But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

JEREMIAH 31:33KJV
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Jeremiah 31:33 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 31:33 mean?

Jeremiah 31:33 describes a promise God makes to the house of Israel: his teaching will become part of their inner life, and they will belong to him as his people. The verse presents this as a relationship shaped from within, not merely by words written down for people to read.

God is the speaker, as the phrase “saith the LORD” makes clear. After the contrast with the earlier agreement in verse 32, God pictures writing on hearts: the place where people think, choose, and intend.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 31:33

  • “covenant” — בְּרִית (berit): An agreement or binding commitment between parties. Here, the word names the relationship God says he will establish with Israel.
  • “law” — תּוֹרָה (torah): Teaching or instruction. The Hebrew word can cover guidance more broadly than the English word “law” might suggest.
  • “hearts” — לֵב (lev): The inner self, including thought and will. In this verse, the image reaches beyond feelings to the place where people form their intentions.

Why Jeremiah 31:33 matters

  • God takes the lead in establishing the relationship. The repeated “I will” makes God the one who acts to put his instruction within the people and claim them as his own.
  • The promise addresses a people together, not only separate individuals. God speaks to “the house of Israel” and says “they shall be my people.”
  • The promise looks toward a future time. “After those days” connects it with the coming time described in the surrounding passage, rather than presenting it as a description of Jeremiah’s present moment.