Bible Commentaries
Jeremiah 31

Verse 1

At the same time: i.e. in the latter days (Jeremiah 30:24 ).

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

of = to.

all. Not Judah alone.

they shall be My People. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 26:12 ). App-92 . Compare Jeremiah 30:22 .

Verse 2

when I went. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 3:0 .Numbers 10:33 .Deuteronomy 1:33; Deuteronomy 1:33 ). App-92 .

Verse 3

everlasting love. See notes on Isaiah 44:7 .

Verse 4

Again . . . again, &c. App-92 . Figure of speech Anaphora .

tabrets. See notes on Exodus 15:20 . 1 Samuel 10:5 .

Verse 5

vines = vineyards.

mountains. A special reading called Sevir ( App-34 ), reads "cities".

eat them as common things. Reference to Pentateuch (Leviticus 19:23-25 .Deuteronomy 20:6 ; Deuteronomy 28:30 ). Compare Isaiah 62:9 . App-92 .

Verse 6

there shall be = there is. Hebrew. yesh. See note on Proverbs 8:21 , and Proverbs 18:24 .

mount = hill country.

Verse 7

Jacob. Note the frequent use of "Jacob" in these chapters, referring to the natural seed.

save Thy People. Compare the Hebrew Hosannah. See Psalms 118:25 , and see note on Matthew 21:9 .

Verse 8

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

gather = gather out.

coasts = borders, or extremities.

company = an organized community.

thither = hither.

Verse 9

rivers = streams. Hebrew nahal = a wady.

Ephraim is My firstborn. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 4:22 ). App-92 . "My firstborn" occurs nowhere else. Compare Psalms 89:27 . Ephraim is put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), for all the ten tribes.

Verse 10

isles = coastlands, or maritime countries.

He that scattered, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 30:3 ).

Verse 11

redeemed = liberated, or redeemed (by power). Hebrew. padah. See note on Exodus 13:13 .

ransomed = redeemed (by blood) and avenged. Hebrew. ga'al. See note on Exodus 6:6 .

stronger. See note on Psalms 35:10 .

Verse 12

flow together. Same word as in Jeremiah 51:44 .Isaiah 2:2 .Micah 4:1 .

wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27 .

soul. Hebrew. nephesh.

Verse 15

A voice was heard, &c. Quoted in Matthew 2:18 . Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 35:19 ). App-92 .

in Ramah = on the high place. Evidently a "high place" near Bethlehem. A common name in Palestine. The Targum and Vulg, read "in a high place".

Rahel = Rachel. The mother of Joseph and Benjamin (i.e. Ephraim); thus uniting the two kingdoms and the two peoples. Compare Jeremiah 31:9 .

children = sons.

because they were not. Now, another weeping, and other comfort given. Compare verses: Jeremiah 31:9 , Jeremiah 31:16 . Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 42:36 ). App-92 .

Verse 16

shall be rewarded = there exists a reward. Hebrew. yesh. See note on Jeremiah 31:6 .

come again: i.e. in resurrection. Compare Jeremiah 31:15 .

Verse 17

there is = there exists. Hebrew. yesh . Compare Jeremiah 31:6 .

Verse 18

I have surely heard, &c. Figure of speech Prolepsis.

hast chastised = didst chastise.

was chastised = I have been chastised.

turn Thou me = cause Thou me to return.

Verse 20

child = a young child. Hebrew. yalad.

My bowels are troubled. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 32:36 ). Compare Duke Jeremiah 15:20 .

Verse 21

Set thee up = Erect.

make thee = set up.

high heaps: i.e. finger posts.

Verse 22

go about: i.e. in order to elude by withdrawing. Elsewhere only in Song of Solomon 5:6 .

new thing. The interpretation must satisfy this condition.

in the earth = in the land. This is another condition.

A woman = A spouse: i.e. Israel shall turn and cleave to the Mighty One. See Genesis 1:27 ; Genesis 5:2 ; Genesis 6:19 ; Genesis 7:3 , Genesis 7:9 , Genesis 7:16 . Leviticus 3:1 , Leviticus 3:6 ; Leviticus 4:28 ; Leviticus 5:6 , &c. Here, the virgin of Israel.

compass = turn about [so as to return to and seek the favour of] the man. A "new thing"for a woman to become the suitor. See Jeremiah 31:14 and Deuteronomy 24:4 .Hosea 2:19 , &c. Hebrew. sabab, to turn about, used in Psalms 26:6 , "so will I compass Thine altar", not go round it, but keep close to it. Compare Psalms 7:7 . (Jonah 2:5 , "closed me round"). Instead of "going about", wandering (first line), the virgin of Israel will seek, and cleave close to the Mighty One, even Jehovah, as a girdle cleaves to a man.

a man = a mighty one. Hebrew. geber. App-14 .

Verse 23

the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 7:3 .

bring again. This cannot be spiritualized.

Verse 27

the house of Israel. See note on Jeremiah 2:4 .

the house of Judah. See note on Jeremiah 3:18 . Here we have the union of the two houses. Israel is always named first, for this was the name of the whole nation, which Judah was not.

man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

Verse 28

watched. Compare Jeremiah 1:12 (same word).

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ).

Verse 29

set on edge. A proverb, mentioned here for the first time. Here restated, and corrected in Jeremiah 31:30 .

Verse 30

iniquity. Hebrew. 'avah. App-44 .

Verse 31

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. Quoted in Hebrews 8:8-12 ; Hebrews 10:16 , Hebrews 10:17 .

I will make. See Matthew 26:28 .

Verse 32

that I made. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 24:3-8 ). App-92 .

I took them by the hand, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Exodus 19:4 .Deuteronomy 1:31 ; Deuteronomy 32:11 , Deuteronomy 32:12 ). App-92 .

although I was an husband unto them. The Hebrew ba'al is a Homonym with two meanings: (1) to be lord, or master, hence to be a husband; (2) to disdain, or reject. If it be the latter here, the last clause will read, "and I rejected (or abhorred)them, declareth Jehovah". So the Syriac and other ancient interpreters. Moreover, it is quoted thus in Hebrews 8:9 , "and I regarded them not, saith the Lord".

Verse 33

the house of, &c. Some codices, with four early printed editions (one in margin), read "the sons of": i.e. of the whole nation.

in their hearts = on their hearts. Compare Ezekiel 11:19 ; Ezekiel 36:26 . Hebrews 10:16 .

and will be their God. Compare Jeremiah 24:7 ; Jeremiah 30:22 ; Jeremiah 32:38 .

Verse 34

every man. Hebrew. 'ish. App-14 .

they shall all know Me. See note on Jeremiah 9:24 .

know. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), for all the effects of knowing Jehovah.

Verse 35

giveth the sun, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 1:16 ).

ordinances = statutes. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 8:22 ). Compare Jeremiah 33:20 , Jeremiah 33:25 .

divideth = -stirreth up, or exciteth.

The LORD of Hosts. See note on Jeremiah 6:6 , and 1 Samuel 1:3 .

Verse 36

If those ordinances. So sure is the literal fulfilment of these prophecies concerning the literal restoration of Israel.

the seed. Note the Structure (on p. 1061).

for ever = all the days.

Verse 37

If heaven above, &c. Another asseveration as to the literal fulfilment of Israel's restoration.

Verse 38

come. This word is not in the Hebrew text, "but it is in the margin, as well as in some codices, with three early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, which read "Lo, days are coming".

the tower of Hananeel. On the north-east corner.

unto = as far as.

the gate of the corner. At the north-west. Compare 2 Kings 14:13 .

Verse 39

upon = over. A special various reading called Sevir ( App-34 ), reads "as far as", with some codices, Aramaean, and Septuagint

Gareb . . . Goath. Not named elsewhere.

Verse 40

fields. Hebrew text reads "dry places", but the margin, with some codices and seven early printed editions, Authorized Version and Revised Version, read "fields".

holy. See note on Exodus 3:6 .

for ever = for times age-abiding: for aye.