Jeremiah 31:16 kjv
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.
Jeremiah 31:16 nkjv
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.
Jeremiah 31:16 niv
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.
Jeremiah 31:16 esv
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.
Jeremiah 31:16 nlt
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.
Jeremiah 31 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 31:16 | "Thus says the LORD: "Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for your work shall have reward, says the LORD, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy." | Promise of restoration from exile |
| Isaiah 65:19 | "I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress." | Future absence of sorrow |
| Jeremiah 30:10 | "Fear not, O Jacob my servant, nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from afar, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have rest and ease, and none shall make him afraid." | Assurance against fear and exile |
| Hosea 1:6 | "Conceive and bear sons, and grant them names: Jezreel, because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel." | Context of "barren" and "not my people" |
| Hosea 2:23 | "And I will sow her for myself in the land. And I will have pity on her who had no pity, and I will say to those who were not my people, ‘You are my people’; and they shall say, ‘You are my God.’" | Fulfillment of "not my people" having children |
| Luke 1:28 | "And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" | Greeting of favor |
| John 16:22 | "So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." | Temporary sorrow, eternal joy |
| Revelation 21:4 | "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." | Final removal of all sorrow |
| Jeremiah 29:10 | "For thus says the LORD: When your seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place." | Fulfillment of God's promise after exile |
| Isaiah 49:20 | "The children born in the ruin of your house will yet say in your ears, "It is too cramped for me! Make a place for me to dwell."" | Future increase and expansion |
| Psalm 103:13 | "As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him." | Compassion of God |
| Lamentations 3:32 | "Though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love." | God's compassion after grief |
| Song of Solomon 4:12 | "You are a garden locked, my sister, my bride, a spring locked and a fountain sealed." | Imagery of fertility and exclusivity |
| Isaiah 54:1 | "Sing, O barren one, you who have borne no child; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; for the children of the desolate one will be more numerous than the children of the married one, says the LORD." | Direct parallel with Jeremiah 31:16 |
| Galatians 4:27 | "For it is written, 'Rejoice, O barren one, you who bear no child; break forth into a cry and labor with pains; for the children of the desolate one will be more numerous than her who has a husband.'" | Fulfillment in a spiritual sense |
| Matthew 5:4 | "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." | Blessedness in mourning |
| Psalm 30:11 | "You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness," | Transformation of mourning to joy |
| Romans 12:15 | "Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." | Sympathetic weeping |
| Philippians 3:18-19 | "...enemies of the cross of Christ... their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things." | Contrast with rejoicing in Christ |
| 1 Peter 1:6 | "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials," | Rejoicing through trials |
Jeremiah 31 verses
Jeremiah 31 16 Meaning
This verse speaks of the end of sorrow and weeping for Israel. God promises to comfort them and end their mourning. This signifies a turning point from judgment and exile to restoration and blessing. The barren woman, previously childless and grieving, will have more children than the woman who was married. This symbolizes Israel's future revival and prolific increase, exceeding even its past prosperity.
Jeremiah 31 16 Context
Jeremiah 31 is a chapter filled with prophecies of hope and restoration for Israel after a period of judgment and exile. The preceding verses describe the impending destruction and dispersion of the people due to their sin. However, this chapter marks a significant shift, introducing the concept of a "new covenant" that God will establish with His people.
Historically, the prophecy in Jeremiah was delivered during a time when Judah was facing imminent destruction by the Babylonian empire. The people were suffering the consequences of their disobedience, and many had already been taken into exile. The idea of future restoration, even more glorious than their past, would have been a radical and comforting message.
This specific verse, Jeremiah 31:16, directly follows the announcement of God's unwavering love for Israel and His decision to restore them. It sets the stage for the return from exile and the eventual establishment of a more glorious future, culminating in the Messianic era and the new covenant. The prophecy of the "barren woman" having more children is a powerful image of divine renewal and unprecedented growth for a people who had experienced such desolation.
Jeremiah 31 16 Word Analysis
"Thus": (Hebrew: כֹּ֣ה - koh) - Signifies "so," "thus," or "in this manner." It introduces a declaration or instruction from God, lending it authority and directness.
"says": (Hebrew: אָמַר - amar) - The common verb for speaking, asserting, or declaring. It signifies a direct utterance from the Lord.
"the LORD": (Hebrew: יְהוָה - YHWH) - The personal covenant name of God, revealing His eternal, unchangeable nature and His relationship with His people.
"Refrain": (Hebrew: חֶדְלִ֧י - chedli) - A feminine singular imperative verb from the root חָדַל (chadal), meaning "to cease," "to leave off," "to refrain," or "to stop." It is a command directed to Zion (personified as a woman) to cease from her weeping.
"your": (Hebrew: קֹולֵ֣ךְ - qolekh (voice), עֵינַ֣יִךְ - einayikh (your eyes)) - Possessive second-person feminine singular pronoun. This connects the commands directly to Zion or Jerusalem, personified as a grieving mother.
"voice": (Hebrew: קֹול - qol) - Refers to the sound of crying, weeping.
"from": (Hebrew: מִן - min) - A preposition indicating origin or separation.
"weeping": (Hebrew: בֶּכִי - beki) - Noun form of the verb to weep. Represents deep sorrow and grief expressed audibly.
"and": (Hebrew: וְ - ve) - Conjunction connecting two parallel clauses.
"your": (Hebrew: עֵינַ֣יִךְ - einayikh) - Possessive second-person feminine singular pronoun, again referring to Zion/Jerusalem.
"eyes": (Hebrew: עֵינַ֣יִם - einayim) - The organs of sight, but often used metonymically for tears or for seeing/perceiving. Here, it refers to tears flowing from the eyes.
"from": (Hebrew: מִן - min) - Again, indicating origin.
"tears": (Hebrew: דִּמְעָה - dim'ah) - Singular form, referring to the liquid shed in sorrow.
"for": (Hebrew: כִּ֠י - ki) - A conjunction that introduces a reason or explanation.
"your": (Hebrew: מְלָאכָה - melakhah) - The action or work being done by Zion.
"work": (Hebrew: מְלָאכָה - melakhah) - This can refer to labor, activity, or purpose. In this context, it refers to the "work" of endurance and faith through the exile, or perhaps the work God has appointed for her.
"shall have": (Hebrew: יֵשׁ - yesh) - Exists; there is. It asserts possession or outcome.
"reward": (Hebrew: שָׂכָר - sakhar) - Payment, recompense, wages. This signifies that their suffering and perseverance will not be in vain.
"says": (Hebrew: נְאֻם - ne'um) - A more solemn and authoritative phrase for "says" or "oracle," often used in prophetic pronouncements, indicating God's direct statement.
"the LORD": (Hebrew: יְהוָה - YHWH) - The covenant name of God.
"and": (Hebrew: וְ - ve) - Connects the second part of the promise.
"they": (Hebrew: וְשָׁ֕בוּ - ve-shavu) - Refers to "they" returning. The subject is implicit, referring to Israel or its remnant.
"shall come back": (Hebrew: שָׁ֕בוּ - shavu) - From the root שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to turn back," "return." It indicates a return from exile.
"from": (Hebrew: מִן - min) - Indicating source or location.
"the land": (Hebrew: אֶרֶץ - erets) - The land, nation, or territory.
"of the": (Hebrew: מִן־אֹיֵב - min-oyev) - Combining the preposition and the noun.
"enemy": (Hebrew: אֹיֵב - oyev) - Adversary, foe. Refers to the lands or nations where Israel has been exiled.
Grouped Analysis:
- "Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears": This is a tender command from God. It's not an insensitive dismissal of their sorrow but a promise that the reason for their weeping is about to be removed. It's a prophetic declaration that a future state of joy is coming.
- "for your work shall have reward": This highlights the concept of perseverance. Their faithfulness, even in hardship, and their enduring obedience, however imperfect, are noted by God and will be recompensed. The "work" can also be seen as God's work in them and through them, which will culminate in victory.
- "and they shall come back from the land of the enemy": This is the specific fulfillment of the reward. The return from Babylonian exile, and ultimately the return to God and to His blessing, is the anticipated outcome. The enemies represent the forces and circumstances that held them captive.
Jeremiah 31 16 Bonus Section
The prophecy of "the barren woman" having more children than the married woman (mentioned in verses 15-17, flowing into the promise of return) echoes strongly in Isaiah 54:1, where God promises abundant offspring for desolate Zion. This theme of increase and revival after barrenness is a recurring motif in Scripture, often signifying a supernatural restoration of God's people, whether physically or spiritually. The command to cease weeping is not a denial of present suffering, but a prophetic declaration that the "season of weeping" is drawing to a close and a "season of joy" is about to dawn. The "reward" for their work signifies that their obedience through suffering has a divine purpose and will be acknowledged and compensated. The return from the land of the enemy signifies not just a geographical relocation, but a restored relationship with God, free from oppression.
Jeremiah 31 16 Commentary
Jeremiah 31:16 offers a profound message of divine comfort and future vindication. God directly instructs the people (personified as Zion) to stop mourning because the cessation of their sorrow is imminent. This is predicated on two assurances: their "work" (their period of suffering and faithful endurance) will be rewarded, and they will return from exile. This verse points to the certainty of God's faithfulness, His promise to recompense those who wait for Him, and His ultimate victory over their oppressors. It signifies a transition from divine judgment to divine restoration, a hallmark of God's redemptive plan throughout scripture. The "barren woman" imagery (in verse 15, leading into 17) further emphasizes the magnitude of this future blessing, suggesting an increase and fruitfulness that will far surpass past states.