Jeremiah 31:2 kjv
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.
Jeremiah 31:2 nkjv
Thus says the LORD: "The people who survived the sword Found grace in the wilderness? Israel, when I went to give him rest."
Jeremiah 31:2 niv
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."
Jeremiah 31:2 esv
Thus says the LORD: "The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest,
Jeremiah 31:2 nlt
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."
Jeremiah 31 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 31:2 | "Thus says the LORD, 'The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness...' " | Direct statement of finding grace |
| Jeremiah 31:4 | "...You will again be adorned with your tambourines and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers." | Echoes joy and restoration |
| Jeremiah 31:6 | "For there shall be a day when the watchmen on the hills of Ephraim cry, 'Arise, let us go up to Zion...' " | Call to return and worship |
| Jeremiah 31:7 | "For thus says the LORD: 'Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob... Let them say, "Save, O LORD, your remnant." ' " | Plea for salvation of remnant |
| Jeremiah 31:8 | "Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the farthest corners of the earth..." | God's gathering of dispersed people |
| Jeremiah 31:9 | "They shall come with weeping, and with pleas for favor I will lead them..." | Process of return and repentance |
| Jeremiah 31:10 | "Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands afar off..." | Proclamation of God's actions |
| Isaiah 10:24 | "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: 'O my people, who dwell in Zion, do not fear Assyria...'" | God's reassurance against oppressors |
| Isaiah 11:11 | "In that day the Lord God will extend his hand a second time to recover the remnant of his people..." | Prophecy of a second recovery |
| Isaiah 11:12 | "...and will gather the outcasts of Israel, and spread the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." | Gathering of dispersed tribes |
| Isaiah 40:1 | "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God." | Divine comfort for a suffering people |
| Isaiah 49:12 | "Behold, these shall come from afar, and behold, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Sinim." | Fulfillment of geographical gathering |
| Isaiah 54:7 | "For a small moment have I forsaken you, but with great mercies will I gather you." | God's mercy in regathering |
| Ezekiel 34:13 | "And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land." | God's action to regather His flock |
| Ezekiel 36:24 | "For I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land." | Bringing exiles back to the land |
| Ezekiel 37:21 | "And say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph (which is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel his companions...'" | Symbol of unity for the divided kingdom |
| Micah 4:6 | " 'In that day declares the LORD, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away, and those whom I have afflicted;' " | Gathering the afflicted and scattered |
| Micah 5:7 | "Then the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, among many peoples like a lion among the beasts of the forest..." | The transformed character of the remnant |
| Zechariah 8:7 | " 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: Behold, I will save my people from the east country and from the west country...' " | God saving His people from different directions |
| Matthew 1:21 | "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." | Fulfillment of salvation in Christ |
| Romans 11:5 | "So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace." | Present day remnant chosen by grace |
| Hebrews 12:22 | "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem..." | Heavenly fulfillment of Zion |
Jeremiah 31 verses
Jeremiah 31 2 Meaning
This verse, part of Jeremiah's prophecy, describes a future restoration for Israel. It speaks of God finding favor with a remnant of His people after a period of desolation and judgment. It points to a time of finding rest and rebuilding, emphasizing God's grace and covenant faithfulness even after severe discipline.
Jeremiah 31 2 Context
Jeremiah chapter 31 is a pivotal chapter in the prophet's message, often referred to as the "New Covenant" passage. It marks a significant shift from condemnation and judgment to hope and restoration. The nation of Israel had been suffering, facing the impending destruction of Jerusalem and exile due to their persistent disobedience. In this chapter, Jeremiah proclaims God's ultimate faithfulness and His plan to regather, heal, and re-establish His people. Specifically, verse 2 is a transition from the doom of verses leading up to it, introducing the idea of God's sovereign favor towards those who remain after judgment. The historical context is the period of Babylonian exile or the impending threat of it, where the majority of the population would experience hardship and displacement.
Jeremiah 31 2 Word Analysis
- Thus (כֹּה - kō): Signifies "so" or "thus," introducing a direct pronouncement or statement from the LORD. It establishes the authority and definitive nature of the words that follow.
- says (אָמַר - 'āmar): From the root meaning "to say," "to speak," or "to command." It highlights that the message is a verbal communication from God.
- the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, emphasizing His relationship with Israel and His redemptive actions.
- The people (עַם - ‘am): Refers to the collective body of Israel.
- who survived (שָּׂרַד - śārad): The Qal perfect form of the verb meaning "to survive," "to escape," "to remain." This points to a remnant who endured the severe judgment.
- the sword (חֶרֶב - ḥereḇ): A weapon of war and a symbol of destruction, violence, and God's judgment in battle. Here, it represents the instrument of death and devastation faced by the people.
- found (מָצָא - māṣā'): The Qal perfect form of the verb meaning "to find," "to discover," or "to obtain." It implies that grace was discovered or encountered.
- grace (חֵן - ḥēn): Unmerited favor, kindness, and acceptance. It is God's benevolent disposition towards those who were undeserving, even after judgment. This word signifies a turn from wrath to favor.
- in (בְּ - bə): A preposition indicating location or circumstance, signifying "in" or "within."
- the wilderness (מִדְבָּר - midbār): An arid, uncultivated, and desolate place. In the biblical narrative, the wilderness often represents a place of testing, provision, and direct encounter with God (e.g., the Exodus). Here, it signifies a place of isolation and apparent abandonment where God's presence and favor were still found. It highlights God's ability to provide and protect even in the most unpromising circumstances.
Words/Phrases Group Analysis:
- "The people who survived the sword": This phrase directly references a remnant who has undergone extreme hardship and loss, highlighting their past suffering under divine judgment. It implies that their survival was not due to their own strength but a testament to God's eventual redemptive purposes.
- "found grace in the wilderness": This juxtaposition is profound. The wilderness was typically a place of lack and trial. However, for this remnant, it becomes a place where God's unmerited favor (grace) is discovered. This signifies that even in desolate circumstances, God's presence and provision remain for those who are His. It foreshadows how God can bring life and blessing from situations that appear barren and hopeless.
Jeremiah 31 2 Bonus Section
The concept of a remnant is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament, signifying that God never utterly abandms His people but preserves a faithful few who carry forward His purposes. This verse, with its promise of finding grace even in the wilderness, resonates with the experience of Israel during the Exodus from Egypt, where they were sustained by God in the desert. Furthermore, it prefigures the spiritual "wilderness" many find themselves in today, lost or struggling, yet capable of finding God's comforting grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The prophet's assurance that grace is found "in the wilderness" speaks to the nature of the New Covenant, where forgiveness and favor are offered through Christ, a salvific act in the face of human sinfulness and brokenness, which could be metaphorically represented as a wilderness.
Jeremiah 31 2 Commentary
Jeremiah 31:2 succinctly captures a crucial theological truth: God's covenantal love extends even through periods of severe judgment. The remnant who "survived the sword" are those who have been preserved through national catastrophe. Their finding "grace in the wilderness" underscores that God's favor is not dependent on outward prosperity or perfect circumstances. Instead, it is a sovereign act of His love and faithfulness, capable of being found even in places of desolation and trial. This verse anticipates the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise through the new covenant established in Christ, where believers find abundant grace, irrespective of their past failures or current struggles. It highlights that God's plan of salvation and restoration is inclusive of those who have experienced the consequences of sin but are drawn back to Him. The "wilderness" can be seen as a metaphor for any difficult or testing period in life where God's sustaining grace is most acutely felt and appreciated.