Bible passage: Jeremiah 23:3-6
Prophet: Jeremiah
Written: Sometime between 626-586 BC
In Jeremiah 23:3-6, there is a prophecy that indicated when the Messiah was to appear in the land of Israel.
Jeremiah was a prophet who lived before and during the time of the Babylonian Captivity, when the Babylonian empire took many people from the land of Judah as captives to Babylon.
Jeremiah not only warned the people about the exile, in various prophecies found in his book, but he also told them that they one day would be regathered to their homeland.
In Jeremiah 23:3, the prophet tells the people that God will bring the people of Judah back to their homeland. Then, in Jeremiah 23:5, he informs the people that God will raise up to David a righteous branch. This is a Messianic reference, a reference that the Messiah will arrive in the land sometime after the exiles are regathered to their homeland, sometime after the end of the Babylonian Captivity.
In other prophecies of the Bible, as explained on this web site, it is established that the Messiah would be a descendant of King David.
The Babylonian Captivity lasted 70 years and ended about 2,500 years ago. Jesus, the Messiah, was born in Bethlehem about 500 years later. King David lived about 3,000 years ago, about 500 years before Jeremiah's prophecy.
- Research and commentary is based on the book 100 Fulfilled Bible Prophecies. © Ray Konig and AboutBibleProphecy.com.
Here is Jeremiah 23:3-6:
3 "I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number.
4 I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing," declares the LORD.
5 "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up to David[1] a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.
6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.
NIV Footnote: [1] Or up from David's line
(New International Version translation)