What Does Jeremiah 3:23 Mean in the King James?

Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.

Jeremiah 3:23 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The hills are many and high, but deliverance is found in the LORD, not in what towers above you.

THE MEANING

The high and abundant things you look to cannot give you the deliverance you need. Your deliverance is in the LORD your God, the one who brings you out.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

It undoes the belief that piling up impressive supports can guarantee rescue.

THE ROOT

תְּשׁוּעַת

teshu'at

GROWS FROM

יָשַׁע

yasha

To deliver, bringing someone out into safety and spaciousness.

The verse’s “salvation” is ⁨תְּשׁוּעַת⁩ (teshu’at), a form from ⁨יָשַׁע⁩ (yasha, deliver). The root points to deliverance as being brought out; the hills may look like abundant help, but they are not the source of that movement.

ALSO GROWS

yeshuah: Deliverance, salvation.

יְשׁוּעָה

This related noun makes the verse’s claim explicit: deliverance belongs to the LORD.

moshia: One who delivers; a deliverer.

מוֹשִׁיעַ

This form names the one acting to bring someone out, showing that salvation is more than an outcome: it is deliverance from a source.

THE PATTERN

Deliverance comes from the LORD rather than from visible strength or self-reliance.

A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2 · KJVThe gaze rises to the hills, but the answer names the LORD as the source of help.

But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.

Jonah 2:9 · KJVThe verse states the same source plainly: salvation belongs to the LORD.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Ephesians 2:8 · KJVIts emphasis on gift and “not of yourselves” echoes the refusal to locate rescue in human support.

THE THREAD

Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people. Selah.

Psalm 3:8 · KJV

Jeremiah calls it ⁨תְּשׁוּעַת⁩ (teshu’at, deliverance of) Israel; the psalm says ⁨יְשׁוּעָה⁩ (yeshuah, deliverance) belongs to the LORD. Both forms grow from ⁨יָשַׁע⁩ (yasha, deliver), so the shared root names the source as well as the rescue.

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