Bible Strands
Jeremiah 33:17
For this is what the LORD says: David will never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jeremiah addresses Judah and Jerusalem, announcing national salvation and secure dwelling in Jerusalem. He delivers this oracle immediately before extending a parallel guarantee to the Levitical priesthood.
The words — The Hebrew phrase לֹא יִכָּרֵת (lo' yikkaret) literally means "will not be cut off" or "will never fail." It modifies אִישׁ (ish, "a man") and דָּוִד (David) to declare an unbroken line of royal succession.
The thread — This dynastic guarantee echoes the covenant promises in 1 Kings 2:4 and Psalm 89:29. It is later applied to the messianic figure in Luke 1:32, who is given the throne of David.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that God’s covenant commitments operate independently of human political failure. It demands an anchor in divine fidelity rather than in human stability or institutional continuity.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 2:4 and so that the LORD may fulfill His promise to me: ‘If your descendants take heed to walk faithfully before Me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’
- Psalms 89:29 I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.
- Luke 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,
- 1 Chronicles 17:11 And when your days are fulfilled and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.
- 1 Kings 8:25 Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk before Me as you have done.’
- Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.
- 2 Samuel 7:14 I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.
- 1 Chronicles 17:27 So now You have been pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever.”
- Jeremiah 35:19 this is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Jonadab son of Rechab will never fail to have a man to stand before Me.’”
- 2 Samuel 3:29 May it whirl over the head of Joab and over the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.”