Jeremiah 31:2

THE MESSAGE

This is the way God put it: "They found grace out in the desert, these people who survived the killing. Israel, out looking for a place to rest, met God out looking for them!" God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love! And so now I'll start over with you and build you up again, dear virgin Israel. You'll resume your singing, grabbing tambourines and joining the dance. You'll go back to your old work of planting vineyards on the Samaritan hillsides, And sit back and enjoy the fruit— oh, how you'll enjoy those harvests! The time's coming when watchmen will call out from the hilltops of Ephraim: ‘On your feet! Let's go to Zion, go to meet our God !'"

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
This is what the Lord says:

Hebrew Names Version
Thus says the LORD, The people who were left of the sword found favor in the wilderness; even Yisra'el, when I went to cause him to rest.

King James Version
Thus saith the Lord , The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.

English Standard Version
Thus says the Lord : "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest,

New American Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: "The people who survived the sword Found grace in the wilderness— Israel, when it went to find its rest."

New Century Version
This is what the Lord says: "The people who were not killed by the enemy's sword found help in the desert. I came to give rest to Israel."

Amplified Bible
Thus says the LORD, "The people who survived the sword Found grace in the wilderness [of exile]— Israel (the Northern Kingdom), when it went to find its rest."

World English Bible
Thus says Yahweh, The people who were left of the sword found favor in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Thus saith the Lord, The people which escaped the sworde, founde grace in the wildernes: he walked before Israel to cause him to rest.

Legacy Standard Bible
Thus says Yahweh,"The people who survived the swordFound grace in the wilderness—Israel, when it went to find its relief."

Berean Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: "The people who survived the sword found favor in the wilderness when Israel went to find rest."

Contemporary English Version
In the desert I was kind to those who escaped death. I gave them peace, and when the time is right, I'll do the same for you. I, the Lord , have spoken.

Complete Jewish Bible
From a distance Adonai appeared to me, [saying,] "I love you with an everlasting love; this is why in my grace I draw you to me.

Darby Translation
Thus saith Jehovah: The people [that were] left of the sword have found grace in the wilderness, [even] Israel, when I go to give him rest.

Easy-to-Read Version
This is what the Lord says: "The people who escaped the enemy's sword will find comfort in the desert. Israel will go there looking for rest."

George Lamsa Translation
Thus says the LORD: The people who escaped from the sword found compassion in the wilderness when Israel went into exile.

Good News Translation
In the desert I showed mercy to those people who had escaped death. When the people of Israel longed for rest,

Lexham English Bible
Thus says Yahweh: "The people of the survivors of the sword found grace in the desert; Israel going to find their rest."

Literal Translation
So says Jehovah, Israel, the people, the survivors of the sword, have found grace in the wilderness, I will go to give rest to him.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Thus saieth the LORDE: The people of Israel which escaped in ye wildernes from the swearde, founde grace to come in to their rest.

American Standard Version
Thus saith Jehovah, The people that were left of the sword found favor in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.

Bible in Basic English
The Lord has said, Grace came in the waste land to a people kept safe from the sword, even to Israel on the way to his resting-place.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
'From afar the LORD appeared unto me.' 'Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with affection have I drawn thee.

King James Version (1611)
Thus saith the Lord; The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wildernesse, euen Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Thus saith the Lord: The people of Israel which escaped in the wildernesse from the sworde, founde grace to come into their rest.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
There is no longer any healing for Moab, nor glorying in Esebon: he has devised evils against her: we have cut her off from being a nation, and she shall be completely still: after thee shall go a sword;

English Revised Version
Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The Lord seith these thingis, The puple that was left of swerd, foond grace in desert; Israel schal go to his reste.

Update Bible Version
Thus says Yahweh, The people that were left of the sword found favor in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.

Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the LORD, The people [who were] left by the sword found grace in the wilderness; [even] Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.

New English Translation
The Lord says, "The people of Israel who survived death at the hands of the enemy will find favor in the wilderness as they journey to find rest for themselves.

New King James Version
Thus says the LORD: "The people who survived the sword Found grace in the wilderness-- Israel, when I went to give him rest."

New Living Translation
This is what the Lord says: "Those who survive the coming destruction will find blessings even in the barren land, for I will give rest to the people of Israel."

New Life Bible
The Lord says, "The people who were not killed by the sword found loving-favor in the desert, when Israel looked for rest."

New Revised Standard
Thus says the Lord : The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Thus, saith Yahweh, - There hath found favour in the desert people escaped from the sword, - I must go to cause him, even Israel, to rest.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord: The people that were left and escaped from the sword, found grace in the desert: Israel shall go to his rest.

Revised Standard Version
Thus says the LORD: "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest,

Young's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah: Found grace in the wilderness Hath a people remaining from the sword Going to cause it to rest -- Israel.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Thus says the LORD, "The people who survived the sword Found grace in the wilderness— Israel, when it went to find its rest."

Contextual Overview

¹ "And when that happens"— God 's Decree— "it will be plain as the sun at high noon: I'll be the God of every man, woman, and child in Israel and they shall be my very own people." ²This is the way God put it: "They found grace out in the desert, these people who survived the killing. Israel, out looking for a place to rest, met God out looking for them!" God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love! And so now I'll start over with you and build you up again, dear virgin Israel. You'll resume your singing, grabbing tambourines and joining the dance. You'll go back to your old work of planting vineyards on the Samaritan hillsides, And sit back and enjoy the fruit— oh, how you'll enjoy those harvests! The time's coming when watchmen will call out from the hilltops of Ephraim: ‘On your feet! Let's go to Zion, go to meet our God !'" ⁷ Oh yes, God says so: "Shout for joy at the top of your lungs for Jacob! Announce the good news to the number-one nation! Raise cheers! Sing praises. Say, ‘ God has saved his people, saved the core of Israel.' ⁸ "Watch what comes next: "I'll bring my people back from the north country And gather them up from the ends of the earth, gather those who've gone blind And those who are lame and limping, gather pregnant women, Even the mothers whose birth pangs have started, bring them all back, a huge crowd! ⁹ "Watch them come! They'll come weeping for joy as I take their hands and lead them, Lead them to fresh flowing brooks, lead them along smooth, uncluttered paths. Yes, it's because I'm Israel's Father and Ephraim's my firstborn son!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

The people: Exodus 1:16, Exodus 1:22, Exodus 2:23, Exodus 5:21, Exodus 12:37, Exodus 14:8-12, Exodus 15:9, Exodus 15:10, Exodus 17:8-13

found: Jeremiah 2:2, Deuteronomy 1:30, Deuteronomy 1:33, Deuteronomy 2:7, Deuteronomy 8:2, Deuteronomy 8:3, Deuteronomy 8:16, Nehemiah 9:12-15, Psalms 78:14-16, Psalms 78:23-29, Psalms 78:52, Psalms 105:37-43, Psalms 136:16-24, Isaiah 63:7-14, Ezekiel 20:14-17

when: Numbers 10:33, Deuteronomy 12:9, Psalms 95:11, Isaiah 63:14, Matthew 11:28, Hebrews 4:8, Hebrews 4:9

Reciprocal: Genesis 6:8 - General Genesis 33:10 - if now Numbers 32:5 - if we have Song of Solomon 3:6 - this Hosea 9:10 - found

Cross-References

Genesis 30:27
Laban said, "If you please, I have learned through divine inquiry that God has blessed me because of you." He went on, "So name your wages. I'll pay you."

Exodus 4:10
Moses raised another objection to God : "Master, please, I don't talk well. I've never been good with words, neither before nor after you spoke to me. I stutter and stammer."

Deuteronomy 19:4
This is the guideline for the murderer who flees there to take refuge: He has to have killed his neighbor without premeditation and with no history of bad blood between them. For instance, a man goes with his neighbor into the woods to cut a tree; he swings the ax, the head slips off the handle and hits his neighbor, killing him. He may then flee to one of these cities and save his life. If the city is too far away, the avenger of blood racing in hot-blooded pursuit might catch him since it's such a long distance, and kill him even though he didn't deserve it. It wasn't his fault. There was no history of hatred between them. Therefore I command you: Set aside the three cities for yourselves.

1 Samuel 19:7
Jonathan sent for David and reported to him everything that was said. Then he brought David back to Saul and everything was as it was before.

Daniel 3:19
Nebuchadnezzar, his face purple with anger, cut off Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace fired up seven times hotter than usual. He ordered some strong men from the army to tie them up, hands and feet, and throw them into the roaring furnace. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, bound hand and foot, fully dressed from head to toe, were pitched into the roaring fire. Because the king was in such a hurry and the furnace was so hot, flames from the furnace killed the men who carried Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to it, while the fire raged around Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Thus saith the Lord, the people [which were] left of the sword,.... Which were not consumed by the sword of Pharaoh, who perished not through his cruel edicts, and by his sword, when drawn at the Red sea; nor by the sword of the Amalekites and Amorites; or of their own brethren, who sometimes, for their sins, were ordered to slay many, as on account of the molten calf, and joining to Baalpeor: but there was a remnant that escaped, who

found grace in the wilderness; in the sight of God, who went before them, protected and defended them from their enemies; gave them his holy law, his statutes, and his judgments; fed them with manna and quails; clave the rocks, and gave them water to drink; and supplied them with everything necessary for them, Psalms 78:5;

[even] Israel, when I went to cause him to rest; went before him in a pillar of cloud by day, and in a pillar of fire by night; and in the ark, the symbol of his presence; and not only to search out a resting place for them for a few days, but to bring them to Canaan, the land of rest, which he had promised them, Exodus 13:21; now this past instance of divine goodness is mentioned, to encourage faith in the fulfilment of the above promise. The whole is paraphrased by the Targum thus,

"these things saith the Lord, who gave mercies to the people that came out of Egypt; he supplied their necessities in the wilderness, when they fled from before those who slay with the sword; he led them by his word, to cause Israel to dwell in a place of rest.''

Some render the words in the future, "shall find grace", c. "shall go to his rest", c. and so apply it to the Jews that escaped the sword of the Chaldeans, and found favour in the wilderness of the people into which they were brought, and as they returned into their own land from the captivity. And it, nay be also applied to the Jews that were left of the sword of the Romans in their last destruction, who have found much favour among the nations as they do in ours, and others, now and who in time will return to their own land, and be in rest, Jeremiah 30:10. Yea, it is applicable enough to the church and people of God in their present state; who are left of the sword of the Papists, and are now in the wilderness, where they are nourished for a time, and times, and half a time; and before long will be brought into a state of settled rest and tranquillity.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The people which were left of the sword - A promise of the restoration of the ten tribes to their land.

The wilderness - Either the desert which lay between Assyria and Palestine; or more probably an allusion to the wilderness of Mount Sinai.

Found grace ... rest - Rather, “shall certainly find grace; I will go to give Israel rest.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 31:2. The people which were left of the sword — Those of the ten tribes that had escaped death by the sword of the Assyrians.

Found grace in the wilderness — The place of their exile; a wilderness, compared to their own land.-Dahler. See Isaiah 40:3.