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Read the Bible

Literal Standard Version

Jeremiah 31:21

"Set up signs for yourself, || Make heaps for yourself, || Set your heart to the highway, the way you went, || Turn back, O virgin of Israel, || Turn back to these cities of yours.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Pillar;   Thompson Chain Reference - Helps-Hindrances;   Highway, Spiritual;   Spiritual;   Way Provided;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Highways;  

Dictionaries:

- Fausset Bible Dictionary - Immanuel;   Holman Bible Dictionary - High Heaps;   Jeremiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Death;   Greek Versions of Ot;   Jeremiah;   Waymark;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Highway;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Commerce;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Causeway;   Guide;   Heap;   Waymark;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Tombs;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Set up road markers for yourself;establish signposts!Keep the highway in mind,the way you have traveled.Return, Virgin Israel!Return to these cities of yours.
Hebrew Names Version
Set up road signs, make guideposts; set your heart toward the highway, even the way by which you went: turn again, virgin of Yisra'el, turn again to these your cities.
King James Version
Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
English Standard Version
"Set up road markers for yourself; make yourself guideposts; consider well the highway, the road by which you went. Return, O virgin Israel, return to these your cities.
New American Standard Bible
"Set up roadmarks for yourself, Place guideposts for yourself; Direct your mind to the highway, The way by which you went. Return, O virgin of Israel, Return to these your cities.
New Century Version
"People of Israel, fix the road signs. Put up signs to show you the way home. Watch the road. Pay attention to the road on which you travel. People of Israel, come home, come back to your towns.
Amplified Bible
"Place for yourself road signs [toward Canaan], Make for yourself guideposts; Turn your thought and attention to the highway, To the way by which you went [into exile]. Retrace your steps, O virgin of Israel, Return to these your cities.
World English Bible
Set up road signs, make guideposts; set your heart toward the highway, even the way by which you went: turn again, virgin of Israel, turn again to these your cities.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Set thee vp signes: make thee heapes: set thine heart towarde the path and way, that thou hast walked: turne againe, O virgine of Israel: turne againe to these thy cities.
Legacy Standard Bible
"Set up roadmarks for yourself,Place for yourself guideposts;Set your heart to the highway,The way by which you went.Return, O virgin of Israel,Return to these your cities.
Berean Standard Bible
"Set up the roadmarks, establish the signposts. Keep the highway in mind, the road you have traveled. Return, O Virgin Israel, return to these cities of yours.
Contemporary English Version
With rock piles and signposts, mark the way home, my dear people. It is the same road by which you left.
Complete Jewish Bible
How long will you hesitate, you unruly daughter? For Adonai has created something new on earth: a woman with the strengths of a man.
Darby Translation
Set up waymarks, make for thyself signposts; set thy heart toward the highway, the way by which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
Easy-to-Read Version
"People of Israel, repair the road signs. Put up signs that show the way home. Watch the road. Remember the road you are leaving on. Israel, my bride, come home. Come back to your towns.
George Lamsa Translation
Set up a standard for yourself, and dwell in the wilderness; set your heart towards the straight highway; repent, O virgin of Israel, says the LORD, and dwell in these your cities.
Good News Translation
Set up signs and mark the road; find again the way by which you left. Come back, people of Israel, come home to the towns you left.
Lexham English Bible
"Set up for yourself road markers, make for yourself signposts, set your mind to the main road, the road by which you went. Return, O virgin of Israel, return to these your cities.
Literal Translation
Set up road marks for yourself; make sign posts for yourself. Set your heart toward the highway, even the way you went. Turn again, O virgin of Israel; turn again to these cities of yours.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Get the watchmen, prouyde teachers for the: set thine herte vpon the right waie, that thou shuldest walke, and turne agayne: (o thou doughter of Israel,) turne agayne to these cities of thyne.
American Standard Version
Set thee up waymarks, make thee guide-posts; set thy heart toward the highway, even the way by which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
Bible in Basic English
Put up guiding pillars, make road signs for yourself: give attention to the highway, even the way in which you went: be turned again, O virgin of Israel, be turned to these your towns.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
How long wilt thou turn away coyly, O thou backsliding daughter? For the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth: a woman shall court a man.
King James Version (1611)
Set thee vp way-markes; make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the high way, euen the way which thou wentest: turne againe, O virgine of Israel, turne againe to these thy cities.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Make thy selfe markes, set vp heapes of stone, set thine heart vpon the way that thou didst walke, and turne againe O thou daughter of Israel, turne agayne to these cities of thine.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And judgment is coming against the land of Misor, upon Chelon, and Rephas, and Mophas,
English Revised Version
Set thee up waymarks, make thee guide-posts: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way by which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Ordeyne to thee an hiy totyng place, sette to thee bitternesses; dresse thin herte in to a streiyt weie, in which thou yedist; turne ayen, thou virgyn of Israel, turne ayen to these thi citees.
Update Bible Version
Set up waymarks, make guide-posts; set your heart toward the highway, even the way by which you went: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these cities of yours.
Webster's Bible Translation
Set thee up way-marks, make thee high heaps: set thy heart towards the highway, [even] the way [which] thou wentest; turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
New English Translation
I will say, ‘My dear children of Israel, keep in mind the road you took when you were carried off. Mark off in your minds the landmarks. Make a mental note of telltale signs marking the way back. Return, my dear children of Israel. Return to these cities of yours.
New King James Version
"Set up signposts, Make landmarks; Set your heart toward the highway, The way in which you went. Turn back, O virgin of Israel, Turn back to these your cities.
New Living Translation
Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Mark well the path by which you came. Come back again, my virgin Israel; return to your towns here.
New Life Bible
"Set up marks on the road for yourself. Set up marks to lead you the right way. Remember the way you went, and return, O pure Israel. Return to your cities.
New Revised Standard
Set up road markers for yourself, make yourself signposts; consider well the highway, the road by which you went. Return, O virgin Israel, return to these your cities.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Erect thee waymarks Set thee up finger-posts, Apply thy heart to The highway - The road by which thou didst depart, - Return O virgin of Israel, Return unto these thy cities.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Set thee up a watchtower, make to thee bitterness: direct thy heart into the right way, wherein thou hast walked: return, O virgin of Israel, return to these thy cities.
Revised Standard Version
"Set up waymarks for yourself, make yourself guideposts; consider well the highway, the road by which you went. Return, O virgin Israel, return to these your cities.
Young's Literal Translation
Set up for thee signs, make for thee heaps, Set thy heart to the highway, the way thou wentest, Turn back, O virgin of Israel, Turn back unto these thy cities.
THE MESSAGE
"Set up signposts to mark your trip home. Get a good map. Study the road conditions. The road out is the road back. Come back, dear virgin Israel, come back to your hometowns. How long will you flit here and there, indecisive? How long before you make up your fickle mind? God will create a new thing in this land: A transformed woman will embrace the transforming God !"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Set up for yourself roadmarks, Place for yourself guideposts; Direct your mind to the highway, The way by which you went. Return, O virgin of Israel, Return to these your cities.

Contextual Overview

18I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself, || You have disciplined me, || And I am disciplined, as a heifer [that is] not taught, || Turn me back, and I turn back, || For you [are] my God YHWH. 19For after my turning back I regretted, || And after my being instructed I struck on the thigh, || I have been ashamed, I have also blushed, || For I have borne the reproach of my youth. 20Is Ephraim a precious son to Me? A child of delights? For since My speaking against him, || I still thoroughly remember him, || Therefore My bowels have been moved for him, || I love him greatly," || A declaration of YHWH. 21"Set up signs for yourself, || Make heaps for yourself, || Set your heart to the highway, the way you went, || Turn back, O virgin of Israel, || Turn back to these cities of yours.22Until when do you withdraw yourself, O backsliding daughter? For YHWH has prepared a new thing in the land, || Woman surrounds man." 23Thus said YHWH of Hosts, God of Israel: "Still they say this word in the land of Judah, || And in its cities, || In My turning back [to] their captivity, || YHWH blesses you, habitation of righteousness, || Mountain of holiness. 24And farmers have dwelt in Judah, || And in all its cities together, || And they have journeyed in order. 25For I have satiated the weary soul, || And I have filled every grieved soul." 26On this I have awoken, and I behold, and my sleep has been sweet to me.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Set thee: Isaiah 57:14, Isaiah 62:10

set thine: Jeremiah 50:5, Deuteronomy 32:46, 1 Chronicles 29:3, 2 Chronicles 11:16, 2 Chronicles 20:3, Psalms 62:10, Psalms 84:5, Proverbs 24:32,*marg. Ezekiel 40:4, Haggai 1:5, *marg.

turn: Jeremiah 51:6, Jeremiah 51:50, Isaiah 48:20, Isaiah 52:11, Isaiah 52:12, Zechariah 2:6, Zechariah 2:7

O: Jeremiah 31:4, Jeremiah 3:14, Zechariah 10:9

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 20:13 - the highway Isaiah 35:8 - an highway

Cross-References

Genesis 2:14
and the name of the third river [is] Hiddekel, it [is] that which is going east of Asshur; and the fourth river is the Euphrates.
Genesis 15:18
In that day has YHWH made with Abram a covenant, saying, "To your seed I have given this land, from the River of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates River,
Genesis 31:2
and Jacob sees the face of Laban, and behold, it is not with him as before.
Genesis 31:3
And YHWH says to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers, and to your family, and I am with you."
Genesis 31:8
If he says thus: The speckled are your hire, then all the flock bore speckled ones; and if he says thus: The striped are your hire, then all the flock bore striped;
Genesis 31:9
and God takes away the substance of your father, and gives to me.
Genesis 31:23
and he takes his brothers with him, and pursues after him a journey of seven days, and overtakes him in the Mount of Gilead.
Genesis 31:51
And Laban says to Jacob, "Behold, this heap, and behold, the standing pillar which I have cast between me and you;
Genesis 31:53
the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, judges between us—the God of their father," and Jacob swears by the Fear of his father Isaac.
Genesis 37:25
And they sit down to eat bread, and they lift up their eyes, and look, and behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, and their camels carrying spices, and balm, and myrrh, going to take [them] down to Egypt.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Set thee up way marks, make thee high heaps,.... Of stones, raised up as pillars, or like pyramids; or upright, as palm trees, which signification the word z has; to be marks and signs, to know the way again upon a return. The Targum is,

"O congregation of Israel, remember the right works of thy fathers; pour out supplications; in bitterness set thy heart.''

And so the Vulgate Latin version interprets the last clause, "put on bitternesses", without any sense; so Cocceius. The design of the words is to put the Jews upon thoughts of returning to their own land, and to prepare for it;

set thine heart towards the highway, [even] the way [which] thou wentest; from Judea to Babylon, or into other countries; think of going the same way back again; for, as there was a highway from Judea, there is one to it; let thine heart be upon returning that way. Jarchi reads, "the way which I went"; that is, the way in which the Lord went with the people; the right way in which he guided and directed them; and in which following him, they could not err; see Isaiah 35:8. The Targum is,

"consider the works which thou hast done, whether they are fight, when thou goest in a way afar off;''

turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities; an invitation and encouragement to the Jews to turn again to their own land; as from the Babylonish captivity, so from all lands in the latter day; which is yet to be fulfilled, and to which the prophecy more properly belongs.

z תמרורים "columnulas", Schmidt; "pyramidas", Junius Tremellius, Piscator "palmulas", Tigurine version, "a תמר palma".

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The religious character of the restoration of the ten tribes. Chastisement brought repentance, and with it forgiveness; therefore God decrees their restoration.

Jeremiah 31:15

Ramah, mentioned because of its nearness to Jerusalem, from which it was distant about five miles. As the mother of three tribes, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, Rachel is regarded as the mother of the whole ten. This passage is quoted by Matthew (marginal reference) as a type. In Jeremiah it is a poetical figure representing in a dramatic form the miserable condition of the kingdom of Ephraim devastated by the sword of the Assyrians.

Jeremiah 31:16

Rachel’s work had been that of bearing and bringing up children, and by their death she was deprived of the joy for which she had labored: but by their being restored to her she will receive her wages.

Jeremiah 31:17

In thine end - i. e., for thy time to come (see the Jeremiah 29:11 note).

Jeremiah 31:18

As a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke - literally, like an untaught calf. Compare the Hosea 10:11 note. Ephraim, like an untrained steer, had resisted Yahweh’s will.

Jeremiah 31:19

After that I was turned - i. e., after I had turned away from Thee. In Jeremiah 31:18 it has the sense of turning to God.

Instructed - Brought to my senses by suffering. The smiting upon the thigh is a sign of sorrow. Compare Ezekiel 21:17.

The reproach of my youth - i. e., the shame brought upon me by sins of my youth.

Jeremiah 31:20

Moved to compassion by Ephraim’s lamentation, Yahweh shows Himself as tender and ready to forgive as parents are their spoiled (rather, darling) child.

For ... him - Or, “that so often as I speak concerning him,” i. e., his punishment.

My bowels are troubled - The metaphor expresses the most tender internal emotion.

Jeremiah 31:21

Waymarks - See 2 Kings 23:17 note.

High heaps - Or, signposts, pillars to point out the way.

Set thine heart - Not set thy affection, but turn thy thoughts and attention (in Hebrew the heart is the seat of the intellect) to the highway, even the way by which thou wentest.

Jeremiah 31:22

Israel instead of setting itself to return hesitates, and goes here and there in a restless mood. To encourage it God gives the sign following.

A woman shall compass a man - i. e., the female shall protect the strong man; the weaker nature that needs help will surround the stronger with loving and fostering care. This expresses a new relation of Israel to the Lord, a new covenant, which the Lord will make with His people (Jeremiah 31:31 following). The fathers saw in these words a prophecy of the miraculous conception of our Lord by the Virgin.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 31:21. Set thee up waymarks — Alluding to stones, or heaps of stones, which travellers in the desert set up to ascertain the way, that they may know how to return. Mark the way to Babylon: thither ye shall certainly go; but from it ye shall as certainly return.


 
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