Jeremiah 9:24
in Jeremiah 9But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth—for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he hath understanding, and knoweth me, that I am Jehovah who exerciseth lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith Jehovah.
KJV
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.
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This verse in Jeremiah 9
Commentary
21 notes on this verse(Verse 23, 24.) Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, and let not the strong man boast in his strength, and let not the rich man boast in his riches. But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord." All of humanity's pride is removed, as their wisdom, strength, and wealth are considered as nothing.
This site's exposition
Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom
on Jeremiah 9:23-24
The verse names the three usual grounds of boasting, wisdom, strength and riches, and refuses all three at once. The alternative is stated plainly, “let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me”. Paul draws on this wording at 1 Corinthians 1:31 and 2 Corinthians 10:17.
This site's exposition
who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth
Wesley divides the three: loving devotion toward his people, justice in punishing the wicked, and righteousness in dealing uprightly with both. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown stress on the earth, the LORD at work in human affairs. He delights in these.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
A commentator
Augustine of HippoON THE MERITS AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS, AND ON THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS 2:31 · Written before 430.
proposed
Forasmuch then as our turning away from God is our own act, and this is evil will; but our turning to God is not possible, except He rouses and helps us, and this is good will,—what have we that we have not received? But if we received, why do we glory as if we had not received? Therefore, as "he that glorieth must glory in the Lord," it comes from His mercy, not their merit, that God wills to impart this to some, but from His truth that He wills not to impart it to others. For to sinners punishment is justly due.
Let us joyfully celebrate the coming of our salvation and redemption. Let us celebrate the festal day on which the great and eternal day came from the great and eternal day into this our very short temporal day. He has been made for us righteousness, sanctification, and redemption: so that, as it is written, He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord.
For as many of this race as are delivered by God's grace are certainly delivered from the condemnation in which they are already held bound. Whence, even if none should be delivered, no one could justly blame the judgment of God. That, therefore, in comparison of those that perish few, but in their absolute number many, are delivered, is effected by grace, is effected freely: thanks must be given, because it is effected, so that no one may be lifted up as of his own deservings, but that every mouth may be stopped, and he that glorieth may glory in the Lord.
The only true salvation is if Christ saves me, for then I will be saved. The horse is a false hope for deliverance. False also are all others besides God for salvation. On account of this I might say to him, "Save me, Lord, and I will be saved," and I say this if I can say also the next words after every boast that is renounced. For you are my boast or when I fulfill the commandment that says, "Let not the wise person boast in his wisdom, and let not the strong person boast in his strength, or the rich person in his riches; let him who boasts boast in this, to understand and know that I am Lord." Blessed is one who has renounced every boast here below, such as in so-called noble birth and in beauty and in corporeal things, in riches, in vainglory, since he is content with one boast, that he may say, For you are my boast.
What is the philosophy that the apostle bids us shun? This, then, "the wisdom of the world is foolishness with God." "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain." Let no one therefore glory on account of pre-eminence in human thought. For it is written well in Jeremiah, "Let not the wise person glory in his wisdom, and let not the mighty person glory in his might, and let not the rich person glory in his riches. But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows that I am the Lord, that executes mercy and judgment and righteousness on the earth: for in these things is my delight, say the Lord."
13 more voices on this verse
The Church Fathers4 voices
No sensible person, then, will be proud of his wisdom or of possessing the other goods I have mentioned but will follow the excellent advice of blessed Anna and of the prophet Jeremiah: "Let not the wise person glory in his wisdom, and let not the strong person glory in his strength, and let not the rich person glory in his riches." But what is true glory, and what makes a person great? "In this," says the prophet, "let him that glories, glory that he understands and knows that I am the Lord." This constitutes the highest dignity of humankind, this is his glory and greatness. Truly it is to know what is great and to cleave to it, and to seek after glory from the Lord of glory.
A commentator
Clement of RomeClement's First Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 13 · Written before 99.
proposed
Let us therefore, brethren, be of humble mind, laying aside all haughtiness, and pride, and foolishness, and angry feelings; and let us act according to that which is written (for the Holy Spirit saith, "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, neither let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in the Lord, in diligently seeking Him, and doing judgment and righteousness"), being especially mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus which He spake, teaching us meekness and long-suffering. For thus He spoke: "Be ye merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; forgive, that it may be forgiven to you; as ye do, so shall it be done unto you; as ye judge, so shall ye be judged; as ye are kind, so shall kindness be shown to you; with what measure ye mete, with the same it shall be measured to you." By this precept and by these rules let us establish ourselves, that we walk with all humility in obedience to His holy words. For the holy word saith, "On whom shall I look, but on him that is meek and peaceable, and that trembleth at My words?"
Let us therefore, brethren, be of humble mind, laying aside all haughtiness, and pride, and foolishness, and angry feelings; and let us act according to that which is written (for the Holy Spirit saith, "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, neither let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in the Lord, in diligently seeking Him, and doing judgment and righteousness"), being especially mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus which He spake, teaching us meekness and long-suffering. For thus He spoke: "Be ye merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; forgive, that it may be forgiven to you; as ye do, so shall it be done unto you; as ye judge, so shall ye be judged; as ye are kind, so shall kindness be shown to you; with what measure ye mete, with the same it shall be measured to you."
A commentator
CyprianTreatise XII. Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews 3:10 · Written before 258.
proposed
We must trust in God only, and in him we must glory. In Jeremiah: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the strong man glory in his strength, nor let the rich man glory in his riches. But let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows that I am the Lord, who does mercy, and judgment, and righteousness upon the earth, because in them is my pleasure, says the Lord."
The Medieval Church1 voice
"Each one looking not to his own interests but to those of others," "that one may not glory in his prudence," for the virtue of the humble is not to boast of their knowledge, since it is common to all. In repressing the mind's audacity, …
The Puritans and the Awakening5 voices
Exercise - Kindness, as it relates to his own people; judgment, in punishing the wicked; righteousness, as he deals justly and uprightly with both.
Ahithophel was befooled, and counsellors are often led away spoiled. But, if a man's policies fail him, yet surely he may gain his point by might and dint of courage. No: Let not the strong man glory in his strength, for the battle is not always to the strong.
We may glory in this, that, wherever we are, we have an acquaintance with an interest in a God that exercises lovingkindness, and judgment, and righteousness in the earth, that is not only just to all his creatures and will do no wrong to any of them, but kind to all his children and will protect them and provide for them.
10 For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
But let him that glorieth glory in this,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
But let him that glorieth - To glory in a thing is to depend on it as the means or cause of procuring happiness. But there can be no happiness but in being experimentally acquainted with that God who exercises loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. He who has God’s mercy for his portion may well exult; for he need not fear the power of any adversary. Sometimes the ancient heathen poets uttered sentiments of morality far beyond their dispensation.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Faithfulness to His promises to preserve the godly, as well as stern execution of judgment on the ungodly, is included in "righteousness." in the earth--contrary to the dogma of some philosophers, that God does not interfere in terrestrial concerns (Ps 58:11). in these . . .
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
This is the prophet’s remedy for the healing of the nation. It is the true understanding and knowledge of God, of which the first means the spiritual enlightenment of the mind 1Co 2:13-14, the other the training of the heart unto obedience Joh 8:31-32. This knowledge of God is further said to find in Him three chief attributes, (1) “lovingkindness,” i. e., readiness to show grace and mercy; (2) “judgment,” a belief in which is declared in Heb 11:6 to be essential to faith; (3) “righteousness,” which is essential to religion absolutely. Unless men believe that God’s dealings with them in life and death are right and just, they can neither love nor reverence him.
The words behind it
21 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּ֣י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אִם־ | ʾim- | except | H518 → | 1069 times |
| בְּזֹ֞את | bezot | in this | H2063 → | 603 times |
| יִתְהַלֵּ֣ל | yithalel | let him boast | H1984 → | 165 times |
| הַמִּתְהַלֵּ֗ל | hamithalel | who [-ever] boasts | H1984 → | 165 times |
| הַשְׂכֵּל֮ | haskel | he has insight | H7919 → | 62 times |
| וְיָדֹ֣עַ | veyadoa' | and he knows | H3045 → | 945 times |
| אוֹתִי֒ | ʾoti | <obj.> me | H853 → | 10935 times |
| כִּ֚י | ki | that | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| אֲנִ֣י | ʾani | I | H589 → | 874 times |
| יְהוָ֔ה | yahweh | [am] Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| עֹ֥שֶׂה | ʾoseh | [who] does | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| חֶ֛סֶד | chesed | covenant loyalty | H2617 → | 247 times |
| מִשְׁפָּ֥ט | mishpat | justice | H4941 → | 422 times |
| וּצְדָקָ֖ה | utzedakah | and righteousness | H6666 → | 157 times |
| בָּאָ֑רֶץ | baaretz | on the earth | H776 → | 2504 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| בְאֵ֥לֶּה | veeleh | in these things | H428 → | 746 times |
| חָפַ֖צְתִּי | chafatzti | I delight | H2654 → | 74 times |
| נְאֻם־ | neum- | [the] utterance of | H5002 → | 376 times |
| יְהוָֽה׃ ס | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
כִּ֣יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
אִם־except
ʾim-H518 →1069 times
בְּזֹ֞אתin this
bezotH2063 →603 times
יִתְהַלֵּ֣לlet him boast
yithalelH1984 →165 times
הַמִּתְהַלֵּ֗לwho [-ever] boasts
hamithalelH1984 →165 times
הַשְׂכֵּל֮he has insight
haskelH7919 →62 times
וְיָדֹ֣עַand he knows
veyadoa'H3045 →945 times
אוֹתִי֒<obj.> me
ʾotiH853 →10935 times
כִּ֚יthat
kiH3588 →4482 times
אֲנִ֣יI
ʾaniH589 →874 times
יְהוָ֔ה[am] Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
עֹ֥שֶׂה[who] does
ʾosehH6213 →2628 times
חֶ֛סֶדcovenant loyalty
chesedH2617 →247 times
מִשְׁפָּ֥טjustice
mishpatH4941 →422 times
וּצְדָקָ֖הand righteousness
utzedakahH6666 →157 times
בָּאָ֑רֶץon the earth
baaretzH776 →2504 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
בְאֵ֥לֶּהin these things
veelehH428 →746 times
חָפַ֖צְתִּיI delight
chafatztiH2654 →74 times
נְאֻם־[the] utterance of
neum-H5002 →376 times
יְהוָֽה׃ סYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Micah 6:8He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 10:12–13
And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your…
- Proverbs 21:3
To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
- Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
- Jeremiah 22:3
This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow.…
- Hosea 6:6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
- Deuteronomy 10:12–13
Through
1 Corinthians 1:31Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
it leads to
- Jeremiah 9:23–24
This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the wealthy man in his riches.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Jeremiah 9:23–24
Through
Micah 7:18Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance—who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
it leads to
- Isaiah 43:25
I, yes I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake and remembers your sins no more.
- Isaiah 43:25
Through
Galatians 6:14But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
it leads to
- Romans 6:6
We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
- Romans 6:6
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Jeremiah

This page draws on 18 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, ON THE MERITS AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS, AND ON THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS 2:31; Augustine of Hippo, SERMON 185:2; Augustine of Hippo, ON REBUKE AND GRACE 28; Basil of Caesarea, HOMILY 20, ON HUMILITY; Braulio of Zaragoza, LETTER 42; Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata Book 1; Clement of Rome, Clement's First Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 13; Clement of Rome, 1 CLEMENT 13; Cyprian, Treatise XII. Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews 3:10; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Jeremiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JEREMIAH 17:5.
