Jeremiah 31 22

Jeremiah 31:22 kjv

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.

Jeremiah 31:22 nkjv

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."

Jeremiah 31:22 niv

How long will you wander, unfaithful Daughter Israel? The LORD will create a new thing on earth? the woman will return to the man."

Jeremiah 31:22 esv

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

Jeremiah 31:22 nlt

How long will you wander,
my wayward daughter?
For the LORD will cause something new to happen ?
Israel will embrace her God. "

Jeremiah 31 verses

Jeremiah 31 22 meaning

Jeremiah 31:22 is a profound pivot, shifting from lament over Israel's spiritual wandering to a powerful promise of divine intervention. It addresses "backsliding Israel" (the daughter) for her spiritual instability, asking when she will cease her unfaithful course. The verse then declares the Lord's initiative to create an unprecedented "new thing" on earth: "a woman encompasses a man." This "new thing" signifies a radical, divinely wrought reversal or change, often interpreted as referring to the Messianic age, specifically a miraculous birth, and the restoration of God's people in an extraordinary way, beyond natural means.

Jeremiah 31 22 Context

Jeremiah chapter 31 is a cornerstone of the "Book of Comfort" (chapters 30-33), offering a stark contrast to Jeremiah's earlier prophecies of judgment and destruction. This section focuses entirely on the future restoration and blessing of both Israel and Judah. It speaks of a New Covenant, the return of exiles, rebuilding, joy, and spiritual renewal. Verse 22 functions as a rhetorical question to Israel about her continued faithlessness, immediately followed by a profound statement of God's unilateral action to bring about this promised restoration, highlighting that it will be a divinely initiated, unprecedented, and perhaps even miraculous event that underpins the entire future of God's people. The verse is nestled within promises of Judah's rebuilding, a new spiritual awakening, and the security of a settled people.

Jeremiah 31 22 Word analysis

• How long (ʻad-matai - עַד־מָתַי): An expression of exasperation, patience wearing thin, but also a hopeful yearning for change and return. It implies a time when things should change.
• will you go hither and thither (tatḥamēqīn - תִּתְחַמָּקִין): The verb means to turn away, to wander, to hesitate, to be undecided. It paints a picture of Israel's wavering loyalty and pursuit of false gods, rather than steadfast commitment to the Lord. It signifies instability and inconsistency.
• O you backsliding daughter (bat shôvāvâ - בַּת שׁוֹבָבָה):
  • backsliding (shôvāvâ): From shûv (to turn), implying one who turns away, rebellious, apostate. It denotes a continuous pattern of turning from God.
  • daughter (bat): Israel, addressed here intimately by God as His own, despite her rebellion. It underscores the covenant relationship, even amidst her faithlessness, and implies the potential for restoration and belonging.
• For the LORD has created (kî-vārā’ YHVH - כִּי־בָרָא יְהוָה):
  • For (kî): Connects Israel's persistent backsliding to the reason for God's new action, as if God's intervention is the solution.
  • the LORD (YHVH): Emphasizes God's personal covenant name, signifying His unchanging, faithful, and active presence in Israel's history. He is the sovereign agent.
  • has created (bārā’ - בָּרָא): This Hebrew verb specifically describes divine, miraculous creation, often from nothing (ex nihilo). It's distinct from verbs of making or fashioning, emphasizing that what God is about to do is unprecedented, beyond human ability, and wholly initiated by Him.
• a new thing (ḥadāshâ - חֲדָשָׁה): Novel, unprecedented, fresh, and unique. It highlights the extraordinary nature of God's action, something never before seen or imagined.
• on the earth (bā’āretṣ - בָּאָרֶץ): Denotes that this new thing will be manifest in the physical, tangible realm, not merely a spiritual concept or heavenly event.
• a woman (nəqēvāh - נְקֵבָה): Simply "female" or "a woman." In a collective sense, it can symbolize Israel or humanity. In the context of "encompasses a man," its specific meaning becomes central to the interpretation.
• encompasses (tissōvev - תְּסוֹבֵב): To surround, encircle, enclose, or embrace. It can imply protection, containment, or even a cyclical motion. Its meaning here is crucial and subject to diverse interpretations.
• a man (gāver - גֶּבֶר): Male, usually denotes a strong, mighty man, or hero, as opposed to a weaker or general person.

Words-group analysis:

• "How long will you go hither and thither, O you backsliding daughter?": This phrase captures divine frustration with Israel's chronic spiritual inconsistency and turning away from God. It's a poignant call to end their spiritual unfaithfulness.
• "For the LORD has created a new thing on the earth": This declares that God himself is initiating a profoundly new, never-before-seen act. The use of "created" (bārā’) signifies it will be a sovereign, miraculous intervention, not a gradual development, addressing Israel's inability to return on her own.
• "a woman encompasses a man": This enigmatic statement is the core of the "new thing." Multiple interpretations exist, but its prophetic weight, especially in light of Messianic prophecy and later Christian understanding, points to a reversal of conventional order or an extraordinary event of life's origin. Many Christian interpreters see this as an implicit prophecy of the virgin birth of Jesus (God in the flesh as the "man" within the "woman," or Mary protecting/encompassing Christ as mother). Others interpret it as a weaker party (Israel as 'woman') coming to surround/protect a stronger party (God or the returning male exiles), signifying profound peace and security where roles are reconfigured. Another view suggests the woman, Israel, finally being able to enclose or embrace her God fully, ending her wandering.

Jeremiah 31 22 Bonus section

The concept of "new creation" as announced by God in Jeremiah 31:22 is a foundational biblical theme that unfolds from a specific historical context to encompass universal spiritual truth. In Jeremiah, it directly addresses Israel's chronic infidelity by promising a divinely wrought, unprecedented solution for their restoration under a New Covenant. The "new thing" suggests that God's solution for their "backsliding" goes beyond simply renewing the old covenant; it inaugurates a fundamentally different reality. This profound shift foreshadows a Messianic age where old patterns are broken, and a spiritual renewal, hinted at by Ezekiel (a new heart and spirit) and explicitly fulfilled in the New Testament, comes to pass. The image of "a woman encompasses a man" further challenges human expectation and conventional power dynamics, suggesting that God's might will manifest through humble, perhaps even paradoxical, means. This new divine action assures that the long-promised redemption is entirely God's initiative, securing an unbreakable relationship with His people.

Jeremiah 31 22 Commentary

Jeremiah 31:22 encapsulates both divine lament and astounding hope. It challenges Israel's protracted spiritual instability ("How long will you go hither and thither?") but quickly shifts focus from human failure to God's sovereign power. The declaration, "For the LORD has created a new thing on the earth—a woman encompasses a man," is the pivotal promise of restoration. This "new thing" transcends natural limitations and human expectation, marking a radical divine intervention. It signifies an unprecedented work that will resolve Israel's chronic apostasy and lead to their secure future. While precisely what "a woman encompasses a man" meant to the immediate hearers remains debated (perhaps reversal of roles or an unexpected protection), its most profound theological echo, particularly within Christian tradition, points to the miraculous birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. This unique conception, where the God-Man is "encompassed" by a virgin, fundamentally alters the course of history and redemption, embodying God's "new creation." It assures God's people that their ultimate redemption hinges not on their merit or effort, but on His incomparable power and fidelity.