Jeremiah 32:17-18a: The Great and Powerful God Shows Steadfast Love to Thousands, but Punishes Sin

Abstract

The author of Jeremiah’s prayer (Jer 32:16-25) used fixed expressions from various texts. In 32:17-18a he applied material borrowed from Jer 27:5 and Deut 5:9-10; 7:10 to portray YHWH as the great and powerful God, who shows steadfast love to thousands, but punishes sin. I will argue that this portrayal of YHWH became the guiding theme in Jeremiah’s prayer (32:16-25) and YHWH reply to the prayer (32:26-44). In the prayer, set at a time when Judah was experiencing the power of the Babylonians, YHWH’s incomparable power and his disposition to intercede testify to the fact that the prophet expected him to intervene. From YHWH’s reply to the prayer (32:26-44) it is evident that it was his incomparable power that would enable the exiles to return and to start a new life in Benjamin and Judah. The motivation for restoring his people lies solely within the realm of the initiative of the God who shows steadfast love to thousands.

Keywords

• Jeremiah’s prayer
• Jer 32:16-44
• Deut 5:9-10
• Deut 7:10
• the grace formula