The great and powerful God shows steadfast love for thousands: A reinterpretation by the author of Jeremiah 32:18 of the creedal affirmation in Exodus 34:6-7?

Abstract

It is frequently assumed that Jeremiah 32:18 quotes from the creedal affirmation in Exodus 34:6-7.   This paper sets to show that the variance in vocabulary between  Jeremiah 32:18 and the creedal affirmation in Exodus 34:6-7 cannot be attributed to deliberate modifications of the latter text.   I will argue that the author of Jeremiah 32:18 did not quote from Exodus 34:6-7, but gave expression to conceptions of YHWH's character which were distinctly reflected on in the statement in Exodus 34:6-7.   The paper, furthermore, demonstrates that the characterization of YHWH as the great and powerful God, who shows steadfast love to thousands, is prominent both in the prophet's prayer as well as in YHWH's response to the prayer(Jeremiah 32:16-44).  Jeremiah 32:18 attests to a distinctive use of the grace formula.