Jeremiah 31

1 “At that time [before all eternity, from the very first],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], “I will be [exist, come into being] the God [Elohim, the one supreme God] of all [every, the whole] the families [clans, tribes] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob], and they [the people, the nation] will be [become, exist as] My people [My nation, those belonging to Me].” word study 2 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “The people [a nation, Israel] who survived [remained alive after] the sword [a cutting instrument, knife] found favor [graciousness, kindness] in the wilderness [a desert, open field] when Israel [the descendants of Jacob] went to find rest [peace, quiet, to settle].” word study 3 The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] appeared to us in the past [from afar, in a distant time], saying: “I have loved [with affection, cherished] you with an everlasting [eternal, forever] love; therefore I have drawn [pulled, led] you with loving [tender, merciful] devotion [kindness, mercy]. word study 4 Again I will build [reestablish, restore] you, and you will be rebuilt [reestablished, restored], O Virgin [pure, untouched] Israel [God’s chosen people]. Again you will take up your tambourines [timbrels, musical instruments] and go out [come forth, proceed] in joyful [merry, celebratory] dancing [round dance, circle dance]. word study 5 Again [still, once more] you will plant [establish, cultivate] vineyards [gardens for growing vines and other crops] on the hills [mountains, high places] of Samaria [watch mountain, a region in northern Palestine]; the farmers [planters, cultivators] will plant [sow, nurture] and enjoy [eat, delight in] the fruit [produce, harvest]. word study 6 For there will be a day [a time of fulfillment, a future era] when watchmen [those who guard and protect, spiritual sentinels] will call out [cry, proclaim, shout] on the hills [mountains, high places] of Ephraim [doubly fruitful, a tribe of Israel], ‘Arise, let us go up [ascend, climb] to Zion [the city of God, a mountain in Jerusalem], to the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] our God [Elohim, the supreme Creator]!’” word study 7 For this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “Sing with joy [gladness, rejoicing] for Jacob [the son of Isaac and Rebekah]; shout [cry out, triumph] for the foremost [chief, head] of the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrews]! Make your praises [celebrations, joyful sounds] heard, and say, ‘O LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God], save [rescue, deliver] Your people [nation, community], the remnant [what is left, surviving ones] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob]!’ word study 8 Behold [look, see], I will bring them from the land [earth, territory] of the north [Zaphon, a direction] and gather them from the farthest parts [uttermost, remotest] of the earth [land, world], including the blind [physically or spiritually unable to see] and the lame [crippled, disabled], expectant mothers [pregnant, with child] and women in labor [travailing, giving birth]. They will return [turn back, come back] as a great [large, mighty] assembly [congregation, group]! word study 9 They will come with weeping [in sorrow, with tears], and by their supplication [earnest prayer, heartfelt request] I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters [rivers of refreshment, brooks of comfort], on a level path [a straight way, a right road] where they will not stumble [fall, lose their footing]. For I am Israel’s Father [their loving Parent, heavenly Dad], and Ephraim is My firstborn [My precious child, doubly fruitful].” word study 10 Hear [listen attentively, obey], O nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples], the word [message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and proclaim [declare openly, tell] it in distant [far away, remote] coastlands [islands, habitable spots]: “The One who scattered [dispersed, tossed about] Israel [the descendants of Jacob] will gather [collect, assemble] them and keep [protect, watch over] them as a shepherd [one who cares for and tends] keeps his flock [a group of animals, a community]. word study 11 For [because of this cause] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has ransomed [bought back, rescued] Jacob [the descendants of Jacob, Israel] and redeemed [bought back, set free] him from the hand [power, control] that had [being stronger, more powerful] overpowered [conquered, defeated] him. word study 12 They will come [return, assemble] and shout for joy [sing, overcome with praise] on the heights [elevated places, mountain tops] of Zion [the city of God, Jerusalem]; they will be radiant [shine, sparkle] over the bounty [goodness, abundance] of the LORD [Yehovah, the divine Savior]— the grain [wheat, crops], new wine [freshly squeezed, fermented], and oil [anointing, ceremonial], and the young [offspring, descendants] of the flocks [sheep, herds] and herds [cattle, livestock]. Their life [soul, being] will be like a well-watered [saturated, flourishing] garden [paradise, haven], and never again [still, anymore] will they languish [become weak, mourn]. word study 13 Then [at that time, in the future] the maidens [virgins, young women] will rejoice [be glad, celebrate] with dancing [in a circle, with joy], young men [youth, chosen ones] and old [elderly, mature] as well [together, united]. I will turn [overturn, transform] their mourning [sorrow, grief] into joy [rejoicing, celebration], and give them comfort [pity, sympathy] and joy [happiness, gladness] for their sorrow [anguish, grief]. word study 14 I will fill [satisfy, quench] the souls [the essence of a person] of the priests [those who serve God] abundantly [with fatness, to the point of satisfaction], and will fill [satiate, replenish] My people [My nation, Amaw] with My goodness [My beauty, My gladness],” declares [by utterance, through a prophet] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. word study 15 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] says: “A voice [sound, cry] is heard in Ramah [a city in Palestine, a place of battle], mourning [lamentation, sorrow] and great weeping [bitter crying, wailing], Rachel [the mother of Joseph and Benjamin] weeping [crying, lamenting] for her children [sons, descendants], and refusing [saying no, rejecting] to be comforted [shown pity, sympathy], because they are no more [have perished, are not].” word study 16 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “Keep your voice [sound or utterance] from weeping [overflowing tears, intense sorrow] and your eyes [source of sight, spiritual perception] from tears [drops of liquid, emotional response], for the reward [payment for work, wages] for your work [labor, service] will come [arrive, be given], declares the LORD [the supreme authority]. Then your children [offspring, descendants] will return [turn back, come again] from the land [territory, region] of the enemy [adversary, one who opposes]. word study 17 So there is [exists, a state of being] hope [a cord that attaches, expectancy] for your [latter, final] future [end, what comes after], declares [an utterance from] the LORD [Yehovah, God], and your children [sons, descendants] will return [to turn back, come again] to their own [promised, ancestral] land [territory, border]. word study 18 I have surely [clearly, without a doubt] heard Ephraim’s [the tribe of Israel] moaning [lamenting, expressing deep sorrow]: ‘You disciplined [chastised, corrected] me severely [harshly, firmly], like an untrained [untamed, unaccustomed to the yoke] calf [a young, immature animal]. Restore [turn back, convert] me, that I may return [turn back, be converted], for You are [exist as, are revealed as] the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] my God [Elohim, the supreme Creator, my personal Lord]. word study 19 After I returned [to you, converted], I repented [was sorry, had regret for my ways]; and after I was instructed [caused to realize my guilt, shown my error], I struck my thigh [clapped my hands, slapped my side] in grief [sorrow, sadness]. I was ashamed [humiliated, confounded] and humiliated [put to shame, embarrassed] because I bore [lifted, carried] the disgrace [reproach, shame] of my youth [early years, young age].’ word study 20 Is not Ephraim [my dear son, a precious child] a precious [rare and valuable] son to Me, a delightful [lovely, charming] child? Though I often speak [utter words, declare] against him, I still [continually, even now] remember [recall, bring to mind] him. Therefore My heart [inner being, emotions] yearns [longs, has compassion] for him; I have great [abundant, overflowing] compassion [mercy, love] for him,” declares [utters, speaks] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 21 “Set up [waymarks, guiding pillars] the roadmarks, establish [make high heaps, set up signposts] the signposts [for direction, to guide travelers]. Keep [set your heart towards, give attention to] the highway [the raised public road, the path] in mind, the road [way, journey] you have traveled [gone, walked]. Return [turn again, come back], O Virgin [pure, untouched] Israel [God’s chosen people], return [turn back, come again] to these [specific, aforementioned] cities [towns, settlements] of yours. word study 22 How long will you wander [go about, turn away], O faithless [backsliding, rebellious] daughter [female, woman]? For the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has created [made, brought into existence] a new [fresh, recently created] thing in the land [earth, territory]— a woman [female, girl] will shelter [compass, surround] a man [great man].” word study 23 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [a large group of people or things, often referring to an army], the God [Elohim, the one supreme God] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants], says: “When I restore [to return or turn back] them from captivity [being held prisoner], they will once again speak this word [a matter or affair] in the land [the soil or ground, a country, territory, or region] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, the son of Jacob] and in its cities [a place with a wall or a watchman]: ‘May the LORD [The covenant Name of God] bless [to praise or honor God] you, O righteous [having God’s standard for human behavior] dwelling place [a home or a pleasant place], O holy [set-apart, sacred] mountain [a real mountain].’ word study 24 And Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, a son of Jacob] and all [everything, the whole] its cities [towns, communities] will dwell [to sit, remain, abide] together [in unity, as one] in the land [the region, the territory], the farmers [husbandmen, those who work the land] and those who move [set out, journey] with the flocks [a group of animals, a herd], word study 25 for I will refresh [satisfy, quench] the weary [faint, exhausted] soul and replenish [fill, satisfy] all who are weak [sorrowful, languishing].” word study 26 At this [upon this occasion, in this moment] I awoke [was awakened, roused from sleep] and looked around [beheld, saw my surroundings]. My sleep [rest, slumber] had been most pleasant [sweet, agreeable, delightful] to me [for me, in my experience]. word study 27 “The days [of fulfillment, to come] are coming,” declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], “when I will sow [plant, scatter seed] the house [family, dwelling place] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants] and the house [family, dwelling place] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah, son of Jacob] with the seed [offspring, descendants] of man [Adam, humanity] and of beast [animal, livestock]. word study 28 Just as I watched [watched over with care, was vigilant] over them to uproot [to pluck up by the roots] and tear down [to break down completely], to demolish [to overthrow and destroy], destroy [to cause to perish], and bring disaster [to afflict with trouble], so I will watch over [be attentive to, with a sense of responsibility] them to build [to construct and establish] and to plant [to establish and nurture],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant-keeping God]. word study 29 “In those days [a future time of restoration], it will no longer be said: ‘The fathers [ancestors, forefathers] have eaten sour grapes [unripe fruit, bitter consequences], and the teeth of the children [sons, descendants] are set on edge [become dull, are blunted].’ word study 30 Instead, each will die [because of their own sins, for their own iniquity] for his own [moral evil, sin] iniquity. If anyone [every man, whoever] eats [devours, consumes] the sour [unripe, bitter] grapes, his own [personal, individual] teeth will be set [become blunt, made dull] on edge. word study 31 Behold [look, see], the days [a period of time, an era] are coming [approaching, drawing near], declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], when I will make [establish, covenant] a new [fresh, renewed] covenant [promise, agreement] with the house [family, descendants] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob] and with the house [family, descendants] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah]. word study 32 It will not be like the covenant [agreement, promise] I made with their fathers [ancestors, forefathers] when I took them by the hand [guiding them, leading them] to lead them out of the land [territory, region] of Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa]— a covenant [treaty, alliance] they broke [violated, disobeyed], though I was a husband [loving leader, faithful spouse] to them, ” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 33 “But this is the covenant [agreement, promise] I will make with the house [family, descendants] of Israel [Jacob’s descendants, God’s chosen people] after those days, declares the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God]. I will put My law [instruction, divine guidance] in their minds [thoughts, understanding] and inscribe [write, engrave] it on their hearts [inner being, emotions]. And I will be their God [Elohim, their Creator and Savior], and they will be My people [beloved, chosen nation]. word study 34 No longer [never again, not at all] will each man teach his neighbor [close friend, companion] or his brother [male sibling], saying, ‘Know [be intimately acquainted with, understand] the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God],’ because they will all know [have a deep understanding of, be familiar with] Me, from the least [smallest, most insignificant] of them to the greatest [most important, prominent], declares the LORD [Yehovah, the sovereign God]. For I will forgive [pardon, show mercy to] their iniquities [sins, wickedness] and will remember [call to mind, recall] their sins [transgressions, guilt] no more [not ever again, completely forget].” word study 35 Thus says the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], who gives [provides, grants] the sun [the celestial body] for light [natural and spiritual illumination] by day [daily, in the daytime], who sets in order [establishes, ordains] the moon [the natural satellite] and stars [celestial bodies, shining ones] for light [guidance, understanding] by night [in the darkness, a time of rest], who stirs up [disturbs, quiets] the sea [a large body of water] so that its waves [a heap of water] roar [make a loud noise, are in turmoil]—the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [armies, a large group of people] is His name [identity, character, reputation]: word study 36 “Only if this fixed order [the natural laws, divine decrees] departed from My presence [face, before Me], declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], would Israel’s [the symbolic name of Jacob, his descendants] descendants [seed, offspring] ever cease [stop being, come to an end] to be a nation [Gentile, a large group of people] before Me [in My sight, presence].” word study 37 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: “Only if the heavens [the visible universe and the abode of God] above could be measured [stretched or extended] and the foundations [the starting point or base] of the earth [the land or soil] below searched out [examined closely] would I reject [to spurn or cast off] all of Israel’s descendants [seed or offspring] because of all they have done [made or committed],” declares the LORD [the supreme Ruler and Judge]. word study 38 “The days [of fulfillment, a future time] are coming,” declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], “when this city [a place with a wall or a watchman] will be rebuilt [established or repaired] for Me, from the tower [a tall structure] of Hananel [God has favored] to the Corner [a corner or an angle] Gate [a city entrance or temple door]. word study 39 The measuring line [cord or string, used for marking boundaries] will once again [still, continuing from the past] stretch out straight [in a direct and unbroken path] to the hill [small elevation] of Gareb [a place near Jerusalem, meaning scorpions or rough] and then turn [surround, go around] toward Goah [a location near Jerusalem, possibly named for the sound of cattle]. word study 40 The whole valley [a place of death] of the dead bodies and ashes, and all [every single one] the fields as far as [until, reaching] the Kidron Valley [brook of Kidron, a significant location near Jerusalem], to the corner [angle, pinnacle] of the Horse Gate [gate of the horses, a city entrance] to the east [direction of the sunrise], will be holy [set apart, sacred] to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. It will never again [still, forever] be uprooted [torn away, plucked up] or demolished [overthrown, thrown down].” word study