They will fight against you like an attacking army, but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall of bronze. They will not conquer you, for I am with you to protect and rescue you. I, the Lord, have spoken!
Parallel translations
- WEB I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; and they shall fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you; for I am with you to save you and to deliver you,” says Yahweh.
- KJV And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the LORD.
- BSB Then I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to save and deliver you, declares the LORD.
- NKJV And I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; And they will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you; For I am with you to save you And deliver you,” says the Lord.
- NASB “Then I will make you to this people A fortified wall of bronze; And though they fight against you, They will not prevail over you; For I am with you to save you And rescue you,” declares the Lord.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
God promises to make Jeremiah a fortified bronze wall that his enemies cannot overcome, for the LORD is with him to save and deliver him. God guarantees His protecting presence to His embattled servant.
Overview
The image of an impregnable bronze wall assures Jeremiah that, though attacked, he will not be defeated because God stands with him. This promise of divine presence and deliverance sustains those called to hard service. It echoes God's pledge to be with His people and finds its ultimate guarantee in Christ, Immanuel, who promises to be with His own always (Matthew 28:20).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Jer 1:18–19For, behold, I have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land.
- Ezek 3:9I have made your forehead as a diamond, harder than flint. Don’t be afraid of them, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.”
- Ps 46:7Yahweh of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- Acts 18:9–10The Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Don’t be afraid, but speak and don’t be silent;
- Ps 124:1–3A Song of Ascents. By David. If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, let Israel now say,
- Ps 129:1–2A Song of Ascents. Many times they have afflicted me from my youth up. Let Israel now say,
- Jer 20:11–12But Yahweh is with me as an awesome mighty one. Therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail. They shall be utterly disappointed, because they have not dealt wisely, even with an everlasting dishonor which shall never be forgotten.
- Isa 41:10Don’t you be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness.
- Ps 46:11Yahweh of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
- Isa 8:9–10Make an uproar, you peoples, and be broken in pieces! Listen, all you from far countries: dress for battle, and be shattered! Dress for battle, and be shattered!
- 2 Tim 4:16–17At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them.
- Jer 1:8Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Yahweh.
- Acts 4:8–13Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
- Acts 4:29–31Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness,
- Rom 8:31–39What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- Jer 6:27“I have made you a tester of metals and a fortress among my people; that you may know and try their way.
- 2 Tim 4:22The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
- Acts 5:29–32But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
- Isa 7:14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.
How Jeremiah 15:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.