Jeremiah 23

Good Shepherd

Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Jeremiah 23:1–4

Jehovah condemns the leaders who scattered His sheep and promises to gather the flock Himself and give them true shepherds. Jesus fulfilled this as the Good Shepherd who gathers His sheep, including other sheep not of this fold.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Ezekiel 34:11-12 — The Lord GOD will Himself search for and gather His scattered sheep.
• fulfilled by John 10:11 — 'I am the good shepherd.'
• fulfilled by John 10:16 — Other sheep will be brought into one fold under one shepherd.

The Branch

Branch (Hebrew tsemach) — the Sprout growing from David's line

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. Jeremiah 23:5

The Branch is a messianic title: a descendant raised up from David's family tree after its kings have fallen. Jesus Christ, born of David's line, is this righteous King who will reign and judge the earth with justice.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• the same title in Isaiah 11:1 — A Branch shall grow out of the roots of Jesse.
• a parallel account in Jeremiah 33:15 — The promise of the Branch of righteousness growing up unto David is repeated.
• the same title in Zechariah 3:8 — 'I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.'
• the same title in Zechariah 6:12 — 'Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH.'
• fulfilled by Luke 1:32-33 — Jesus receives the throne of David and reigns over the house of Jacob forever.

The LORD Our Righteousness

Jehovah-Tsidkenu — Jehovah is our righteousness

In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jeremiah 23:6

The coming King from David's line bears the divine name itself: THE LORD (Jehovah) OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. Jesus is both the son of David and Jehovah; we cannot become righteous by ourselves, but through His Atonement He becomes our righteousness and saves His people.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• a parallel account in Jeremiah 33:16 — The same name, 'The LORD our righteousness,' is repeated in the second Branch promise.
• fulfilled by 1 Corinthians 1:30 — Christ Jesus is made unto us wisdom and righteousness.
• alluded to by 2 Corinthians 5:21 — Through Christ we are made the righteousness of God in Him.

Jehovah, Gatherer of Israel

Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that they shall no more say, The LORD liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; Jeremiah 23:7–8

Jehovah, who led Israel out of Egypt, promises a latter-day gathering so great it will overshadow the Exodus. Latter-day Saints see this gathering under way through the keys Moses restored and through missionaries bringing Israel to Christ.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• a parallel account in Jeremiah 16:14-15 — The same prophecy of a greater exodus from the north country appears earlier.
• fulfilled by D&C 110:11 — Moses commits the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north.

Jehovah

Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Jeremiah 23:23–24

Jehovah, the premortal Christ, reminds false prophets that no one can hide from Him, for His presence and power fill heaven and earth.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him

• alluded to by D&C 88:6-7 — Christ's light is in all things and fills the immensity of space.

Jehovah

Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? Jeremiah 23:29

Jehovah contrasts the empty dreams of false prophets with His true word, which burns and breaks hard hearts like a hammer. Jeremiah had felt that fire in his own bones (20:9).

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alludes to Jeremiah 20:9 — Jeremiah felt the LORD's word 'as a burning fire shut up in my bones.'

Jehovah, the living God

And the burden of the LORD shall ye mention no more: for every man’s word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God. Jeremiah 23:36

The LORD of hosts is called the living God, unlike Baal and the dead idols. Peter later testified that Jesus is 'the Son of the living God.'

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in Matthew 16:16 — 'Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.'