Jeremiah 31 summary meaning ai explained commentary

Jeremiah 31 meaning explained in AI Summary

Jeremiah 31 marks a turning point in the book, shifting from pronouncements of judgment to messages of hope and restoration for Israel. of the chapter's key themes:

1. God's Unfailing Love for Israel (verses 1-22):

God remembers his love: Despite Israel's rebellion and exile, God's love for them remains steadfast (v. 3). He will gather them back from the nations (v. 8) and restore their land (v. 4).
Joy and celebration: The return from exile will be marked by rejoicing and dancing (v. 4, 12). Even those who mourn will find comfort (v. 15-17).
A new beginning: God promises to "plant" Israel securely in their land (v. 4) and establish a new covenant with them (v. 31).

2. The New Covenant (verses 31-40):

Written on the heart: Unlike the old covenant, which Israel broke, this new covenant will be written on their hearts (v. 33). This signifies an internal transformation and a deeper relationship with God.
Forgiveness and knowledge of God: God will forgive their sins and they will truly know him (v. 34). This points to a personal and intimate relationship with God.
An everlasting covenant: This covenant is described as everlasting (v. 32), signifying its permanence and God's unwavering commitment to his people.

3. A Future of Peace and Prosperity (verses 23-40):

Rebuilt cities and fruitful fields: The land will be restored to its former glory, with cities rebuilt and fields yielding abundant harvests (v. 27-28).
Security and blessing: God promises to protect his people and shower them with blessings (v. 28, 37).
A time of peace: The days of war and suffering will be over, replaced by an era of peace and prosperity (v. 34).

Overall Message:

Jeremiah 31 offers a powerful message of hope and restoration for a people facing despair. It highlights God's unwavering love, his plan for a new covenant based on forgiveness and intimacy, and a future filled with peace and blessing. This chapter serves as a beacon of hope not only for ancient Israel but for all who put their trust in God.

Jeremiah 31 bible study ai commentary

Jeremiah 31 is the radiant centerpiece of Jeremiah's "Book of Consolation." It marks a dramatic shift from prophecies of judgment to promises of glorious hope. The chapter outlines God's plan for a future restoration that is total and transformative, involving the reunification of the divided kingdoms of Israel (the northern tribes, often called Ephraim) and Judah (the southern tribes). Its climax is the promise of a New Covenant, one that would be internal and relational, written on the heart rather than on stone. This covenant, guaranteed by the very order of creation, promises profound forgiveness and an intimate knowledge of God, themes that resonate throughout the rest of Scripture.

Jeremiah 31 context

Jeremiah prophesied during the final, tumultuous years of the Kingdom of Judah, before and during the Babylonian exile (c. 627-586 BC). The Northern Kingdom of Israel had already been decimated and exiled by Assyria over a century earlier (722 BC). The original audience was a people facing national collapse, the destruction of their capital and Temple, and forced deportation. In this bleak context of loss and despair, this chapter was a beacon of seemingly impossible hope, assuring them that God’s judgment was not his final word. His ultimate purpose was redemption and renewal, not annihilation.

Jeremiah 31:1

"At that time, declares the Lord, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.”

In-depth-analysis

At that time: Connects this promise of hope directly to the preceding judgments in chapter 30. Restoration follows discipline.
God of all the clans of Israel: A radical promise of reunification. Since the split after King Solomon (c. 930 BC), there were two separate kingdoms. This promise reverses the division, uniting the exiled northern tribes ("Israel") with the soon-to-be-exiled southern tribes ("Judah").
I will be their God... they shall be my people: This is the foundational covenant formula. It signifies the restoration of a relationship broken by sin and idolatry. God is the initiator of this reconciliation.

Bible references

Ezekiel 37:21-22: "...I will take the people of Israel from the nations... and I will make them one nation in the land... they shall be no longer two nations..." (Parallel promise of reunification).
Hebrews 8:10: "...I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Quotes this covenant formula from later in Jer 31 as fulfilled in Christ).
Hosea 1:11: "And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together..." (An earlier prophecy of reunification).

Cross references

Lev 26:12 (original covenant promise); Isa 11:12-13 (gathering dispersed of Israel/Judah); Zech 10:6 (strengthening Judah and saving Joseph); Rev 21:3 (ultimate fulfillment).

Jeremiah 31:2

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

In-depth-analysis

This verse deliberately evokes the memory of the Exodus. The "wilderness" was where the original nation was formed and sustained by God's grace after escaping the "sword" of Egypt.
The coming exile in Babylon is framed as a new wilderness experience. Just as God showed grace (Hebrew: ḥēn) to Israel in the Sinai wilderness, He will show grace to them in their exile.
"Sought for rest" recalls God's promise to give them rest in the Promised Land, a rest they forfeited through disobedience but which will be offered again.

Bible references

Exodus 33:14: "And he said, 'My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'" (God's promise to Moses in the wilderness).
Deuteronomy 32:10: "He found him in a desert land... he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye." (God's past care in the wilderness).
Hebrews 4:8-9: "For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God." (Spiritual fulfillment of "rest").

Cross references

Num 14:19-20 (God's grace despite rebellion); Ps 95:10-11 (failure to enter His rest); Isa 63:9 (God's presence saving them).

Jeremiah 31:3

"the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."

In-depth-analysis

From far away: Can mean from a distant place (heaven) or a distant time (recalling past covenants). God’s presence feels distant in exile, yet He speaks.
Everlasting love (Hebrew: ’ahăḇaṯ ‘ôlām): This is a foundational statement of God’s unchanging character. His love is not temporary or conditional on Israel's performance; it is eternal.
I have continued my faithfulness (drawn you with loving-kindness): The Hebrew ḥeseḏ (faithfulness, loyal love, mercy) is the active expression of His ’ahăḇaṯ ‘ôlām. It is God’s faithful love that actively pulls or draws His people back to Himself.

Bible references

Isaiah 54:8: "In an outburst of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you..." (God's eternal love contrasted with temporary discipline).
John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son..." (The ultimate expression of everlasting love).
Hosea 11:4: "I led them with cords of kindness, with the bands of love..." (God drawing His people with love).

Cross references

Deut 7:7-8 (God's love is the reason for choosing Israel); Ps 103:17 (mercy is from everlasting); Rom 5:8 (love demonstrated in Christ's death); 1 John 4:19 (we love because He first loved us).

Jeremiah 31:4-5

"Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant and shall enjoy the fruit."

In-depth-analysis

I will build you: Restoration is God's work. The imagery is of rebuilding a person and a nation, not just structures.
O virgin Israel: This addresses the Northern Kingdom, now promised a fresh start. The title "virgin" signifies renewal, purity, and a restored relationship, as if their past "harlotry" of idolatry is washed clean.
Tambourines and dance: These signify the return of pure joy, worship, and celebration, replacing mourning and sorrow.
Vineyards on the mountains of Samaria: A powerful symbol of reunification and blessing. Samaria was the capital of the rival Northern Kingdom. For a Judean prophet like Jeremiah to promise this was a radical message of reconciliation. "Enjoy the fruit" (lit. "profane it") refers to the law in Deuteronomy 20:6 that allowed a planter to enjoy his fruit after the fourth year, implying peace and stability.

Bible references

Isaiah 65:21: "They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit." (A promise of secure, future blessing).
Amos 9:14: "I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities and inhabit them..." (Similar theme of rebuilding and planting).
Isaiah 62:5: "...as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you." (Joyful, restored relationship).

Cross references

Ps 126:1-2 (joy of restoration); Zech 8:12 (the vine will yield its fruit); John 4:20-23 (Jesus breaking down the Samaritan-Jew divide in worship).

Jeremiah 31:6

"For there shall be a day when watchmen will call on the hill country of Ephraim, ‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.’”

In-depth-analysis

This verse depicts the climax of reunification.
Watchmen on... Ephraim: Ephraim was the dominant tribe of the Northern Kingdom and a rival to Judah. Historically, they set up rival worship centers to prevent people from going to Jerusalem (Zion).
Go up to Zion, to the Lord our God: In a complete reversal, the northern tribes themselves will now initiate and encourage pilgrimage to Jerusalem (Zion) for unified worship of the one true God. This heals the ancient political and religious schism.

Bible references

Isaiah 2:3: "and many peoples shall come, and say: 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob...'" (Prophecy of nations coming to Zion).
John 4:21: "...the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father." (Jesus points to a fulfillment that transcends physical location).
1 Kings 12:28-29: "So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold... And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan." (The original sin of the Northern Kingdom, now reversed).

Cross references

Mic 4:2 (nations will come to worship); Ps 122:1 (joy of going to the house of the Lord); Isa 52:8 (watchmen lifting up their voice together).

Jeremiah 31:7-9

"For thus says the Lord: “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations... ‘Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel!’... I will lead them... a great throng, they shall return here. With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back... for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn."

In-depth-analysis

Chief of the nations: A title of honor for Israel, a people chosen by God, whose restoration will be a testimony to all.
Remnant of Israel: A key theological term. God always preserves a faithful remnant through judgment, and it is through them He brings His promised restoration.
Weeping they shall come: This is not the weeping of sorrow, but of repentance and overwhelming joy, like the Prodigal Son returning. Their pleas are not for judgment but are now prayers of gratitude and dependence.
Father to Israel... Ephraim is my firstborn: God uses intimate family language. Declaring Ephraim (the straying north) the "firstborn" is a profound act of grace and restoration. The firstborn son held a place of special honor and inheritance, which Ephraim had forfeited but which God now graciously restores.

Bible references

Luke 15:20-21: "And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him... and the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned...'" (The posture of the returning remnant).
Isaiah 40:11: "He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms..." (Tender guidance during the return).
Exodus 4:22: "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son.'" (God reclaiming his original title for the whole nation).

Cross references

Ps 126:5-6 (sow in tears, reap in joy); Rom 9:27 (a remnant will be saved); Zech 12:10 (spirit of grace and pleas poured out).

Jeremiah 31:10-14

"Hear the word of the Lord, O nations... ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him... For the Lord has ransomed Jacob and redeemed him from hands too strong for him... their life shall be like a watered garden... And I will... turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow."

In-depth-analysis

The call for the "nations" to hear this demonstrates that Israel's restoration is a global event, a testimony to God's power and faithfulness.
Scattered... will gather: God takes ownership of both the judgment (scattering) and the salvation (gathering).
Ransomed... redeemed: These are Exodus terms. God is paying the price to buy His people back from their captors ("hands too strong for him," i.e., Assyria and Babylon).
Watered garden: An image of perpetual life, fruitfulness, and satisfaction, a reversal of the dryness and desolation of exile. The soul's thirst will be satisfied in God.
Mourning into joy: A comprehensive emotional transformation. God's comfort is not just a pat on the back; it's a complete reversal of their emotional state from sorrow to gladness.

Bible references

John 16:20: "...Your sorrow will turn into joy." (Jesus' promise to his disciples).
Isaiah 58:11: "...you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail." (Similar imagery for a restored soul).
Isaiah 35:10: "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return... with everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." (A parallel prophecy of joyful return).

Cross references

Deut 30:3 (God will gather you from the nations); Isa 44:23 (the Lord has redeemed Jacob); Ps 30:11 (turned my mourning into dancing); Rev 21:4 (God will wipe away every tear).

Jeremiah 31:15

"Thus says the Lord: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.”

In-depth-analysis

Ramah: A town in the territory of Benjamin, near where Rachel, the matriarch of the northern tribes, was buried.
Rachel weeping for her children: Rachel was the mother of Joseph (whose sons were Ephraim and Manasseh, the heart of the Northern Kingdom) and Benjamin. She becomes the symbolic mother of the nation, weeping over her descendants who were "no more"—lost to exile and death.
This verse gives a voice to the profound, inconsolable grief of the people. God acknowledges the depth of their pain before offering his comfort.

Bible references

Matthew 2:17-18: "Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 'A voice was heard in Ramah... Rachel weeping for her children...'" (Directly quotes this verse, applying it to the mothers of Bethlehem grieving after Herod's slaughter of the infants).
Genesis 35:16-20: Recounts Rachel's death and burial "on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem)."

Polemics

The New Testament usage in Matthew is an example of typological fulfillment. Jeremiah's prophecy spoke of the grief of the Babylonian exile, which was rooted in the earlier Assyrian exile. Matthew sees Herod's massacre as a further echo or typological instance of this same national grief, finding its ultimate focus in the events surrounding the birth of the Messiah.

Jeremiah 31:16-17

"Thus says the Lord: “Keep your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work shall be rewarded, declares the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope for your future, declares the Lord, and your children shall come back to their own country.”

In-depth-analysis

God responds directly to Rachel's grief. He doesn't dismiss her pain but meets it with a powerful command and promise.
Your work shall be rewarded: The "work" of motherhood, of raising a nation, has not been in vain. The nation will not cease to exist.
Hope for your future: A direct counterpoint to the despair of "they are no more." The promise is concrete: they will physically return from exile to their own land.

Bible references

Isaiah 40:1-2: "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem..." (A command to comfort, followed by a promise).
Isaiah 49:25: "...I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children." (God's promise to personally rescue his people).

Cross references

Ezra 1:1-4 (historical fulfillment of return); Lam 3:21-26 (hope in God's faithfulness); Ruth 4:15 (restorer of life).

Jeremiah 31:18-20

"I have heard Ephraim grieving, ‘You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf; bring me back that I may be restored, for you are the Lord my God...' Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he my darling child? For as often as I speak against him, I do remember him still. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, declares the Lord."

In-depth-analysis

God now voices the repentance of Ephraim (the North). The discipline, though harsh, has worked.
Untrained calf: A perfect metaphor for stubborn, rebellious Israel, finally submitting to the yoke of God's discipline.
Bring me back that I may be restored (or, Turn me, and I shall turn): This is a profound theological statement. True repentance is not just a human decision; it is a response to God's enabling grace. We can only turn because He first turns us.
God's emotional response: The language is incredibly tender and parental. "Dear son... darling child." Despite Ephraim's sin and God's necessary judgment ("I speak against him"), His underlying love never fails ("I do remember him still").
My heart yearns for him: A visceral, emotional description of God's deep compassion. He is not a distant, stoic deity but a loving Father whose discipline pains him.

Bible references

Luke 15:20: "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him." (Perfect illustration of God's heart for a repentant child).
Hosea 11:8: "How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel?... My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender." (Similar display of God's anguished love for Ephraim).
Psalm 80:3: "Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!" (A cry for God-initiated restoration).

Cross references

Lam 5:21 (Turn us to yourself, O Lord); Ps 51:10 (Create in me a clean heart); Deut 30:2-3 (when you return to the Lord, he will restore you).

Jeremiah 31:21-22

"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. How long will you waver, O faithless daughter? For the Lord has created a new thing on the earth: a woman shall encompass a man.”

In-depth-analysis

Road markers... guideposts: Practical instructions to the exiles to mark the way home, implying a certain, physical return.
How long will you waver?: A call to end the vacillation and indecisiveness that characterized Israel's spiritual adultery.
A new thing on the earth: a woman shall encompass a man: This is a famously debated verse.
- Main interpretation: It signifies a reversal of the normal state of affairs. Instead of God (the husband) constantly pursuing a wayward Israel (the bride), a renewed Israel will now lovingly and protectively embrace/surround God. It signals a new desire and faithfulness in God's people.
- Other views: Some see it as a reversal of military fortunes (the weak overcoming the strong) or even as a foreshadowing of the virgin birth of Christ (Mary "encompassing" Jesus), though this is less supported by the immediate context.
The point is that God is doing something unprecedented (bārā’ ḥădāšâ - "created a new thing") to heal the relationship.

Bible references

Isaiah 43:19: "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?" (God's promise of unprecedented action).
Galatians 4:4: "...God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law," (A potential 'new thing' fulfillment for Christian interpreters).
Hosea 2:19-20: "And I will betroth you to me forever..." (God's initiative to create a new, faithful relationship).

Jeremiah 31:23-26

"...they shall again use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I restore their fortunes: ‘The Lord bless you, O righteous habitation, O holy hill!’ And Judah and all its cities shall dwell there together... For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish... At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant."

In-depth-analysis

The focus shifts explicitly to Judah (the South), showing the restoration is for both kingdoms.
Righteous habitation, O holy hill: This new title for Jerusalem indicates a moral and spiritual transformation, not just a physical one. Its holiness will be restored.
Satisfy the weary... replenish the languishing: God's restoration will bring deep spiritual and emotional refreshment to those exhausted by sin and exile.
v. 26, Jeremiah's response: The prophet, who has delivered so many painful messages, finds this vision of hope so wonderful and refreshing that it feels like a pleasant dream. It offers him personal comfort as well.

Bible references

Matthew 11:28: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Jesus' call to the weary soul).
Psalm 122:6-8: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!... For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good." (The blessing of Jerusalem).

Cross references

Isa 1:26 (city of righteousness); Joel 3:17 (Jerusalem shall be holy); Ps 23:2-3 (he restores my soul).

Jeremiah 31:27-30

"...I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast... I will watch over them to build and to plant. In those days they shall no longer say: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge."

In-depth-analysis

I will sow... with the seed of man and beast: After the depopulation of war and exile, God promises to repopulate the land with both humans and livestock, signaling a return of life and prosperity.
The Proverb: The saying about "sour grapes" was a popular excuse, blaming the current generation's suffering entirely on the sins of their ancestors. It was a way of avoiding personal responsibility.
Ending the proverb: God declares that under the new reality He is creating, the principle of individual responsibility will be undeniable. While consequences of sin can span generations, ultimate guilt and judgment from God are individual. This isn't a new theological principle (see Deut 24:16), but it will become the clear, lived experience of the restored community.

Bible references

Ezekiel 18:2-4: "What do you mean by repeating this proverb...? ‘...The soul who sins shall die.’" (Ezekiel dedicates a full chapter to refuting this same proverb).
Deuteronomy 24:16: "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children be put to death for their fathers. Each one shall be put to death for his own sin." (The Mosaic Law already taught this principle).
Galatians 6:7-8: "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." (NT principle of personal accountability).

Jeremiah 31:31-34

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers... my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband... But this is the covenant that I will make... I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts... For they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest... For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

In-depth-analysis

This is the pinnacle of the chapter and a foundational text for all of Scripture.
v. 31: A new covenant (Hebrew: bərîṯ ḥădāšāh): This is qualitatively new, not just a renewal of the old.
v. 32: Not like the covenant... which they broke: It contrasts sharply with the Mosaic Covenant. The fault was not in the Law, but in the people's inability to keep it. The Law was external (on stone), but the human heart was rebellious. I was their husband (ba'al) signifies God's spousal relationship with them, which they violated.
v. 33: The essence of the newness:
- Internalization: "I will put my law within them... write it on their hearts." The change is internal, not external. God will change the very nature and desires of His people through His Spirit so they want to obey.
- Relationship: It re-establishes the core covenant formula: "I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
v. 34: The results of the newness:
- Universal, direct knowledge: "they shall all know me" speaks of an unmediated, personal, and intimate relationship with God for every member of the covenant community, not just a select few prophets or priests.
- Radical forgiveness: The foundation for this entire new reality is the complete forgiveness of sins. "I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." God chooses not to hold their sins against them.

Bible references

Hebrews 8:8-12: (Quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 verbatim) Argues that this New Covenant is inaugurated by Jesus Christ, making the first covenant obsolete.
Luke 22:20: "And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.'" (Jesus explicitly identifies his death as the ratification of this New Covenant).
2 Corinthians 3:3, 6: "...written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts... [He] has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant..." (Paul directly applies Jer 31 to the work of the Spirit in the church).
Ezekiel 36:26-27: "And I will give you a new heart and a new spirit I will put within you... And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes..." (A parallel prophecy of internal transformation).

Jeremiah 31:35-37

"Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night... ‘If this fixed order departs from before me... then shall the offspring of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever... If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel...’”

In-depth-analysis

God provides an unbreakable guarantee for his New Covenant promise.
He anchors the permanence of his covenant with Israel to the permanence of the created order. The argument is one from impossibility.
As long as the sun, moon, stars, and seas obey God's laws, His covenant promise to Israel will stand. It is a cosmic-level oath.
This is a powerful word of assurance against the fear that Israel's sin was so great that God might actually abandon them forever.

Bible references

Romans 11:29: "For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable." (Paul's theological summary of this principle).
Psalm 89:36-37: "His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me. Like the moon it shall be established forever, a faithful witness in the skies." (A similar promise for the Davidic covenant).
Isaiah 54:9-10: "For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed." (God's love is more stable than mountains).

Jeremiah 31:38-40

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when the city shall be rebuilt for the Lord from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate... the whole valley of the dead bodies and the ashes... shall be holy to the Lord. It shall not be plucked up or overthrown anymore forever.”

In-depth-analysis

The chapter ends with a very specific, geographical promise of Jerusalem's restoration. The naming of specific gates and locations makes the promise concrete.
The whole valley of the dead bodies and the ashes: This likely refers to the Hinnom Valley (Gehenna), a place associated with garbage, burning, and even child sacrifice (Jer 7:31).
Shall be holy to the Lord: The most defiled, unclean place associated with the city will be consecrated and made holy. This symbolizes total transformation and sanctification. Nothing will remain unclean.
The promise that it will never be "plucked up or overthrown anymore forever" points toward an ultimate, eschatological fulfillment beyond the historical rebuilding by Nehemiah, culminating in the New Jerusalem.

Bible references

Nehemiah 3:1: "Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel." (The historical, partial fulfillment).
Zechariah 14:10-11: "...Jerusalem shall be raised up and inhabited in its place... And it shall be inhabited, for there shall be no more curse..." (Prophecy of a future, secure, and holy Jerusalem).
Revelation 21:2, 27: "...I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God... But nothing unclean will ever enter it..." (The ultimate, eternal fulfillment).

Jeremiah chapter 31 analysis

Dual Fulfillment: Many prophecies in this chapter have both a near-historical fulfillment and an ultimate eschatological fulfillment. The return from Babylonian exile was a real, partial fulfillment, but the fullness of the promises (especially the New Covenant) is realized in Christ and awaits its final consummation in the new heavens and new earth.
Reunification Theme: The constant pairing of "Israel and Judah" and the focus on "Ephraim" is central. This is not just about Judah's return from Babylon but about God's plan to heal the centuries-old schism and create one unified people of God. For Christians, this finds fulfillment in Christ, who unites Jew and Gentile into one new man (Eph 2:15).
From External to Internal: The chapter marks a crucial turn in salvation history. The focus moves from a covenant based on external laws and rituals to one based on internal transformation of the heart by God's Spirit.
God's Pathos: Jeremiah 31 uniquely reveals the "pathos" or emotion of God. We hear his pained, yearning love for Ephraim (v. 20), His delight in blessing (v. 23-25), and his direct response to grief (v. 16). He is not a distant philosophical absolute but a deeply personal and relational Father.
Relationship as Goal: The end goal of all the promised actions—returning, rebuilding, replanting—is the restoration of the relationship expressed in the covenant formula: "I will be their God, and they will be my people."

Jeremiah 31 summary

Jeremiah 31 provides a message of profound hope amidst despair, promising the complete restoration of a reunited Israel and Judah. It details a joyous return from exile, likens it to a new Exodus, and beautifully captures both the people's repentance and God’s deep, fatherly love. The chapter's apex is the promise of a New Covenant, one fundamentally different from the Mosaic covenant because it will be written on the heart, enabling an intimate, personal knowledge of God for all, grounded in the absolute forgiveness of sins. This unbreakable promise, guaranteed by the order of creation itself, culminates in a vision of a rebuilt and utterly sanctified Jerusalem.

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¹ At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.
² 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.
³ The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
⁴ Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
⁵ Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.
⁶ For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.
⁷ For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.
⁸ Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.
⁹ They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
¹⁰ Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
¹¹ For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.
¹² Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
¹³ Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
¹⁴ And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.
¹⁵ Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
¹⁶ Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
¹⁷ And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.
¹⁸ I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.
¹⁹ Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.
²⁰ Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.
²¹ 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.
²² How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.
²³ Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.
²⁴ And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.
²⁵ For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
²⁶ Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.
²⁷ Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.
²⁸ And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD.
²⁹ In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.
³⁰ But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.
³¹ Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
³² Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
³³ But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
³⁴ And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
³⁵ Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:
³⁶ If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
³⁷ Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
³⁸ Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner.
³⁹ And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.
⁴⁰ And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.

Jeremiah chapter 31 nkjv

¹ "At the same time," says the LORD, "I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people."
² Thus says the LORD: "The people who survived the sword Found grace in the wilderness? Israel, when I went to give him rest."
³ The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.
⁴ Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, And shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.
⁵ You shall yet plant vines on the mountains of Samaria; The planters shall plant and eat them as ordinary food.
⁶ For there shall be a day When the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim, 'Arise, and let us go up to Zion, To the LORD our God.' "
⁷ For thus says the LORD: "Sing with gladness for Jacob, And shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give praise, and say, 'O LORD, save Your people, The remnant of Israel!'
⁸ Behold, I will bring them from the north country, And gather them from the ends of the earth, Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child And the one who labors with child, together; A great throng shall return there.
⁹ They shall come with weeping, And with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, In a straight way in which they shall not stumble; For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.
¹⁰ "Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, And declare it in the isles afar off, and say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, And keep him as a shepherd does his flock.'
¹¹ For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And ransomed him from the hand of one stronger than he.
¹² Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, Streaming to the goodness of the LORD? For wheat and new wine and oil, For the young of the flock and the herd; Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, And they shall sorrow no more at all.
¹³ "Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together; For I will turn their mourning to joy, Will comfort them, And make them rejoice rather than sorrow.
¹⁴ I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance, And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the LORD."
¹⁵ Thus says the LORD: "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more."
¹⁶ Thus says the LORD: "Refrain your voice from weeping, And your eyes from tears; For your work shall be rewarded, says the LORD, And they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
¹⁷ There is hope in your future, says the LORD, That your children shall come back to their own border.
¹⁸ "I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: 'You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained bull; Restore me, and I will return, For You are the LORD my God.
¹⁹ Surely, after my turning, I repented; And after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh; I was ashamed, yes, even humiliated, Because I bore the reproach of my youth.'
²⁰ Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For though I spoke against him, I earnestly remember him still; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says the LORD.
²¹ "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.
²² How long will you gad about, O you backsliding daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the earth? A woman shall encompass a man."
²³ Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "They shall again use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I bring back their captivity: 'The LORD bless you, O home of justice, and mountain of holiness!'
²⁴ And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all its cities together, farmers and those going out with flocks.
²⁵ For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul."
²⁶ After this I awoke and looked around, and my sleep was sweet to me.
²⁷ "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast.
²⁸ And it shall come to pass, that as I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to throw down, to destroy, and to afflict, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, says the LORD.
²⁹ In those days they shall say no more: 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children's teeth are set on edge.'
³⁰ But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
³¹ "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah?
³² not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD.
³³ But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
³⁴ No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."
³⁵ Thus says the LORD, Who gives the sun for a light by day, The ordinances of the moon and the stars for a light by night, Who disturbs the sea, And its waves roar (The LORD of hosts is His name):
³⁶ "If those ordinances depart From before Me, says the LORD, Then the seed of Israel shall also cease From being a nation before Me forever."
³⁷ Thus says the LORD: "If heaven above can be measured, And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel For all that they have done, says the LORD.
³⁸ "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, that the city shall be built for the LORD from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.
³⁹ The surveyor's line shall again extend straight forward over the hill Gareb; then it shall turn toward Goath.
⁴⁰ And the whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields as far as the Brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD. It shall not be plucked up or thrown down anymore forever."

Jeremiah chapter 31 niv

¹ "At that time," declares the LORD, "I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people."
² This is what the LORD says: "The people who survive the sword will find favor in the wilderness; I will come to give rest to Israel."
³ The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
⁴ I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt. Again you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful.
⁵ Again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria; the farmers will plant them and enjoy their fruit.
⁶ There will be a day when watchmen cry out on the hills of Ephraim, 'Come, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.'?"
⁷ This is what the LORD says: "Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the foremost of the nations. Make your praises heard, and say, 'LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel.'
⁸ See, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the ends of the earth. Among them will be the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor; a great throng will return.
⁹ They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.
¹⁰ "Hear the word of the LORD, you nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands: 'He who scattered Israel will gather them and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.'
¹¹ For the LORD will deliver Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.
¹² They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will rejoice in the bounty of the LORD? the grain, the new wine and the olive oil, the young of the flocks and herds. They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more.
¹³ Then young women will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
¹⁴ I will satisfy the priests with abundance, and my people will be filled with my bounty," declares the LORD.
¹⁵ This is what the LORD says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."
¹⁶ This is what the LORD says: "Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded," declares the LORD. "They will return from the land of the enemy.
¹⁷ So there is hope for your descendants," declares the LORD. "Your children will return to their own land.
¹⁸ "I have surely heard Ephraim's moaning: 'You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the LORD my God.
¹⁹ After I strayed, I repented; after I came to understand, I beat my breast. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.'
²⁰ Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him," declares the LORD.
²¹ "Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road that you take. Return, Virgin Israel, return to your towns.
²² How long will you wander, unfaithful Daughter Israel? The LORD will create a new thing on earth? the woman will return to the man."
²³ This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "When I bring them back from captivity, the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: 'The LORD bless you, you prosperous city, you sacred mountain.'
²⁴ People will live together in Judah and all its towns?farmers and those who move about with their flocks.
²⁵ I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint."
²⁶ At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.
²⁷ "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will plant the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals.
²⁸ Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant," declares the LORD.
²⁹ "In those days people will no longer say, 'The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.'
³⁰ Instead, everyone will die for their own sin; whoever eats sour grapes?their own teeth will be set on edge.
³¹ "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.
³² It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the LORD.
³³ "This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time," declares the LORD. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
³⁴ No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."
³⁵ This is what the LORD says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar? the LORD Almighty is his name:
³⁶ "Only if these decrees vanish from my sight," declares the LORD, "will Israel ever cease being a nation before me."
³⁷ This is what the LORD says: "Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done," declares the LORD.
³⁸ "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when this city will be rebuilt for me from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.
³⁹ The measuring line will stretch from there straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn to Goah.
⁴⁰ The whole valley where dead bodies and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate, will be holy to the LORD. The city will never again be uprooted or demolished."

Jeremiah chapter 31 esv

¹ "At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people."
² Thus says the LORD: "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest,
³ the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
⁴ Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.
⁵ Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant and shall enjoy the fruit.
⁶ For there shall be a day when watchmen will call in the hill country of Ephraim: 'Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.'"
⁷ For thus says the LORD: "Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, 'O LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel.'
⁸ Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here.
⁹ With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
¹⁰ "Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.'
¹¹ For the LORD has ransomed Jacob and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
¹² They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the LORD, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more.
¹³ Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
¹⁴ I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, declares the LORD."
¹⁵ Thus says the LORD: "A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more."
¹⁶ Thus says the LORD: "Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the LORD, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
¹⁷ There is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children shall come back to their own country.
¹⁸ I have heard Ephraim grieving, 'You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf; bring me back that I may be restored, for you are the LORD my God.
¹⁹ For after I had turned away, I relented, and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh; I was ashamed, and I was confounded, because I bore the disgrace of my youth.'
²⁰ Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he my darling child? For as often as I speak against him, I do remember him still. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, declares the LORD.
²¹ "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.
²² How long will you waver, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing on the earth: a woman encircles a man."
²³ Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Once more they shall use these words in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I restore their fortunes: "'The LORD bless you, O habitation of righteousness, O holy hill!'
²⁴ And Judah and all its cities shall dwell there together, and the farmers and those who wander with their flocks.
²⁵ For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish."
²⁶ At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me.
²⁷ "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast.
²⁸ And it shall come to pass that as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring harm, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, declares the LORD.
²⁹ In those days they shall no longer say: "'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.'
³⁰ But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.
³¹ "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
³² not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD.
³³ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
³⁴ And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
³⁵ Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar ? the LORD of hosts is his name:
³⁶ "If this fixed order departs from before me, declares the LORD, then shall the offspring of Israel cease from being a nation before me forever."
³⁷ Thus says the LORD: "If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, declares the LORD."
³⁸ "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when the city shall be rebuilt for the LORD from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.
³⁹ And the measuring line shall go out farther, straight to the hill Gareb, and shall then turn to Goah.
⁴⁰ The whole valley of the dead bodies and the ashes, and all the fields as far as the brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be sacred to the LORD. It shall not be plucked up or overthrown anymore forever."

Jeremiah chapter 31 nlt

¹ "In that day," says the LORD, "I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.
² 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."
³ Long ago the LORD said to Israel:
"I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.
With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.
⁴ I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel.
You will again be happy
and dance merrily with your tambourines.
⁵ Again you will plant your vineyards on the mountains of Samaria
and eat from your own gardens there.
⁶ The day will come when watchmen will shout
from the hill country of Ephraim,
'Come, let us go up to Jerusalem
to worship the LORD our God.'"
⁷ Now this is what the LORD says:
"Sing with joy for Israel.
Shout for the greatest of nations!
Shout out with praise and joy:
'Save your people, O LORD,
the remnant of Israel!'
⁸ For I will bring them from the north
and from the distant corners of the earth.
I will not forget the blind and lame,
the expectant mothers and women in labor.
A great company will return!
⁹ Tears of joy will stream down their faces,
and I will lead them home with great care.
They will walk beside quiet streams
and on smooth paths where they will not stumble.
For I am Israel's father,
and Ephraim is my oldest child.
¹⁰ "Listen to this message from the LORD,
you nations of the world;
proclaim it in distant coastlands:
The LORD, who scattered his people,
will gather them and watch over them
as a shepherd does his flock.
¹¹ For the LORD has redeemed Israel
from those too strong for them.
¹² They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem.
They will be radiant because of the LORD's good gifts ?
the abundant crops of grain, new wine, and olive oil,
and the healthy flocks and herds.
Their life will be like a watered garden,
and all their sorrows will be gone.
¹³ The young women will dance for joy,
and the men ? old and young ? will join in the celebration.
I will turn their mourning into joy.
I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.
¹⁴ The priests will enjoy abundance,
and my people will feast on my good gifts.
I, the LORD, have spoken!"
¹⁵ This is what the LORD says: "A cry is heard in Ramah ?
deep anguish and bitter weeping.
Rachel weeps for her children,
refusing to be comforted ?
for her children are gone."
¹⁶ But now this is what the LORD says:
"Do not weep any longer,
for I will reward you," says the LORD.
"Your children will come back to you
from the distant land of the enemy.
¹⁷ There is hope for your future," says the LORD.
"Your children will come again to their own land.
¹⁸ I have heard Israel saying,
'You disciplined me severely,
like a calf that needs training for the yoke.
Turn me again to you and restore me,
for you alone are the LORD my God.
¹⁹ I turned away from God,
but then I was sorry.
I kicked myself for my stupidity!
I was thoroughly ashamed of all I did in my younger days.'
²⁰ "Is not Israel still my son,
my darling child?" says the LORD.
"I often have to punish him,
but I still love him.
That's why I long for him
and surely will have mercy on him.
²¹ 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.
²² How long will you wander,
my wayward daughter?
For the LORD will cause something new to happen ?
Israel will embrace her God. "
²³ This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says: "When I bring them back from captivity, the people of Judah and its towns will again say, 'The LORD bless you, O righteous home, O holy mountain!'
²⁴ Townspeople and farmers and shepherds alike will live together in peace and happiness.
²⁵ For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing."
²⁶ At this, I woke up and looked around. My sleep had been very sweet.
²⁷ "The day is coming," says the LORD, "when I will greatly increase the human population and the number of animals here in Israel and Judah.
²⁸ In the past I deliberately uprooted and tore down this nation. I overthrew it, destroyed it, and brought disaster upon it. But in the future I will just as deliberately plant it and build it up. I, the LORD, have spoken!
²⁹ "The people will no longer quote this proverb: 'The parents have eaten sour grapes,
but their children's mouths pucker at the taste.'
³⁰ All people will die for their own sins ? those who eat the sour grapes will be the ones whose mouths will pucker.
³¹ "The day is coming," says the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.
³² This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife," says the LORD.
³³ "But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days," says the LORD. "I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
³⁴ And they will not need to teach their neighbors, nor will they need to teach their relatives, saying, 'You should know the LORD.' For everyone, from the least to the greatest, will know me already," says the LORD. "And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins."
³⁵ It is the LORD who provides the sun to light the day
and the moon and stars to light the night,
and who stirs the sea into roaring waves.
His name is the LORD of Heaven's Armies,
and this is what he says:
³⁶ "I am as likely to reject my people Israel
as I am to abolish the laws of nature!"
³⁷ This is what the LORD says:
"Just as the heavens cannot be measured
and the foundations of the earth cannot be explored,
so I will not consider casting them away
for the evil they have done.
I, the LORD, have spoken!
³⁸ "The day is coming," says the LORD, "when all Jerusalem will be rebuilt for me, from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.
³⁹ A measuring line will be stretched out over the hill of Gareb and across to Goah.
⁴⁰ And the entire area ? including the graveyard and ash dump in the valley, and all the fields out to the Kidron Valley on the east as far as the Horse Gate ? will be holy to the LORD. The city will never again be captured or destroyed."