Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Jeremiah » Chapter 31 » Verse 31

Jeremiah 31:31 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

31 Behold, the days H3117 come, H935 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that I will make H3772 a new H2319 covenant H1285 with the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 and with the house H1004 of Judah: H3063

Cross Reference

Ezekiel 37:26 STRONG

Moreover I will make H3772 a covenant H1285 of peace H7965 with them; it shall be an everlasting H5769 covenant H1285 with them: and I will place H5414 them, and multiply H7235 them, and will set H5414 my sanctuary H4720 in the midst H8432 of them for evermore. H5769

Hebrews 10:16-17 STRONG

This G3778 is the covenant G1242 that G3739 I will make G1303 with G4314 them G846 after G3326 those G1565 days, G2250 saith G3004 the Lord, G2962 I will put G1325 my G3450 laws G3551 into G1909 their G846 hearts, G2588 and G2532 in G1909 their G846 minds G1271 will I write G1924 them; G846 And G2532 their G846 sins G266 and G2532 iniquities G458 G846 will I remember G3415 no G3364 more. G2089

Jeremiah 32:40 STRONG

And I will make H3772 an everlasting H5769 covenant H1285 with them, that I will not turn away H7725 from them, H310 to do them good; H3190 but I will put H5414 my fear H3374 in their hearts, H3824 that they shall not depart H5493 from me.

2 Corinthians 3:6 STRONG

Who G3739 also G2532 hath made G2427 us G2248 able G2427 ministers G1249 of the new G2537 testament; G1242 not G3756 of the letter, G1121 but G235 of the spirit: G4151 for G1063 the letter G1121 killeth, G615 but G1161 the spirit G4151 giveth life. G2227

Luke 22:20 STRONG

Likewise G5615 also G2532 the cup G4221 after G3326 supper, G1172 saying, G3004 This G5124 cup G4221 is the new G2537 testament G1242 in G1722 my G3450 blood, G129 which G3588 is shed G1632 for G5228 you. G5216

1 Corinthians 11:25 STRONG

After the same manner G5615 also G2532 he took the cup, G4221 when G3326 he had supped, G1172 saying, G3004 This G5124 cup G4221 is G2076 the new G2537 testament G1242 in G1722 my G1699 blood: G129 this G5124 do ye, G4160 as oft as G3740 G302 ye drink G4095 it, in G1519 remembrance G364 of me. G1699

Jeremiah 33:14-16 STRONG

Behold, the days H3117 come, H935 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that I will perform H6965 that good H2896 thing H1697 which I have promised H1696 unto the house H1004 of Israel H3478 and to the house H1004 of Judah. H3063 In those days, H3117 and at that time, H6256 will I cause the Branch H6780 of righteousness H6666 to grow up H6779 unto David; H1732 and he shall execute H6213 judgment H4941 and righteousness H6666 in the land. H776 In those days H3117 shall Judah H3063 be saved, H3467 and Jerusalem H3389 shall dwell H7931 safely: H983 and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, H7121 The LORD our righteousness. H3072

Jeremiah 30:3 STRONG

For, lo, the days H3117 come, H935 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that I will bring again H7725 the captivity H7622 of my people H5971 Israel H3478 and Judah, H3063 saith H559 the LORD: H3068 and I will cause them to return H7725 to the land H776 that I gave H5414 to their fathers, H1 and they shall possess H3423 it.

Jeremiah 23:5 STRONG

Behold, the days H3117 come, H935 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that I will raise H6965 unto David H1732 a righteous H6662 Branch, H6780 and a King H4428 shall reign H4427 and prosper, H7919 and shall execute H6213 judgment H4941 and justice H6666 in the earth. H776

Mark 14:24 STRONG

And G2532 he said G2036 unto them, G846 This G5124 is G2076 my G3450 blood G129 of the new G2537 testament, G1242 which G3588 is shed G1632 for G4012 many. G4183

Hebrews 12:24 STRONG

And G2532 to Jesus G2424 the mediator G3316 of the new G3501 covenant, G1242 and G2532 to the blood G129 of sprinkling, G4473 that speaketh G2980 better things G2909 than G3844 that of Abel. G6

Philippians 3:3 STRONG

For G1063 we G2249 are G2070 the circumcision, G4061 which G3588 worship G3000 God G2316 in the spirit, G4151 and G2532 rejoice G2744 in G1722 Christ G5547 Jesus, G2424 and G2532 have G3982 no G3756 confidence G3982 in G1722 the flesh. G4561

Matthew 26:28 STRONG

For G1063 this G5124 is G2076 my G3450 blood G129 of the new G2537 testament, G1242 which G3588 is shed G1632 for G4012 many G4183 for G1519 the remission G859 of sins. G266

Hebrews 9:15 STRONG

And G2532 for this G5124 cause G1223 he is G2076 the mediator G3316 of the new G2537 testament, G1242 that G3704 by means G1096 of death, G2288 for G1519 the redemption G629 of the transgressions G3847 that were under G1909 the first G4413 testament, G1242 they which are called G2564 might receive G2983 the promise G1860 of eternal G166 inheritance. G2817

Hebrews 8:6-13 STRONG

But G1161 now G3570 hath he obtained G5177 a more excellent G1313 ministry, G3009 by how much G3745 also G2532 he is G2076 the mediator G3316 of a better G2909 covenant, G1242 which G3748 was established G3549 upon G1909 better G2909 promises. G1860 For G1063 if G1487 that G1565 first G4413 covenant had been G2258 faultless, G273 then should G302 no G3756 place G5117 have been sought G2212 for the second. G1208 For G1063 finding fault G3201 with them, G846 he saith, G3004 Behold, G2400 the days G2250 come, G2064 saith G3004 the Lord, G2962 when G2532 I will make G4931 a new G2537 covenant G1242 with G1909 the house G3624 of Israel G2474 and G2532 with G1909 the house G3624 of Judah: G2455 Not G3756 according to G2596 the covenant G1242 that G3739 I made with G4160 their G846 fathers G3962 in G1722 the day G2250 when I took G1949 them G846 by the hand G3450 G5495 to lead G1806 them G846 out of G1537 the land G1093 of Egypt; G125 because G3754 they G846 continued G1696 not G3756 in G1722 my G3450 covenant, G1242 and I G2504 regarded G272 them G846 not, G272 saith G3004 the Lord. G2962 For G3754 this G3778 is the covenant G1242 that G3739 I will make G1303 with the house G3624 of Israel G2474 after G3326 those G1565 days, G2250 saith G3004 the Lord; G2962 I will put G1325 my G3450 laws G3551 into G1519 their G846 mind, G1271 and G2532 write G1924 them G846 in G1909 their G846 hearts: G2588 and G2532 I will be G2071 to G1519 them G846 a God, G2316 and G2532 they G846 shall be G2071 to G1519 me G3427 a people: G2992 And G2532 they shall G1321 not G3364 teach G1321 every man G1538 his G846 neighbour, G4139 and G2532 every man G1538 his G846 brother, G80 saying, G3004 Know G1097 the Lord: G2962 for G3754 all G3956 shall know G1492 me, G3165 from G575 the least G3398 G846 to G2193 the greatest. G3173 G846 For G3754 I will be G2071 merciful G2436 to their G846 unrighteousness, G93 and G2532 their G846 sins G266 and G2532 their G846 iniquities G458 will I remember G3415 no G3364 more. G2089 In G1722 that he saith, G3004 A new G2537 covenant, he hath made G3822 the first G4413 old. G3822 Now G1161 that which decayeth G3822 and G2532 waxeth old G1095 is ready G1451 to vanish away. G854

Amos 9:13 STRONG

Behold, the days H3117 come, H935 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that the plowman H2790 shall overtake H5066 the reaper, H7114 and the treader H1869 of grapes H6025 him that soweth H4900 seed; H2233 and the mountains H2022 shall drop H5197 sweet wine, H6071 and all the hills H1389 shall melt. H4127

Jeremiah 50:4-5 STRONG

In those days, H3117 and in that time, H6256 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 shall come, H935 they and the children H1121 of Judah H3063 together, H3162 going H1980 and weeping: H1058 they shall go, H3212 and seek H1245 the LORD H3068 their God. H430 They shall ask H7592 the way H1870 to Zion H6726 with their faces H6440 thitherward, H2008 saying, Come, H935 and let us join H3867 ourselves to the LORD H3068 in a perpetual H5769 covenant H1285 that shall not be forgotten. H7911

Jeremiah 31:31-34 STRONG

Behold, the days H3117 come, H935 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that I will make H3772 a new H2319 covenant H1285 with the house H1004 of Israel, H3478 and with the house H1004 of Judah: H3063 Not according to the covenant H1285 that I made H3772 with their fathers H1 in the day H3117 that I took H2388 them by the hand H3027 to bring them out H3318 of the land H776 of Egypt; H4714 which my covenant H1285 they brake, H6565 although I was an husband H1166 unto them, saith H5002 the LORD: H3068 But this shall be the covenant H1285 that I will make H3772 with the house H1004 of Israel; H3478 After H310 those days, H3117 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 I will put H5414 my law H8451 in their inward parts, H7130 and write H3789 it in their hearts; H3820 and will be their God, H430 and they shall be my people. H5971 And they shall teach H3925 no more every man H376 his neighbour, H7453 and every man H376 his brother, H251 saying, H559 Know H3045 the LORD: H3068 for they shall all know H3045 me, from the least H6996 of them unto the greatest H1419 of them, saith H5002 the LORD: H3068 for I will forgive H5545 their iniquity, H5771 and I will remember H2142 their sin H2403 no more.

Hebrews 13:20 STRONG

Now G1161 the God G2316 of peace, G1515 that brought again G321 from G1537 the dead G3498 our G2257 Lord G2962 Jesus, G2424 that great G3173 shepherd G4166 of the sheep, G4263 through G1722 the blood G129 of the everlasting G166 covenant, G1242

Galatians 6:16 STRONG

And G2532 as many as G3745 walk G4748 according to G2583 this G5129 rule, G2583 peace G1515 be on G1909 them, G846 and G2532 mercy, G1656 and G2532 upon G1909 the Israel G2474 of God. G2316

Jeremiah 31:27 STRONG

Behold, the days H3117 come, H935 saith H5002 the LORD, H3068 that I will sow H2232 the house H1004 of Israel H3478 and the house H1004 of Judah H3063 with the seed H2233 of man, H120 and with the seed H2233 of beast. H929

Commentary on Jeremiah 31 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 31

Jer 31:1-40. Continuation of the Prophecy in the Thirtieth Chapter.

As in that chapter the restoration of Judah, so in this the restoration of Israel's ten tribes is foretold.

1. At the same time—"In the latter days" (Jer 30:24).

the God of—manifesting My grace to (Ge 17:7; Mt 22:32; Re 21:3).

all … Israel—not the exiles of the south kingdom of Judah only, but also the north kingdom of the ten tribes; and not merely Israel in general, but "all the families of Israel." Never yet fulfilled (Ro 11:26).

2. Upon the grace manifested to Israel "in the wilderness" God grounds His argument for renewing His favors to them now in their exile; because His covenant is "everlasting" (Jer 31:3), and changes not. The same argument occurs in Ho 13:5, 9, 10; 14:4, 5, 8. Babylon is fitly compared to the "wilderness," as in both alike Israel was as a stranger far from his appointed "rest" or home, and Babylon is in Isa 40:3 called a "desert" (compare Jer 50:12).

I went to cause him to rest—namely, in the pillar of cloud and fire, the symbol of God's presence, which went before Israel to search a resting-place (Nu 10:33; Isa 63:14) for the people, both a temporary one at each halt in the wilderness, and a permanent one in Canaan (Ex 33:14; De 3:20; Jos 21:44; Ps 95:11; Heb 3:11).

3. Israel gratefully acknowledges in reply God's past grace; but at the same time tacitly implies by the expression "of old," that God does not appear to her now. "God appeared to me of old, but now I am forsaken!" God replies, Nay, I love thee with the same love now as of old. My love was not a momentary impulse, but from "everlasting" in My counsels, and to "everlasting" in its continuance; hence originated the covenant whereby I gratuitously adopted thee (Mal 1:2; Ro 11:28, 29). Margin translates, "from afar," which does not answer so well as "of old," to "in the wilderness" (Jer 31:2), which refers to the olden times of Israel's history.

with loving kindness … drawn—(Ho 11:4). Rather, "I have drawn out continually My loving kindness toward thee." So Ps 36:10, "Continue (Margin, 'Draw out at length') Thy loving kindness." By virtue of My everlasting love I will still extend My loving kindness to thee. So Isa 44:21, "O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of Me."

4. I will build … thou shalt be built—The combination of the active and passive to express the same fact implies the infallible certainty of its accomplishment. "Build," that is, establish in prosperity (Jer 33:7).

adorned with … tabrets—(1Sa 18:6). Or, "adorn thyself with thy timbrels"; used by damsels on occasions of public rejoicings (Ex 15:20; Jud 11:34). Israel had cast away all instruments of joy in her exile (Ps 137:4).

dances—holy joy, not carnal mirth.

5. Samaria—the metropolis of the ten tribes; here equivalent to Israel. The mountainous nature of their country suited the growth of the vine.

eat … as common—literally, "shall profane," that is, shall put to common use. For the first three years after planting, the vine was "not to be eaten of"; on the fourth year the fruit was to be "holy to praise the Lord withal"; on the fifth year the fruit was to be eaten as common, no longer restricted to holy use (Le 19:23-25; compare De 20:6; 28:30, Margin). Thus the idea here is, "The same persons who plant shall reap the fruits"; it shall no longer be that one shall plant and another reap the fruit.

6. The watchmen stationed on eminences (types of the preachers of the gospel), shall summon the ten tribes to go up to the annual feasts at Jerusalem ("Zion"), as they used to do before the revolt and the setting up of the idol calves at Dan and Beer-sheba (Eze 37:21, 22).

Mount Ephraim—not one single mountain, but the whole mountainous region of the ten tribes.

our God—from whom we formerly revolted, but who is now our God. An earnest of that good time to come is given in the partial success of the gospel in its first preaching in Samaria (Joh 4:1-42; Ac 8:5-25).

7. The people are urged with praises and prayers to supplicate for their universal restoration. Jehovah is represented in the context (Jer 31:1, 8), as promising immediately to restore Israel. They therefore praise God for the restoration, being as certain of it as if it were actually accomplished; and at the same time pray for it, as prayer was a means to the desired end. Prayer does not move God to grant our wishes, but when God has determined to grant our wishes, He puts it into our hearts to pray for the thing desired. Compare Ps 102:13-17, as to the connection of Israel's restoration with the prayers of His people (Isa 62:1-6).

for Jacob—on account of Jacob; on account of his approaching deliverance by Jehovah.

among—"for," that is, on account of, would more exactly suit the parallelism to "for Jacob."

chief of the nations—Israel: as the parallelism to "Jacob" proves (compare Ex 19:5; Ps 135:4; Am 6:1). God estimates the greatness of nations not by man's standard of material resources, but by His electing favor.

8. north—Assyria, Media, &c. (see on Jer 3:12; Jer 3:18; 23:8).

gather from … coasts of … earth—(Eze 20:34, 41; 34:13).

blind … lame, &c.—Not even the most infirm and unfit persons for a journey shall be left behind, so universal shall be the restoration.

a great company—or, they shall return "in a great company" [Maurer].

9. weeping—for their past sins which caused their exile (Ps 126:5, 6). Although they come with weeping, they shall return with joy (Jer 50:4, 5).

supplications—(Compare Jer 31:18, 19; Jer 3:21-25; Zec 12:10). Margin translates "favors," as in Jos 11:20; Ezr 9:8; thus God's favors or compassions are put in opposition to the people's weeping; their tears shall be turned into joy. But English Version suits the parellelism best.

I will cause … to walk by … waters … straight way—(Isa 35:6-8; 43:19; 49:10, 11). God will give them waters to satisfy their thirst as in the wilderness journey from Egypt. So spiritually (Mt 5:6; Joh 7:37).

Ephraim—the ten tribes no longer severed from Judah, but forming one people with it.

my first-born—(Ex 4:22; Ho 11:1; Ro 9:4). So the elect Church (2Co 6:18; Jas 1:18).

10. The tidings of God's interposition in behalf of Israel will arrest the attention of even the uttermost Gentile nations.

He that scattered will gather—He who scattered knows where to find Israel; He who smote can also heal.

keep—not only will gather, but keep safely to the end (Joh 13:1; 17:11).

shepherd—(Isa 40:11; Eze 34:12-14).

11. ransomed … from … hand of … stronger—No strength of the foe can prevent the Lord from delivering Jacob (Isa 49:24, 25).

12. height of Zion—(Eze 17:23).

flow—There shall be a conflux of worshippers to the temple on Zion (Isa 2:2; Mic 4:1).

to the goodness of … Lord—(See Jer 31:14). Beneficence, that is, to the Lord as the source of all good things (Ho 3:5), to pray to Him and praise Him for these blessings of which He is the Fountainhead.

watered garden—(Isa 58:11). Not merely for a time, but continually full of holy comfort.

not sorrow any more—referring to the Church triumphant, as well as to literal Israel (Isa 35:10; 65:19; Re 21:4).

13. young … old—(Zec 8:4, 5).

14. my goodness—(Jer 31:12).

15. Ramah—In Benjamin, east of the great northern road, two hours' journey from Jerusalem. Rachel, who all her life had pined for children (Ge 30:1), and who died with "sorrow" in giving birth to Benjamin (Ge 35:18, 19, Margin; 1Sa 10:2), and was buried at Ramah, near Beth-lehem, is represented as raising her head from the tomb, and as breaking forth into "weeping" at seeing the whole land depopulated of her sons, the Ephraimites. Ramah was the place where Nebuzara-dan collected all the Jews in chains, previous to their removal to Babylon (Jer 40:1). God therefore consoles her with the promise of their restoration. Mt 2:17, 18 quotes this as fulfilled in the massacre of the innocents under Herod. "A lesser and a greater event, of different times, may answer to the single sense of one passage of Scripture, until the prophecy is exhausted" [Bengel]. Besides the temporary reference to the exiles in Babylon, the Holy Spirit foreshadowed ultimately Messiah's exile in Egypt, and the desolation caused in the neighborhood of Rachel's tomb by Herod's massacre of the children, whose mothers had "sons of sorrow" (Ben-oni), just as Rachel had. The return of Messiah (the representative of Israel) from Egypt, and the future restoration of Israel, both the literal and the spiritual (including the innocents), at the Lord's second advent, are antitypical of the restoration of Israel from Babylon, which is the ground of consolation held out here by Jeremiah. The clause, "They were not," that is, were dead (Ge 42:13), does not apply so strictly to the exiles in Babylon as it does to the history of Messiah and His people—past, present, and future. So the words, "There is hope in thine end," are to be fulfilled ultimately, when Rachel shall meet her murdered children at the resurrection, at the same time that literal Israel is to be restored. "They were not," in Hebrew, is singular; each was not: each mother at the Beth-lehem massacre had but one child to lament, as the limitation of age in Herod's order, "two years and under," implies; this use of the singular distributively (the mothers weeping severally, each for her own child), is a coincidence between the prophecy of the Beth-lehem massacre and the event, the more remarkable as not being obvious: the singular, too, is appropriate as to Messiah in His Egyptian exile, who was to be a leading object of Rachel's lamentation.

16. thy work—thy parental weeping for thy children [Rosenmuller]. Thine affliction in the loss of thy children, murdered for Christ's sake, shall not be fruitless to thee, as was the case in thy giving birth to the "child of thy sorrow," Benjamin. Primarily, also, thy grief shall not be perpetual: the exiles shall return, and the land be inhabited again [Calvin].

come again—(Ho 1:11).

17. hope in … end—All thy calamities shall have a prosperous issue.

18. Ephraim—representing the ten tribes.

bemoaning himself—The spirit of penitent supplication shall at last be poured on Israel as the necessary forerunner of their restoration (Zec 12:10-14).

Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised—In the first clause the chastisement itself is meant; in the second the beneficial effect of it in teaching the penitent true wisdom.

bullock unaccustomed to … yoke—A similar image occurs in De 32:15. Compare "stiff-necked," Ac 7:51; Ex 32:9, an image from refractory oxen. Before my chastisement I needed the severe correction I received, as much as an untamed bullock needs the goad. Compare Ac 9:5, where the same figure is used of Saul while unconverted. Israel has had a longer chastisement than Judah, not having been restored even at the Jews' return from Babylon. Hereafter, at its restoration, it shall confess the sore discipline was all needed to "accustom" it to God's "easy yoke" (Mt 11:29, 30).

turn thou me—by Thy converting Spirit (La 5:21). But why does Ephraim pray for conversion, seeing that he is already converted? Because we are converted by progressive steps, and need the same power of God to carry forward, as to originate, our conversion (Joh 6:44, 65; compare with Isa 27:3; 1Pe 1:5; Php 1:6).

19. after that I was turned, I repented—Repentance in the full sense follows, not precedes, our being turned to God by God (Zec 12:10). The Jews' "looking to Him whom they pierced" shall result in their "mourning for Him." Repentance is the tear that flows from the eye of faith turned to Jesus. He Himself gives it: we give it not of ourselves, but must come to Him for it (Ac 5:31).

instructed—made to learn by chastisement. God's Spirit often works through the corrections of His providence.

smote upon … thigh—(Eze 21:12). A token of indignant remorse, shame, and grief, because of his past sin.

bear … reproach of … youth—"because the calamities which I bore were the just punishment of my scandalous wantonness against God in my youth"; alluding to the idols set up at Dan and Beth-el immediately after the ten tribes revolted from Judah. His sense of shame shows that he no longer delights in his sin.

20. Is Ephraim my dear son? &c.—The question implies that a negative answer was to be expected. Who would have thought that one so undutiful to His heavenly Father as Ephraim had been should still be regarded by God as a "pleasant child?" Certainly he was not so in respect to his sin. But by virtue of God's "everlasting love" (Jer 31:3) on Ephraim's being "turned" to God, he was immediately welcomed as God's "dear son." This verse sets forth God's readiness to welcome the penitent (Jer 31:18, 19), anticipating his return with prevenient grace and love. Compare Lu 15:20: "When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion," &c.

spake against—threatened him for his idolatry.

remember—with favor and concern, as in Ge 8:1; 30:22.

bowels … troubled for him—(De 32:36; Isa 63:15; Ho 11:8)—namely, with the yearnings of compassionate love. The "bowels" include the region of the heart, the seat of the affections.

21. waymarks—pillars to mark the road for the returning exiles. Caravans set up pillars, or pointed heaps of stones, to mark the way through the desert against their return. So Israel is told by God to mark the way by which they went in leaving their country for exile; for by the same way they shall return.

highway—(Isa 35:8, 10).

22. go about—namely, after human helps (Jer 2:18, 23, 36). Why not return immediately to me? Maurer translates, as in So 5:6, "How long wilt thou withdraw thyself?" Let thy past backslidings suffice thee now that a new era approaches. What God finds fault with in them is, that they looked hither and thither, leaning on contingencies, instead of at once trusting the word of God, which promised their restoration. To assure them of this, God promises to create a new thing in their land, A woman shall compass a man. Calvin explains this: Israel, who is feeble as a woman, shall be superior to the warlike Chaldeans; the captives shall reduce their captors to captivity. Hengstenberg makes the "woman" the Jewish Church, and the "man" Jehovah, her husband, whose love she will again seek (Ho 2:6, 7). Maurer, A woman shall protect (De 32:10, Margin; Ps 32:10) a man, that is, You need fear no foes in returning, for all things shall be so peaceful that a woman would be able to take man's part, and act as his protector. But the Christian fathers (Augustine, &c.) almost unanimously interpreted it of the Virgin Mary compassing Christ in her womb. This view is favored:—(1) By the connection; it gives a reason why the exiles should desire a return to their country, namely, because Christ was conceived there. (2) The word "created" implies a divine power put forth in the creation of a body in the Virgin's womb by the Holy Ghost for the second Adam, such as was exerted in creating the first Adam (Lu 1:35; Heb 10:5). (3) The phrase, "a new thing," something unprecedented; a man whose like had never existed before, at once God and man; a mother out of the ordinary course of nature, at once mother and virgin. An extraordinary mode of generation; one conceived by the Holy Ghost without man. (4) The specification "in the land" (not "earth," as English Version), namely, of Judah, where probably Christ was conceived, in Hebron (compare Lu 1:39, 42, 44, with Jos 21:11) or else in Nazareth, "in the territory" of Israel, to whom Jer 31:5, 6, 15, 18, 21 refer; His birth was at Beth-lehem (Mic 5:2; Mt 2:5, 6). As the place of His nativity, and of His being reared (Mt 2:23), and of His preaching (Hag 2:7; Mal 3:1), are specified, so it is likely the Holy Spirit designated the place of His being conceived. (5) The Hebrew for "woman" implies an individual, as the Virgin Mary, rather than a collection of persons. (6) The restoration of Israel is grounded on God's covenant in Christ, to whom, therefore, allusion is naturally made as the foundation of Israel's hope (compare Isa 7:14). The Virgin Mary's conception of Messiah in the womb answers to the "Virgin of Israel" (therefore so called, Jer 31:21), that is, Israel and her sons at their final restoration, receiving Jesus as Messiah (Zec 12:10). (7) The reference to the conception of the child Messiah accords with the mention of the massacre of "children" referred to in Jer 31:15 (compare Mt 2:17). (8) The Hebrew for "man" is properly "mighty man," a term applied to God (De 10:17); and to Christ (Zec 13:7; compare Ps 45:3; Isa 9:6) [Calovius].

23. Jerusalem again shall be the metropolis of the whole nation, the seat of "justice" (Ps 122:5-8; Isa 1:26), and of sacred worship ("holiness," Zec 8:3) on "Mount" Moriah.

24. Judah … cities … husbandmen … they with flocks—Two classes, citizens and countrymen, the latter divided into agriculturists and shepherds, all alike in security, though the latter were to be outside the protection of city walls. "Judah" here stands for the country, as distinguished from its cities.

25. The "weary, sorrowful," and indigent state of Israel will prove no obstacle in the way of My helping them.

26. The words of Jeremiah: Upon this (or, By reason of this) announcement of a happy restoration, "I awaked" from the prophetic dream vouchsafed to me (Jer 23:25) with the "sweet" impression thereof remaining on my mind. "Sleep" here means dream, as in Ps 90:5.

27. He shows how a land so depopulated shall again be peopled. God will cause both men and beasts in it to increase to a multitude (Eze 36:9-11; Ho 2:23).

28. (Jer 44:27). The same God who, as it were (in human language), was on the watch for all means to destroy, shall be as much on the watch for the means of their restoration.

29. In those days—after their punishment has been completed, and mercy again visits them.

fathers … eaten … sour grape … children's teeth … on edge—the proverb among the exiles' children born in Babylon, to express that they suffered the evil consequences of their fathers' sins rather than of their own (La 5:7; Eze 18:2, 3).

30. (Ga 6:5, 7).

31. the days … new covenant with … Israel … Judah—The new covenant is made with literal Israel and Judah, not with the spiritual Israel, that is, believers, except secondarily, and as grafted on the stock of Israel (Ro 11:16-27). For the whole subject of the thirtieth and thirty-first chapters is the restoration of the Hebrews (Jer 30:4, 7, 10, 18; 31:7, 10, 11, 23, 24, 27, 36). With the "remnant according to the election of grace" in Israel, the new covenant has already taken effect. But with regard to the whole nation, its realization is reserved for the last days, to which Paul refers this prophecy in an abridged form (Ro 11:27).

32. Not … the covenant that I made with … fathers—the Old Testament covenant, as contrasted with our gospel covenant (Heb 8:8-12; 10:16, 17, where this prophecy is quoted to prove the abrogation of the law by the gospel), of which the distinguishing features are its securing by an adequate atonement the forgiveness of sins, and by the inworking of effectual grace ensuring permanent obedience. An earnest of this is given partially in the present eclectic or elect Church gathered out of Jews and Gentiles. But the promise here to Israel in the last days is national and universal, and effected by an extraordinary outpouring of the Spirit (Jer 31:33, 34; Eze 11:17-20), independent of any merit on their part (Eze 36:25-32; 37:1-28; 39:29; Joe 2:23-28; Zec 12:10; 2Co 3:16).

took … by … hand—(De 1:31; Ho 11:3).

although I was an husband—(compare Jer 3:14; Ho 2:7, 8). But the Septuagint, Syriac, and St. Paul (Heb 8:9) translate, "I regarded them not"; and Gesenius, &c., justify this rendering of the Hebrew from the Arabic. The Hebrews regarded not God, so God regarded them not.

33. will be their God—(Jer 32:38).

34. True, specially of Israel (Isa 54:13); secondarily, true of believers (Joh 6:45; 1Co 2:10; 1Jo 2:20).

forgive … iniquity … remember … no more—(Jer 33:8; 50:20; Mic 7:18); applying peculiarly to Israel (Ro 11:27). Secondarily, all believers (Ac 10:43).

35. divideth … sea when … waves … roar … Lord of hosts … name—quoted from Isa 51:15, the genuineness of which passage is thus established on Jeremiah's authority.

36. a nation—Israel's national polity has been broken up by the Romans. But their preservation as a distinct people amidst violent persecutions, though scattered among all nations for eighteen centuries, unamalgamated, whereas all other peoples under such circumstances have become incorporated with the nations in which they have been dispersed, is a perpetual standing miracle (compare Jer 33:20; Ps 148:6; Isa 54:9, 10).

37. (Compare Jer 33:22).

for all that they have done—namely, all the sins. God will regard His own covenant promise, rather than their merits.

38. tower of Hananeel—The city shall extend beyond its former bounds (Ne 3:1; 12:39; Zec 14:10).

gate of … corner—(2Ki 14:13; 2Ch 26:9).

39. measuring-line—(Eze 40:8; Zec 2:1).

Gareb—from a Hebrew root, "to scrape"; Syriac, "leprosy"; the locality outside of the city, to which lepers were removed.

Goath—from a root, "to toil," referring to the toilsome ascent there: outside of the city of David, towards the southwest, as Gareb was northwest [Junius].

40. valley of … dead—Tophet, where the bodies of malefactors were cast (Isa 30:33), south of the city.

fields … Kidron—so 2Ki 23:4. Fields in the suburbs reaching as far as Kidron, east of the city.

horse gate—Through it the king's horses were led forth for watering to the brook Kidron (2Ki 11:16; Ne 3:28).

for ever—The city shall not only be spacious, but both "holy to the Lord," that is, freed from all pollutions, and everlasting (Joe 3:17, 20; Re 21:2, 10, 27).