Jeremiah 31:3-9

3 The LORD appeared to us in the past,^[a] saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

4 I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt. Again you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful.

5 Again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria; the farmers will plant them and enjoy their fruit.

6 There will be a day when watchmen cry out on the hills of Ephraim, ‘Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.’ ”

7 This is what the LORD says: “Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations. Make your praises heard, and say, ‘LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel.’

8 See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return.

9 They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

Jeremiah 31:3-9 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 31

This chapter is connected with the former, respects the same times, and is full of prophecies and promises of spiritual blessings; of the coming of Christ; of the multiplication of his people, and the increase of their joy; of the conversion of the Gentiles; of the covenant of grace; and of the stability of the saints. It begins with the principal promise of the covenant, confirmed by past experience, of divine goodness, and with a fresh declaration of God's everlasting love, Jer 31:1-3; an instance of which would appear, in planting vines or churches in Samaria, the metropolis of Ephraim or the ten tribes, under the ministry of the apostles, the watchmen, on Mount Ephraim; whereby the Israel of God would be built, beautified, and made to rejoice, Jer 31:4-6; yea, it would be matter of joy to all that heard of it; since, notwithstanding distance and other difficulties, a great number should come to Christ, and to his church, drawn by the Father's love to them, and as owing to the relation he stands in to them, Jer 31:7-9; redemption out of the hands of Satan, and every spiritual enemy, must be published among the Gentiles; which would cause great joy, and give great satisfaction to the priests and people of the Lord, expressed by various metaphors, Jer 31:10-14; and though, upon the birth of the Redeemer, there would be an event, which might tend to damp the joy of saints on account of it, the murder of the infants at Bethlehem; yet some things are said to encourage faith, hope, and joy, and to abate sorrow and weeping, Jer 31:15-17; Ephraim's affliction, and behaviour under it, his repentance and reception, are recorded, Jer 31:18-20; backsliding Israel are called upon to return, in consideration of the birth of the Messiah, Jer 31:21,22; the happy and flourishing estate of the people of God is promised; all which were made known to the prophet by a dream in the night, Jer 31:23-26; and fresh promises are made, that the Lord would do them good, and not punish the children for their fathers' sins, but everyone for their own, Jer 31:28-30; and then an account is given of the new covenant of grace, as distinct from the old, and of the articles of it; the inscription of the law in the heart, spiritual knowledge of the Lord, and remission of sin, Jer 31:31-34; then follow assurances of the everlasting continuance of the true Israel and church of God, Jer 31:35-37; and the chapter is concluded with a promise of rebuilding the city of Jerusalem, and of the holiness of it, and of its abiding for ever, Jer 31:38-40.

Cross References

• 1. S Deuteronomy 4:37
• 2. Hosea 11:4; John 6:44
• 3. S Jeremiah 1:10; S Jeremiah 30:18
• 4. S 2 Kings 19:21
• 5. S Genesis 31:27
• 6. S Exodus 15:20
• 7. S Jeremiah 30:19
• 8. S Deuteronomy 20:6
• 9. Jeremiah 33:13; Jeremiah 50:19; Obadiah 1:19
• 10. S Isaiah 37:30; Isaiah 65:21; Amos 9:14
• 11. S Isaiah 52:8; S Isaiah 56:10
• 12. ver 12; S Deuteronomy 33:19; Isaiah 2:3; Jeremiah 50:4-5; Micah 4:2
• 13. S Isaiah 12:6
• 14. Deuteronomy 28:13; Isaiah 61:9
• 15. Psalms 14:7; Psalms 28:9
• 16. S Isaiah 37:31
• 17. S Jeremiah 3:18; Jeremiah 23:8
• 18. S Genesis 33:13; S Deuteronomy 30:4; S Psalms 106:47; Ezekiel 34:12-14
• 19. Isaiah 42:16
• 20. Ezekiel 34:16; Micah 4:6
• 21. S Ezra 3:12; Psalms 126:5
• 22. Isaiah 63:13
• 23. S Numbers 20:8; S Psalms 1:3; S Isaiah 32:2
• 24. S Isaiah 40:4; S Isaiah 49:11
• 25. S Exodus 4:22; S Jeremiah 3:4

Footnotes

• [a]. Or Lord"has appeared to us from afar"