Jeremiah 16:21
"Therefore behold, I will inform them, and this time I will make them know My power and My might; then they will know that My name is the LORD.
“Therefore behold, I will inform them,

God announces a decisive revelation to a people who had repeatedly resisted His warnings. The coming judgment would not be accidental or merely political; it would disclose the Lord’s righteous rule over Judah and the nations.

Pro 1:23 If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely…
Amo 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan…
Ezk 33:7 As for you, O son of man, I have made you a watchman…

and this time I will make them know My power and My might;

Through the Babylonian invasion, exile, and the later preservation of a remnant, God would demonstrate that idols could neither save nor govern history. The Lord who delivered Israel from Egypt also possessed power to discipline His covenant people for their persistent idolatry and to restore them according to His promise.

Psa 77:14 You are the God who works wonders; You display Your strength…
Exo 14:31 When Israel saw the great power that the LORD had exercised…
Deu 4:34 Or has any god tried to take as his own a nation……

then they will know that My name is the LORD.

God’s purpose in judgment was that His people would recognize Him as the one true God, faithful to His holiness and His covenant. Knowing the Lord’s name meant abandoning false worship and acknowledging His authority, power, and mercy.

Ezk 36:23 I will show the holiness of My great name,…
Isa 42:8 I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory…
Psa 83:18 May they know that You alone, whose name is the LORD,…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, called by God to deliver messages of judgment and hope to the people of Judah.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal existence and faithfulness to His promises.

3. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, often the focus of Jeremiah's prophecies due to their idolatry and disobedience.

4. Babylonian Exile
The impending event where Judah would be taken captive by Babylon as a consequence of their sin, serving as a backdrop for Jeremiah's prophecies.

5. Idolatry
The worship of false gods, a recurring sin of the Israelites that led to their judgment and exile.
Teaching Points
God's Revelation of Himself
God desires to make Himself known to His people, often through acts of power and might. This revelation is both a warning and an invitation to recognize His sovereignty.

The Importance of Knowing God's Name
Knowing God's name signifies understanding His character and authority. It is crucial for believers to grasp the depth of who God is and His rightful place in their lives.

Consequences of Idolatry
The context of this verse is a warning against idolatry. Believers must guard against modern forms of idolatry, ensuring that God remains the central focus of their worship.

God's Faithfulness to His Promises
Despite the judgment, God remains faithful to His covenant. His actions are consistent with His character, providing hope for restoration and redemption.

Responding to God's Power and Might
Believers are called to respond to God's revelation with awe, worship, and obedience, recognizing His ultimate authority over all creation.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the historical context of Jeremiah 16:21 enhance our comprehension of God's message to Judah?

2. In what ways can modern believers fall into the trap of idolatry, and how can we guard against it?

3. How does the revelation of God's power and might in Jeremiah 16:21 encourage us in our personal faith journey?

4. What are some practical ways we can deepen our understanding of God's name and character in our daily lives?

5. How do the themes of judgment and hope in Jeremiah's prophecies apply to the church today, and how can we live in light of these truths?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 6:7
God promises to take the Israelites as His people and be their God, emphasizing His desire for them to know Him.

Ezekiel 20:44
God acts for the sake of His name, showing His commitment to His own glory and the knowledge of His power.

Isaiah 52:6
The LORD declares that His people will know His name, highlighting the theme of revelation and recognition of God's sovereignty.

Psalm 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God," which parallels the idea of God revealing His power and might.

Romans 1:20
Paul speaks of God's invisible qualities being clearly seen, connecting to the revelation of God's power and might.
Sin Found OutS. Conway Jeremiah 16:16-21
God-MakingJ. Parker, D. D.Jeremiah 16:19-21
Heathenism and its ProspectsG. T. Noel, M. A.Jeremiah 16:19-21
Safe from TroubleG. Swinnock.Jeremiah 16:19-21
The Confession of the Idolatrous GentilesD. Young Jeremiah 16:19-21
The Heathen Turning to the True GodA.F. Muir Jeremiah 16:19-21
What God is to His PeopleF. B. Meyer, B. A.Jeremiah 16:19-21
People
Israelites, Jeremiah
Places
Egypt, Jerusalem
Topics
Behold, Cause, Causing, Power, Reason, Teach, Truly
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 16:21

     5042   name of God, significance

Library
Some General Uses from this Useful Truth, that Christ is the Truth.
Having thus cleared up this truth, we should come to speak of the way of believers making use of him as the truth, in several cases wherein they will stand in need of him as the truth. But ere we come to the particulars, we shall first propose some general uses of this useful point. First. This point of truth serveth to discover unto us, the woful condition of such as are strangers to Christ the truth; and oh, if it were believed! For, 1. They are not yet delivered from that dreadful plague of
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

The Jews Make all Ready for the War; and Simon, the Son of Gioras, Falls to Plundering.
1. And thus were the disturbances of Galilee quieted, when, upon their ceasing to prosecute their civil dissensions, they betook themselves to make preparations for the war with the Romans. Now in Jerusalem the high priest Artanus, and do as many of the men of power as were not in the interest of the Romans, both repaired the walls, and made a great many warlike instruments, insomuch that in all parts of the city darts and all sorts of armor were upon the anvil. Although the multitude of the young
Flavius Josephus—The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem

Degrees of Sin
Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous? Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others. He that delivered me unto thee, has the greater sin.' John 19: 11. The Stoic philosophers held that all sins were equal; but this Scripture clearly holds forth that there is a gradual difference in sin; some are greater than others; some are mighty sins,' and crying sins.' Amos 5: 12; Gen 18: 21. Every sin has a voice to speak, but some
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

Healing the Centurion's Servant.
(at Capernaum.) ^A Matt. VIII. 1, 5-13; ^C Luke VII. 1-10. ^c 1 After he had ended all his sayings in the ears of the people, ^a 1 And when he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. ^c he entered into Capernaum. [Jesus proceeded from the mountain to Capernaum, which was now his home, or headquarters. The multitudes which are now mentioned for the third time were not wearied by his sermon, and so continued to follow him. Their presence showed the popularity of Jesus, and also
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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