Jeremiah 32:31 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 32:31 mean?

Jeremiah 32:31 says that Jerusalem has provoked God’s anger and fury ever since it was built, leading God to decide to remove the city from His presence. The verse highlights a long history of the city’s actions causing deep offense to God, not just a single event.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah, explaining why Jerusalem is facing destruction. The context is the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, and God is making it clear that the city’s persistent disobedience and wrongdoing over many generations have led to this moment of judgment.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 32:31

• "City" (עִיר, ʿir): This word refers specifically to Jerusalem in this context, emphasizing that the focus is not just on individuals but on the entire community and its history.
• "Anger" (אַף, ʾaf) and "fury" (חֵמָה, ḥemah): These words together stress the intensity of God’s emotional response. "Anger" often carries the sense of a flaring of the nostrils, while "fury" adds the idea of burning heat, showing a deep, ongoing offense.
• "Remove" (סוּר, sur): This word means to turn aside or take away. Here, it conveys the idea of God deciding to distance Himself from the city, not just punishing but withdrawing His presence.
• "Face" (פָּנִים, panim): In Hebrew, “face” often means presence. Saying God will remove the city from before His face means He will no longer look upon it with favor or protection.

Why Jeremiah 32:31 matters

• This verse clarifies that Jerusalem’s coming destruction is not a sudden reaction but the result of a long history of rebellion, correcting any idea that God’s judgment is impulsive.
• The language shows that God’s relationship with the city is personal and deeply affected by the people’s choices, not distant or mechanical.
• Understanding the original words for “anger,” “fury,” and “face” helps readers see the seriousness of the situation: it’s about God’s presence being withdrawn, not just physical punishment.