Meaning, commentary and cross references
Jeremiah 33:3
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
NIV · New International Version
‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’
WEB · World English Bible
‘Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great and difficult things, which you don’t know.’
What does Jeremiah 33:3 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto me, and I will answer thee,.... This is spoken not to Jerusalem, and the inhabitants of it; but to the prophet, encouraging him to seek the Lord by prayer, promising an answer to him. So the Targum, "pray before me, and I will receive thy prayer:'' and show thee great and mighty things; or, "fortified ones" (p); which are like fortified cities, that cannot easily be come at, unless the gates are opened to enter into; and designs such as are difficult of understanding, which exceed human belief, and which reason cannot comprehend and take in; and such are the great things of the Gospel. Some copies read it, "things reserved" (q); as the Targum; and so Jarchi, who interprets it of…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Jeremiah 33:1–9
I will show thee great and mighty things (give thee a clear and full prospect of them), hidden things, which, though in part discovered already, yet thou knowest not, thou canst not understand or give credit to. Or this may refer not only to the prediction of these things which Jeremiah, if he desire it, shall be favoured with, but to the performance of the things themselves which the people of God, encouraged by this prediction, must pray for. Note, Promises are given, not to supersede, but to quicken and encourage prayer. See Eze 36:37. 3.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Jeremiah 33:1–6
3. Clama ad me, et respondebo tibi, et annunciabo tibi res magnificas et reconditas, quas non novisti: 4. For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword; 4. Quia sic dicit Jehova, Deus Israel, super domibus urbis hujus, super domibus regum Jehudah, quae dirutae fuerunt catapultis (vel, balistis, vel, machinis aliis) et gladio, (alii autem vertunt, ad catapultas, vel, balistas, vel, alias munitiones, et ad gladium; dicemus postea de sensu: hoec omnia legenda sunt uno contextu) 5.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Jeremiah 33:1–6 (WEB)
1Moreover the LORD’s word came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still locked up in the court of the guard, saying, 2“The LORD who does it, the LORD who forms it to establish it—the LORD is his name, says: 3‘Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great and difficult things, which you don’t know.’ 4For the LORD, the God of Israel, says concerning the houses of this city and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are broken down to make a defense against the mounds and against the sword: 5‘While men come to fight with the Chaldeans, and to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have killed in my anger and in my wrath, and for all whose wickedness I have hidden my face from this city, 6behold, I will bring it health and healing, and I will cure them; and I will reveal to them abundance of peace and truth.
Cross references
- Jeremiah 29:12
You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
- Isaiah 65:24
It will happen that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
- Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
- Isaiah 48:6
You have heard it. Now see all this. And you, won’t you declare it? “I have shown you new things from this time, even hidden things, which you have not known.
- Psalms 91:15
- Luke 11:9–10
“I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you.
- Psalms 50:15
- Deuteronomy 4:29
But from there you shall seek the LORD your God, and you will find him when you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.