is good, for his faithful love endures forever' — those bringing thanksgiving offerings to the house of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at the beginning, says the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: In this place that is desolate — without person or animal — and in all its cities, there will again be pastures for shepherds resting their flocks.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the Negev, in the land of Benjamin, in the surroundings of Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who counts them, says the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
The days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the good word that I spoke concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
Masoretic (WLC)
הִנֵּה יָמִים בָּאִים נְאֻם־יְהוָה וַהֲקִמֹתִי אֶת־הַדָּבָר הַטּוֹב אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתִּי אֶל־בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעַל־בֵּית יְהוּדָה
Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the good word which I spoke concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
Septuagint (LXX)
[absent from LXX]
[not present in LXX]
ENTIRELY ABSENT from LXX. This begins the 13-verse messianic expansion (vv. 14-26) not found in the Greek. This verse introduces the fulfillment of the 'good word' and launches the Righteous Branch prophecy.
In those days and at that time, I will cause a righteous branch to sprout for David, and he will execute justice and righteousness in the land.
Masoretic (WLC)
בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם וּבָעֵת הַהִיא אַצְמִיחַ לְדָוִד צֶמַח צְדָקָה וְעָשָׂה מִשְׁפָּט וּצְדָקָה בָּאָרֶץ
In those days and at that time I will cause a Righteous Branch to sprout for David, and He shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
Septuagint (LXX)
[absent from LXX]
[not present in LXX]
ABSENT from LXX. This is the Righteous Branch prophecy, closely paralleling 23:5. The phrase צֶמַח צְדָקָה 'Branch of Righteousness' is a key messianic title. Its absence from LXX here (while present at 23:5 in LXX) suggests this is a secondary duplication in MT.
In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is what she will be called: 'The LORD Is Our Righteousness.'
Masoretic (WLC)
בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם תִּוָּשַׁע יְהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלִַם תִּשְׁכֹּן לָבֶטַח וְזֶה אֲשֶׁר־יִקְרָא־לָהּ יְהוָה צִדְקֵנוּ
In those days Judah shall be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell safely; and this is the name by which she shall be called: 'The LORD our Righteousness.'
Septuagint (LXX)
[absent from LXX]
[not present in LXX]
ABSENT from LXX. Note the difference from 23:6 — there the Branch is named 'The LORD our Righteousness' (masculine); here JERUSALEM is given the name (feminine). This theological distinction exists only in MT.
For this is what the LORD says: David will never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel.
Masoretic (WLC)
כִּי כֹה אָמַר יְהוָה לֹא־יִכָּרֵת לְדָוִד אִישׁ יֹשֵׁב עַל־כִּסֵּא בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל
For thus says the LORD: David shall never lack a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel.
Septuagint (LXX)
[absent from LXX]
[not present in LXX]
ABSENT from LXX. The perpetual Davidic throne promise — a cornerstone of messianic theology — is not in the Greek tradition of Jeremiah 33. It IS expressed elsewhere (2 Sam 7, Ps 89, etc.).
And the Levitical priests will never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to prepare sacrifices — for all time.
Masoretic (WLC)
וְלַכֹּהֲנִים הַלְוִיִּם לֹא־יִכָּרֵת אִישׁ מִלְּפָנַי מַעֲלֶה עוֹלָה וּמַקְטִיר מִנְחָה וְעֹשֶׂה זֶבַח כָּל־הַיָּמִים
And the Levitical priests shall not lack a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices continually.
Septuagint (LXX)
[absent from LXX]
[not present in LXX]
ABSENT from LXX. The perpetual Levitical priesthood promise is paired with the Davidic promise. Both dynasties — royal and priestly — are guaranteed.
The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:
Masoretic (WLC)
וַיְהִי דְבַר־יְהוָה אֶל־יִרְמְיָהוּ לֵאמֹר
And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying:
Septuagint (LXX)
[absent from LXX]
[not present in LXX]
ABSENT from LXX.
This is what the LORD says: If you could break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time,
Masoretic (WLC)
כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה אִם־תָּפֵרוּ אֶת־בְּרִיתִי הַיּוֹם וְאֶת־בְּרִיתִי הַלָּיְלָה וּלְבִלְתִּי הֱיוֹת יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה בְּעִתָּם
Thus says the LORD: If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that there should not be day and night in their season —
Septuagint (LXX)
[absent from LXX]
[not present in LXX]
ABSENT from LXX. The 'covenant with day and night' is used as an unbreakable guarantee of the Davidic line. This cosmic-covenant argument is unique to this passage.
then also my covenant with David my servant could be broken, so that he would have no son reigning on his throne — and my covenant with the Levites, the priests who minister to me.
Masoretic (WLC)
גַּם בְּרִיתִי תֻפַר אֶת־דָּוִד עַבְדִּי מִהְיוֹת־לוֹ בֵן מֹלֵךְ עַל־כִּסְאוֹ וְאֶת־הַלְוִיִּם הַכֹּהֲנִים מְשָׁרְתָי
— then also My covenant may be broken with David My servant, so that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne, and with the Levites the priests, My ministers.
Septuagint (LXX)
[absent from LXX]
[not present in LXX]
ABSENT from LXX.
Just as the host of heaven cannot be counted and the sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David my servant and the Levites who minister to me.
Masoretic (WLC)
אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יִסָּפֵר צְבָא הַשָּׁמַיִם וְלֹא יִמַּד חוֹל הַיָּם כֵּן אַרְבֶּה אֶת־זֶרַע דָּוִד עַבְדִּי וְאֶת־הַלְוִיִּם מְשָׁרְתֵי אֹתִי
As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the sea measured, so I will multiply the seed of David My servant, and the Levites who minister to Me.
Septuagint (LXX)
[absent from LXX]
[not present in LXX]
ABSENT from LXX. The Abrahamic 'stars and sand' imagery applied to the Davidic line.
The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah:
Masoretic (WLC)
וַיְהִי דְבַר־יְהוָה אֶל־יִרְמְיָהוּ לֵאמֹר
And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying:
Septuagint (LXX)
[absent from LXX]
[not present in LXX]
ABSENT from LXX.
Have you not observed what this people are saying — 'The two families that the LORD chose, he has rejected them'? They treat my people with contempt, as if they were no longer a nation in their sight.
Masoretic (WLC)
הֲלוֹא רָאִיתָ מָה הָעָם הַזֶּה דִּבְּרוּ לֵאמֹר שְׁתֵּי הַמִּשְׁפָּחוֹת אֲשֶׁר בָּחַר יְהוָה בָּהֶם וַיִּמְאָסֵם
Have you not considered what this people have spoken, saying, 'The two families which the LORD chose — He has rejected them'?
Septuagint (LXX)
[absent from LXX]
[not present in LXX]
ABSENT from LXX. The 'two families' (royal and priestly, or Israel and Judah) are referenced by their detractors.
This is what the LORD says: If I have not established my covenant with day and night, if I have not set in place the fixed orders of heaven and earth —
Masoretic (WLC)
כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה אִם לֹא בְרִיתִי יוֹמָם וָלָיְלָה חֻקּוֹת שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ לֹא שָׂמְתִּי
Thus says the LORD: If My covenant is not with day and night, if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth —
Septuagint (LXX)
[absent from LXX]
[not present in LXX]
ABSENT from LXX.
then I would also reject the offspring of Jacob and of David my servant, so as not to take from his offspring rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them.
Masoretic (WLC)
גַּם זֶרַע יַעֲקוֹב וְדָוִד עַבְדִּי אֶמְאַס מִקַּחַת מִזַּרְעוֹ מֹשְׁלִים אֶל־זֶרַע אַבְרָהָם יִשְׂחָק וְיַעֲקֹב כִּי אָשִׁיב אֶת־שְׁבוּתָם וְרִחַמְתִּים
— then I will also reject the seed of Jacob and David My servant, so that I will not take of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore their captivity and have compassion on them.
Septuagint (LXX)
[absent from LXX]
[not present in LXX]
ABSENT from LXX. This concluding verse ties the Davidic promise to the patriarchal promises (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and ends with a restoration promise. The entire 13-verse block (14-26) is the LARGEST continuous MT-only passage in Jeremiah and one of the most significant textual differences in the entire Hebrew Bible.