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1“At that time,” Yahweh declares, “I will be the true God of every family of Israel, and they will be my very own people.”[#31:1 That is, not just the northern tribes but every clan and tribe of Israel.]
2Yahweh says:
“My people who survived the slaughter and the sword
found grace in their difficult wilderness.
I am bringing Israel to her rest.”
3Yahweh appeared to me from another realm and said ,[#31:3 Or “appeared to him [LXX] from far off” or “from long ago.” This was apparently a supernatural manifestation of God before the prophet Jeremiah. However, some believe it was God appearing to Moses before the burning presence or to Israel at Mount Sinai.]
“I have deeply loved you with a forever-love;
that is why I have been so patient and kind
to draw you to my heart .
4You are precious to me, and I will build you up again.[#31:4 Or “Virgin Israel”; that is, Israel is as precious to God as a young daughter.; #31:4 The Hebrew word for “build” here has a double meaning: (1) This is the same word used when God shaped (formed) a woman (see Gen. 2:22); in the same way, now he will build virgin Israel into a complete individual. (2) It also refers to the reconstruction of the nation.]
Yes, Israel, you will be rebuilt!
Once more, you will be decked out in your best attire ,
take up your tambourines,
and go out dancing with great joy.
5Once more you will plant vineyards
on the mountains of Samaria,
and those who plant them will enjoy the fruit.
6Yes, there will be a day when the watchmen cry out
on the mountains of Samaria,
‘Come on! Let’s go up to Zion
to meet with Yahweh our God and worship him !’ ”
7For Yahweh says:
“Sing with joyous delight for Israel!
Yes, shout out praise for the foremost of the nations.
‘Yahweh , save your people,
the remnant of Israel.
Proclaim the news! Praise him! Shout it out!’
8Watch, as I bring them back
from the land of the north
and gather them from the ends of the earth.
Even the blind and the lame will be among them.
Expectant mothers, women about to give birth,
will come and be a part of that great homecoming.
9They will return praying with tears[#31:9 The weeping would likely include both tears of joy and tears of repentance.]
as I lead them home .
I will guide them to streams of water,
by a smooth path where they will not stumble.
For I am Israel’s Father,
and Ephraim is my firstborn son.
10“Listen, nations, to the word of Yahweh .
Proclaim it on the distant coastlands, saying,
‘He who scattered Israel will gather him.
Like a shepherd guards his flock,
Yahweh watches over his people.’
11For Yahweh has ransomed the people of Israel[#31:11 Or “Jacob.”]
and rescued them from an enemy stronger than themselves.
12They will come, singing for joy on the heights of Zion,
and the goodness of Yahweh will make them radiant.
Yahweh will bless them with grain, new wine,
olive oil, flocks, and herds.
They will be prosperous
and grow like a well-watered garden,
with no reason to be discouraged.
13The young girls, the young men, and the elderly
will dance and celebrate together.
I will turn their sad memories into gladness.
I will give them joy after all their trouble
and will be their comfort.”
14Yahweh says,
“I will refresh the desire of my priests with abundance
and lavish gifts on my people
until they are more than satisfied.”
15Yahweh says,
“In Ramah voices are crying;
it is the sound of wailing and bitter weeping.
Rachel is mourning for her children,
and she refuses to let anyone comfort her over her loss,
because her children are no more.”
16Yahweh says,
“Stop weeping and wipe away your tears!
For I will reward you for raising your children,”
declares Yahweh ,
“and they will return from the land of their enemies.
17There is a door of hope for your future after all,[#31:17 See Jer. 29:11; Hos. 2:14–15. The Babylonian captivity was their “door of hope.” Even in Israel’s difficult situation, God was making himself available to them. So it is with us today. We should see our difficulties as “doors of hope” into a greater grace and miracle power from God to transform troubles into triumphs.]
your children will return to their homeland,”
declares Yahweh .
18“I have heard it! The people of Israel moaning,
‘You disciplined us like young, untamed bulls,
but you broke us, and we’ve learned to obey.
Bring us back, Yahweh ; let us come home,
for you are our God.
19Although we turned away, we have repented.
You made us aware of our guilt, and we hung our heads,
for we were deeply ashamed and humiliated,
and we bear the disgrace of our youth.’ ”
20Yahweh replies,
“Ephraim, you are still my child no matter what you’ve done ;
you are still my beloved children,
my very precious children.
Even though I rebuke you,
my thoughts are filled with love .
That is why I am so deeply moved with compassion ,
for I long for you and have mercy in my heart for you,”
declares Yahweh .
21“Set up your signposts and road markers
to find your way home .
Take note of the pathway,
and remember the road by which you went.
Come home, my beloved Israel;
return to your own cities.
22Faithless one,
how long will you hesitate?
For Yahweh is creating something new on earth.
A woman will rescue a warrior!”
23Yahweh , the God of Israel, Commander of Angel Armies, says, “This blessing will once again be heard throughout Judah and its towns when I bring their captives home:
“ ‘May Yahweh bless
the Holy Place where he lives,
O holy mountain of Jerusalem !’
24“People throughout Judah and her towns will live together in peace , both the farmers and shepherds with their flocks.
25For I will refresh the weary soul and satisfy all those who have given up on life.”
26At this, I awoke and realized
that my sleep had been sweet to me.
27“Look, the days are coming,” Yahweh declares, “when I will repopulate the land of Israel and Judah with both people and livestock.[#31:27 Or “I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of animals [livestock].”]
28I have watched over them to uproot, to knock down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring calamity, so now, I will carefully watch over them as they start over again and rebuild. And I will help them grow,” declares Yahweh .
29“In those days, people will no longer quote the proverb :
‘Children must pay the consequences of their fathers’ sins.’
30“Rather, everyone who eats sour grapes will have a stomachache. Each one will be responsible for their own sins.”[#31:30 See Ezek. 18:2–4.]
31Yahweh declares: “Look, the days are coming when I will enter into a brand-new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.[#31:31 Verses 31–34 are some of the most important verses in all the Old Testament. They speak of a future new covenant unlike the old one established at Sinai and based on people’s obedience to God’s laws. The new covenant imparts a new heart and empowers one to fulfill God’s desires. God gives a new, faithful heart to follow him. This is the new covenant that Jesus Christ initiated at the Last Supper with the cup (his blood) and the bread (his body). This new covenant has been ratified and confirmed and forever supersedes the covenant made at Sinai. The Sinai covenant required perfect obedience, but the new covenant extends perfect forgiveness and removes the guilt, stain, and power of sin. The first was written on stones, the second on tender hearts.]
32It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt. They broke that covenant even though I was their husband,” declares Yahweh .
33“No, this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel when the time has come,” declares Yahweh . “I will embed my law into the core of their being and write it on their hearts and minds. Then I will truly be their God, and they will truly be my people.[#31:33 This is not the law of letters but the law of life. It is not written with ink or etched in stone but written by the Spirit in the core of our inner being. The “law” he puts within us is himself. God puts himself in us as life, and his life is the law he embeds within us.]
34None of them will have to teach their friends or family, saying, ‘Come and know Yahweh intimately !’ No, from the least to the greatest, they will all know me intimately ,” Yahweh declares, “for I will remove their guilt and wipe their sin from my memory.”[#31:34 See Heb. 8:6–12; 10:16–17. Since God has forgiven believers of every sin, to know God is to forgive others and to not remember their sins. In this way, we live out our redemption in Christ.]
35“I am Yahweh All-Powerful.
I declare to you:
I order the sun to light up the day,
the stars and moon to brighten the night.
I stir the sea and make the ocean waves roar.
My name is Yahweh , Commander of Angel Armies.
36Just as this established order will not pass away,
so I will never let Israel cease from being a nation.
“I, Yahweh , have spoken.
37It is impossible for you to measure the heavens above
or to fathom the foundations of the earth below.
In the same way, it is impossible for me
to reject my people Israel,
no matter what they have done,”
declares Yahweh .
38“Look, the days are coming when the people will rebuild Jerusalem for me,” declares Yahweh . “They will rebuild it from the northeast Tower of Hananel to the northwest Corner Gate.[#31:38 Or “the city.”; #31:38 See 2 Kings 14:13; 2 Chron. 26:9; Zech. 14:10.]
39And the measuring line will stretch out farther to the Gareb Hill, turning then to Goah.[#31:39 The locations of Gareb Hill and Goah are uncertain. Scholars generally agree, however, that Gareb Hill is likely at the southwestern corner of the city. A few scholars identify Gareb Hill with the hill above the Hinnom Valley (see Josh. 15:8; 18:16) or possibly the hill Josephus cites as “Bezetha” ( The Wars of the Jews , 5.149). It is possible that the Hebrew word for “Gareb” (Hb. garab ) could also be translated “leprosy,” thus “Leprosy Hill.”]
40And the entire Hinnom Valley, with its bones and ashes, and all the fields as far as the brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate eastward, will be consecrated and sacred to Yahweh . Jerusalem will never be overthrown or destroyed again.”[#31:40 The Horse Gate was at the southeast corner of the city (see 2 Kings 11:16; 2 Chron. 23:15; Neh. 3:28).; #31:40 Even the place of despicable acts, such as human sacrifice, God will redeem and consecrate to himself. Nothing and no one is beyond the reach of a loving, holy God.]