Jeremiah 16:21Therefore, behold, I will cause them to know, this once will I cause them to know my hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is Yahweh.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~605 BC. After devastating critique, God's voice thunders through Jeremiah with a promise of coming demonstration of divine power...
The emotion here: absolutely certain of God's coming vindication despite current circumstances
The original word
yāda (יָדַע) — to know by experience, not just intellectual knowledge but intimate recognition
Why it matters
The phrase 'know that I am Yahweh' appears over 70 times in Ezekiel, showing this was a major theme during the exile
Read with care
What most readers miss in Jeremiah 16:21
God says 'this once'—implying this will be such a decisive demonstration that no further proof will be needed
Common misconceptionPeople think this is about God being vengeful, but it's actually about God protecting His reputation so that future generations can trust Him—His justice serves His love.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Jeremiah 16:21
Bible Genome reading
Jeremiah 16:21 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Jeremiah 16:21 comes from the book of Jeremiah, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Yahweh. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 50% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include God's power, divine revelation. Notable phrases: my hand and my might; my name is Yahweh. This verse contains a promise of God. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same worship
“Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one:”
— Deuteronomy 6:4
“and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
— John 14:6
“Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."”
— John 8:58
Your reflection
What does Jeremiah 16:21 mean to you, today?
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