Jeremiah 31 10

Jeremiah 31:10 kjv

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.

Jeremiah 31:10 nkjv

"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.'

Jeremiah 31:10 niv

"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.'

Jeremiah 31:10 esv

"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.'

Jeremiah 31:10 nlt

"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.

Jeremiah 31 verses

Jeremiah 31 10 meaning

Jeremiah 31:10 delivers a divine command to all nations and distant lands to listen to and proclaim a profound message of hope: the God who, in His sovereignty, dispersed Israel will faithfully gather them back and protect them with the tender care of a shepherd tending his flock. This message underscores God's absolute control over judgment and restoration.

Jeremiah 31 10 Context

Jeremiah 31 is a pivotal chapter within Jeremiah's "Book of Consolation" (chapters 30-33), which offers messages of hope and restoration to Israel and Judah. While earlier chapters are filled with pronouncements of judgment for their disobedience and idolatry, this section dramatically shifts to divine promises of future restoration, reconciliation, and the establishment of a New Covenant. Historically, Jeremiah prophesied during the decline and fall of Judah, leading up to the Babylonian exile. The Northern Kingdom (Israel) had already been scattered by Assyria. Therefore, the message of gathering the scattered people back to their land was profoundly counter-cultural to the experience of exile and defeat. Verse 10 specifically commands not just Israel but all "nations" and "coastlands" to bear witness to God's plan, emphasizing the universal scope and authority of YHWH over all peoples and historical events, including both judgment (scattering) and redemption (gathering and keeping). It foreshadows a time when God's saving acts for Israel will become known and celebrated globally.

Jeremiah 31 10 Word analysis

• "Hear" (Hebrew: Shim'u, שמעו): An imperative command, signifying not merely physical hearing but an attentive and obedient listening. It implies heeding, understanding, and responding to the divine message with reverence and acceptance.
• "the word of the LORD" (Hebrew: Devar YHWH, דבר יהוה): Identifies the absolute source and authority of the message. It is not human wisdom or prophecy but God's authoritative, infallible utterance, setting it apart from the words of idols or human rulers.
• "O nations" (Hebrew: Goyim, גוים): Refers to the Gentile peoples, the non-Israelite populations of the world. The direct address to them highlights the universal relevance of God's plan, which transcends the immediate boundaries of Israel.
• "declare it" (Hebrew: Vehaggidu, והגידו): Another imperative, meaning to announce, proclaim, or make known publicly. It calls for active witness and spreading of this truth, indicating its importance for global understanding and testimony.
• "in the coastlands far away" (Hebrew: Be'iyyim meiraḥoq, באיים מירחוק): "Coastlands" (iyyim) often refer to distant maritime regions or islands, symbolizing the furthest reaches of the known world. This phrase emphasizes the extensive, global scope of the message – it is for everyone, everywhere, beyond the immediate land of Israel.
• "He who scattered Israel" (Hebrew: Mezareaḥ Yisrael, מזרה ישראל): A crucial descriptive phrase for God, asserting His sovereignty over even the act of scattering. It confirms that the dispersion was not due to the impotence of YHWH or the strength of pagan gods, but a deliberate, punitive, yet controlled act of God due to Israel's sin and disobedience. This validates His power over all circumstances.
• "will gather him" (Hebrew: Yekabsenno, יקבצנו): Signifies God's active, redemptive role in bringing His dispersed people back together. This gathering is a promise of restoration and reconciliation, demonstrating His covenant faithfulness and power to reverse judgment with an act of grace.
• "and will keep him" (Hebrew: Ushimro, ושמרו): Implies God's protective, preserving care for His gathered people. Beyond mere reunion, there is a promise of sustained security, provision, and continued well-being under His watchful eye and direct intervention.
• "as a shepherd keeps his flock" (Hebrew: Kero'eh edro, כרועה עדרו): A profound and tender metaphor drawn from ancient Near Eastern pastoral life. It vividly portrays God as the attentive, watchful, provision-providing, and guiding caretaker of His people. The imagery suggests constant vigilance, protection from danger, and leading to life-sustaining environments.

Words-group analysis

• "Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away": This phrase functions as a universal apostolic commission. It signals that God's plan for Israel's future is not a private matter but a message of global significance, meant to be heard, understood, and broadcast across the entire earth. It underscores God's sovereignty over all peoples and future events.
• "He who scattered Israel will gather him": This is a powerful statement of divine sovereignty and reversal. It directly attributes both the painful dispersion (judgment) and the joyous restoration (grace) to the same omnipotent God. It establishes His absolute control over history, demonstrating that His judgment is corrective, and His promise of redemption is sure, irrespective of human power or circumstances.
• "and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock": This phrase combines the acts of gathering with sustained care and protection. The "shepherd" metaphor highlights God's tender, intimate, and constant vigilance over His people. It ensures not just their return but their safety, provision, and continued flourishing under His compassionate leadership, emphasizing a restorative and covenantal relationship that offers profound security and peace.

Jeremiah 31 10 Bonus section

The command for the "nations" and "coastlands" to "declare" this message about Israel's gathering points to a profound interconnectedness within God's global redemptive purpose. It suggests that even the Gentiles, who were often instruments of Israel's scattering or simply passive observers, are now called to acknowledge and propagate the truth of God's redemptive work concerning His people. This prophetic call to a global proclamation foreshadows the Great Commission in the New Testament, where the Gospel, rooted in the redemptive acts of God for all humanity, is similarly to be declared "to the ends of the earth." The very God who holds the destiny of Israel in His hands is revealed to be the sovereign Lord of all history and all nations.

Jeremiah 31 10 Commentary

Jeremiah 31:10 is a vibrant pronouncement of divine hope, set amidst a chapter renowned for its New Covenant promises. It is remarkable for its global audience: "nations" and "coastlands" are commanded to listen and proclaim, indicating that Israel's fate is intrinsically linked to God's universal redemptive plan. The message asserts God's sovereignty unequivocally: He who justly scattered Israel due to their unfaithfulness is the very one who will, by His grace, gather them. This reversal demonstrates not capriciousness, but His enduring covenant faithfulness and absolute power over all historical circumstances, including judgment and salvation. The tender metaphor of a "shepherd keeps his flock" speaks to a deep, personal, and protective care beyond mere reunion, promising continuous guidance, provision, and security. This verse thus stands as a foundational assurance of Israel's future restoration, simultaneously proclaiming God's mighty acts to the entire world, foreshadowing the inclusion of Gentiles in recognizing His redemptive work, and laying groundwork for the broader, universal scope of salvation found in Christ.