But, The LORD liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.

JEREMIAH 23:8KJV
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Jeremiah 23:8 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 23:8 mean?

Jeremiah 23:8 says that the LORD is alive and will one day bring the people of Israel back from the lands where they were scattered, especially from the north, and they will live again in their own land. This verse promises a future restoration for Israel after a time of exile.

Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah during a period of great trouble, when many have been or will be taken away from their homeland because of their unfaithfulness. The verse shifts from past deliverance (like the Exodus from Egypt) to a new hope: God will gather His people from all the places they have been driven, not just from one country but from many. This is meant to reassure the people that God’s commitment to them is ongoing, even in exile.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 23:8

  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible, emphasizing God’s unique relationship and covenant with Israel.
  • "liveth" (חַי, chai): This word means "alive" or "living," highlighting that God is active and present, not distant or absent during their troubles.
  • "driven" (נָדַח, nadach): This verb means "to scatter" or "drive away," and it underscores that the exile was not random but allowed by God as part of His dealings with Israel.
  • "north" (צָפוֹן, tsafon): This refers to the direction from which many invaders came (like Babylon), but also stands for all the lands of exile, broadening the scope of the promise.

Why Jeremiah 23:8 matters

  • Jeremiah 23:8 shifts the focus from the old story of deliverance from Egypt to a new, even greater restoration, showing that God’s saving acts are not limited to the past.
  • The verse clarifies that God’s promise is not just to bring people back from one place, but from "all countries," making the restoration more complete and far-reaching.
  • In the context of Jeremiah’s warnings and judgments, this verse gives hope that exile is not the end—God’s relationship with His people continues, and He will bring them home.

Where else these words appear

“driven” Hebrew H5080 · used in 51 verses

  • Deuteronomy 4:19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
  • Nehemiah 1:9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.
  • Jeremiah 29:14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

“north” Hebrew H6828 · used in 141 verses

  • Genesis 13:14 And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:
  • 1 Chronicles 26:14 And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
  • Ezekiel 21:4 Seeing then that I will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked, therefore shall my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north: