Jeremiah 32:18
New International Version
You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the parents’ sins into the laps of their children after them. Great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD Almighty,

New Living Translation
You show unfailing love to thousands, but you also bring the consequences of one generation’s sin upon the next. You are the great and powerful God, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

English Standard Version
You show steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts,

Berean Standard Bible
You show loving devotion to thousands but lay the iniquity of the fathers into the laps of their children after them, O great and mighty God whose name is the LORD of Hosts,

King James Bible
Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,

New King James Version
You show lovingkindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them—the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the LORD of hosts.

New American Standard Bible
who shows mercy to thousands, but repays the wrongdoing of fathers into the laps of their children after them, great and mighty God. The LORD of armies is His name;

NASB 1995
who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. The LORD of hosts is His name;

NASB 1977
who showest lovingkindness to thousands, but repayest the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. The LORD of hosts is His name;

Legacy Standard Bible
who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. Yahweh of hosts is His name,

Amplified Bible
You who show lovingkindness to thousands, but repay the wickedness (sin, guilt) of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them [that is, calling the children to account for the sins of their fathers], O great and mighty God; the LORD of hosts is His name;

Christian Standard Bible
You show faithful love to thousands but lay the fathers’ iniquity on their sons’ laps after them, great and mighty God whose name is the LORD of Armies,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
You show faithful love to thousands but lay the fathers’ sins on their sons’ laps after them, great and mighty God whose name is Yahweh of Hosts,

American Standard Version
who showest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them; the great, the mighty God, Jehovah of hosts is his name;

Contemporary English Version
You show kindness for a thousand generations, but you also punish people for the sins of their parents. You are the LORD All-Powerful.

English Revised Version
which shewest mercy unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the great, the mighty God, the LORD of hosts is his name:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
You show mercy to thousands of generations. However, you punish children for the wickedness of their parents. You, God, are great and mighty. Your name is the LORD of Armies.

Good News Translation
You have shown constant love to thousands, but you also punish people for the sins of their parents. You are a great and powerful God; you are the LORD Almighty.

International Standard Version
You, the great God, the mighty one, show gracious love to thousands and repay the parents' iniquity to their children after them. The LORD of the Heavenly Armies is his name.

Majority Standard Bible
You show loving devotion to thousands but lay the iniquity of the fathers into the laps of their children after them, O great and mighty God whose name is the LORD of Hosts,

NET Bible
You show unfailing love to thousands. But you also punish children for the sins of their parents. You are the great and powerful God who is known as the LORD who rules over all.

New Heart English Bible
who show loving kindness to thousands, and recompense the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them; the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts is his name;

Webster's Bible Translation
Thou showest loving-kindness to thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, JEHOVAH of hosts, is his name,

World English Bible
You show loving kindness to thousands, and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them. The great, the mighty God, Yahweh of Armies is your name:
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
doing kindness to thousands, and repaying iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their sons after them; God, the great, the mighty, YHWH of Hosts [is] His Name;

Young's Literal Translation
Doing kindness to thousands, and recompensing iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their sons after them; God, the great, the mighty, Jehovah of Hosts is His name,

Smith's Literal Translation
Doing kindness to thousands and requiting the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their sons after them: The Great, The Strong God, Jehovah of armies his name.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thou shewest mercy unto thousands, and returnest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: O most mighty, great, and powerful, the Lord of hosts is thy name.

Catholic Public Domain Version
You act with mercy a thousand-fold, but you repay the iniquity of the fathers into the sinews of their sons after them. The Lord of hosts is your name: most strong, great, and powerful!

New American Bible
You continue your kindness through a thousand generations; but you repay the ancestors’ guilt upon their children who follow them. Great and mighty God, whose name is LORD of hosts,

New Revised Standard Version
You show steadfast love to the thousandth generation, but repay the guilt of parents into the laps of their children after them, O great and mighty God whose name is the LORD of hosts,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Thou showest lovingkindness to thousands of generations, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers to the bosom of their children after them; thou art the Great God, the Mighty and Revered, the LORD of hosts is his name,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Practicing grace to thousands of generations; repaying the sins of fathers to the bosom of their sons after them. The great God and The Mighty and Awesome LORD JEHOVAH of Hosts is his name!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
who showest mercy unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them; the great, the mighty God, the LORD of hosts is His name;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Granting mercy to thousands, and recompensing the sins of the fathers into the bosoms of their children after them: the great, the strong God;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jeremiah's Prayer
17“Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You! 18You show loving devotion to thousands but lay the iniquity of the fathers into the laps of their children after them, O great and mighty God whose name is the LORD of Hosts, 19the One great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are on all the ways of the sons of men, to reward each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.…

Cross References
Exodus 20:5-6
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, / but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Deuteronomy 5:9-10
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, / but showing loving devotion to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Numbers 14:18
‘The LORD is slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion, forgiving iniquity and transgression. Yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished; He will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generation.’

Deuteronomy 7:9-10
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion for a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments. / But those who hate Him He repays to their faces with destruction; He will not hesitate to repay to his face the one who hates Him.

Nehemiah 1:5
Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments,

Daniel 9:4
And I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed, “O, Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of loving devotion to those who love Him and keep His commandments,

Psalm 103:17-18
But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children— / to those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.

Psalm 145:8-9
The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion. / The LORD is good to all; His compassion rests on all He has made.

Lamentations 3:22-23
Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. / They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!

Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. / 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.

Isaiah 54:10
Though the mountains may be removed and the hills may be shaken, My loving devotion will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be broken,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Romans 2:4-5
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? / But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Romans 11:22
Take notice, therefore, of the kindness and severity of God: severity to those who fell, but kindness to you, if you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

Ephesians 2:4-5
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, / made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved!

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.


Treasury of Scripture

You show loving kindness to thousands, and recompense the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,

shewest.

Exodus 20:5,6
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; …

Exodus 34:7
Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

Numbers 14:18
The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

recompensest.

Joshua 7:24-26
And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor…

2 Samuel 21:1-9
Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites…

1 Kings 14:9,10
But hast done evil above all that were before thee: for thou hast gone and made thee other gods, and molten images, to provoke me to anger, and hast cast me behind thy back: …

the great.

Genesis 49:24
But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)

Deuteronomy 7:21
Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.

Deuteronomy 10:17
For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

the Lord.

Jeremiah 10:16
The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The LORD of hosts is his name.

Jeremiah 31:35
Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:

Jump to Previous
Almighty Armies Bosom Children Fathers Great Guilt Hosts Iniquity Kindness Love Loving Mercy Mighty Powerful Punishment Recompense Recompensing Repays Requite Shewest Show Showest Shows Sins Steadfast Thousands
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Almighty Armies Bosom Children Fathers Great Guilt Hosts Iniquity Kindness Love Loving Mercy Mighty Powerful Punishment Recompense Recompensing Repays Requite Shewest Show Showest Shows Sins Steadfast Thousands
Jeremiah 32
1. Jeremiah, being imprisoned by Zedekiah for his prophecy,
6. buys Hanameel's field.
13. Baruch must preserve the evidences, as tokens of the people's return.
16. Jeremiah in his prayer complains to God.
26. God confirms the captivity for their sins;
36. and promises a gracious return.














You show loving devotion to thousands
The Hebrew word for "loving devotion" is "חֶסֶד" (chesed), which conveys a deep, steadfast love and mercy. This term is often associated with God's covenantal faithfulness, emphasizing His unwavering commitment to His people. The phrase "to thousands" underscores the vastness and inclusivity of God's mercy, suggesting that His grace extends to countless generations. Historically, this reflects God's enduring relationship with Israel, despite their repeated failures, and serves as a reminder of His boundless compassion.

but lay the iniquity of the fathers into the laps of their children after them
The concept of "lay the iniquity" is rooted in the Hebrew word "פָּקַד" (paqad), which can mean to visit or to appoint. This phrase reflects the biblical principle of generational consequences, where the sins of one generation can affect subsequent ones. It is not about unjust punishment but rather the natural repercussions of sin that ripple through family lines. This idea is consistent with the historical context of Israel, where communal and familial identity was strong, and the actions of one could impact many. It serves as a sobering reminder of the responsibility each generation holds.

O great and mighty God
The terms "great" and "mighty" are translations of the Hebrew words "גָּדוֹל" (gadol) and "גִּבּוֹר" (gibbor), respectively. "Gadol" signifies greatness in size, importance, or intensity, while "gibbor" denotes strength and valor. Together, they paint a picture of God's supreme power and authority. This acknowledgment of God's greatness is a common theme in the Old Testament, where His might is often contrasted with human frailty. It inspires awe and reverence, reminding believers of God's unparalleled sovereignty.

whose name is the LORD of Hosts
The phrase "LORD of Hosts" translates the Hebrew "יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת" (YHWH Tseva'ot). "YHWH" is the sacred, covenantal name of God, often rendered as "LORD" in English translations. "Tseva'ot" means "armies" or "hosts," referring to the heavenly armies or the celestial bodies. This title emphasizes God's command over all creation, both seen and unseen. In the historical context of Israel, this name reassured the people of God's protection and leadership in times of war and peace. It is a powerful reminder of God's ultimate control over the universe and His ability to marshal all forces for His divine purposes.

(18) Thou showest lovingkindness unto thousands . . .--The words are, in part, an echo from Exodus 20:6, yet more from the revelation of the Divine glory in Exodus 34:7. They recognise the laws of a righteous retribution, working even through the seeming injustice of that visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children which is inseparable from the continuity of family or national life, and which had been caricatured in the "sour grapes" proverb of Jeremiah 31:29. They recognise also a mercy which is wider than that retribution, and at last triumphant. In the "Mighty God" we have the reproduction of the name used by Isaiah in his great Messianic prediction (Isaiah 9:6).

Verse 18. - Into the bosom, etc. The ample dress of an Eastern rendering a bag or basket unnecessary (comp. Ruth 3:15).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
You show
עֹ֤שֶׂה (‘ō·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

loving devotion
חֶ֙סֶד֙ (ḥe·seḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2617: Kindness, piety, reproof, beauty

to thousands,
לַֽאֲלָפִ֔ים (la·’ă·lā·p̄îm)
Preposition-l | Number - masculine plural
Strong's 505: A thousand

but lay
וּמְשַׁלֵּם֙ (ū·mə·šal·lêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7999: To be safe, to be, completed, to be friendly, to reciprocate

the sins
עֲוֺ֣ן (‘ă·wōn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 5771: Iniquity, guilt, punishment for iniquity

of the fathers
אָב֔וֹת (’ā·ḇō·wṯ)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

into
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the laps
חֵ֥יק (ḥêq)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2436: The bosom

of their children
בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם (bə·nê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

after them,
אַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם (’a·ḥă·rê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

O great
הַגָּדוֹל֙ (hag·gā·ḏō·wl)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

and mighty
הַגִּבּ֔וֹר (hag·gib·bō·wr)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1368: Powerful, warrior, tyrant

God
הָאֵ֤ל (hā·’êl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 410: Strength -- as adjective, mighty, the Almighty

whose name
שְׁמֽוֹ׃ (šə·mōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8034: A name

is the LORD
יְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

of Hosts,
צְבָא֖וֹת (ṣə·ḇā·’ō·wṯ)
Noun - common plural
Strong's 6635: A mass of persons, reg, organized for, war, a campaign


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 32:18 Who show loving kindness to thousands (Jer.)
Jeremiah 32:17
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