I appreciate Mike Ratliff’s desire in this post (which sounds like a new series) wanting to focus on what the Scriptures actually say. I think he has said it well. I had a few observations…
- The way the passage is introduced with the command to write it down to Jeremiah, and that it’s about the future goes a long way to confirm it’s beyond current events in Jeremiah’s own time.
- Jer 30:1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Jer 30:2 Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. - This read much like the Revelation made to John.
- Rev 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
- Rev 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
- Timing is mysterious…John is told about its shortness, i.e. it’s beginning, but also it’s future sense which we know is now 2,000 years this the time of Christ’s Resurrection and it’s 2,600 years since Jeremiah’s time.
- Rev 1:1-3 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
I had to laugh reading this verse, I’m sure I’ve read it many times in my annual reading through the Bible. But it sure sounded like questions I’ve heard in the news from many of the recent congressional hearings, when “experts” are asked to define what is a woman or a man……
Jer 30:6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
Jeremiah 30:6 – Old John Gill
Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child?…. Look into the histories of former times, inquire of those most versed in them, whether ever there was such a thing in the world as that a man should travail with child; ask one and, another you see in distress, whether that is their case or not, which looks so much like it; and since there never was such an instance, nor is it possible that there should:
BTW. John Gill’s commentary might be a good one to read and reflect on when studying this passage…he wrote it in the mid 1700’s and it’s got its own interesting perspective.
As for the Abrahamic Covenant if one wants to study up on that a bit, the pastor at the small Reformed Church where I’m on Sabbatical attending has been preaching on all the Covenants. Back a month ago, he taught two sermons on Abraham.
Covenant of Promise
February 22, 2026
Covenant of Circumcision
March 1, 2026
The discussion in John 8 of Jesus and the Jewish Leaders is also important in understanding our interpretation of this.
The Truth Will Set You Free
Jhn 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Jhn 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
Jhn 8:33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Jhn 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Jhn 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Jhn 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Jhn 8:37 I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.
Jhn 8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.
You Are of Your Father the Devil
Jhn 8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
Jhn 8:40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
Jhn 8:41 Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
Jhn 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Jhn 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.
Jhn 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Jhn 8:45 And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.
Jhn 8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
Jhn 8:47 He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
Before Abraham Was, I Am
Jhn 8:48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
Jhn 8:49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
Jhn 8:50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
Jhn 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
Jhn 8:52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
Jhn 8:53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
Jhn 8:54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
Jhn 8:55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
Jhn 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
Jhn 8:57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
Jhn 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Jhn 8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
Rainbow Trout 