Jeremiah 9:23–24
God says what is worth boasting in: knowing him, who does steadfast love and justice
Study it word by word23Thus says YHWH: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast in his might; let not the rich man boast in his riches;
24but in this let the one who boasts boast: in having understanding and knowing me, that I am YHWH, who practices loyal love, justice, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, declares YHWH.
In its context
21For death has come up through our windows; it has entered our palaces, to cut off the child from the street, the young men from the squares.
22Speak: “Thus declares YHWH: ‘The corpses of human beings will fall like dung on the face of the field, and like a sheaf behind the reaper, with no one to gather them.’”
…
25Look, days are coming, declares YHWH, when I will punish all who are circumcised in the foreskin:
26Egypt and Judah and Edom and the sons of Ammon and Moab and all who are clipped at the temples, who live in the wilderness; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.”
Its words in the original
- אָמַרamar· say
Say, speak. The most common verb for bringing in what someone says; sometimes "think" (say to oneself) or "command".
- יְהוָהyehva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- יִתְהַלֵּלyithalel· praise; boast
Praise, extol. "Hallelujah" comes from this verb. In other forms, boast; also act like a madman.
- חָכָםchacham· wise
Wise; skilled, expert.
- חָכְמָתchachmat· wisdom, skill
Wisdom: knowing how to live and act well; also the skill of a good craftsman.
- גִּבּוֹרgibor· mighty one, mighty man
Strong, valiant; a mighty man, an outstanding warrior.
- גְבוּרָתgevurat· might
Strength, might; mighty deed, victory.
- עָשִׁירashir· rich
Rich.
- עָשְׁרashr· wealth
Wealth, riches.
- הַשְׂכֵּלhaskel· act wisely, understand
Act wisely, understand, have insight; make wise, teach. Also succeed, prosper.
- יָדֹעַyadoa· know
Know. Not only having a fact: it is knowing by experience and closely; also recognize, care for, make known. So Hebrew also uses it for the intimate union of a man and his wife ("he knew his wife").
- עֹשֶׂהose· do, make
Do, make, in the widest sense: build, produce, carry out, keep (a command), prepare.
- חֶסֶדchesed· loyal love
"Chesed": love that stays faithful to a commitment. It is kindness that does not remain a feeling: it acts in favor of the other and does not abandon him. The Bible says it above all of God's love for his people.
- מִשְׁפָּטmishpat· justice, judgment
What is right and the decision that establishes it: the judgment of a judge, someone's right, a rule or ordinance, a custom. "Do righteousness and justice" is to treat each one as is due.
- צְדָקָהtsedaka· righteousness
Righteousness: being right with God and acting rightly with others; justice.
- אָרֶץarets· earth, land
The earth, in two senses: the whole world in contrast with the heavens, or a particular country or region ("the land of Egypt").
- חָפַצְתִּיchafatsti· desire, delight in
Want, desire; be pleased with someone, delight in.
- נְאֻםneum· declaration
Solemn declaration. "Declares YHWH" is the formula that marks words as spoken by God himself.