Jeremiah 31:29 kjv
In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.
Jeremiah 31:29 nkjv
In those days they shall say no more: 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, And the children's teeth are set on edge.'
Jeremiah 31:29 niv
"In those days people will no longer say, 'The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.'
Jeremiah 31:29 esv
In those days they shall no longer say: "'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.'
Jeremiah 31:29 nlt
"The people will no longer quote this proverb: 'The parents have eaten sour grapes,
but their children's mouths pucker at the taste.'
Jeremiah 31 29 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 31:29 | In those days they shall no more say, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge. | Fulfilled in New Covenant |
| Ezekiel 18:2 | What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge? | Individual responsibility |
| Ezekiel 18:20 | The soul that sinneth, it shall die. | Individual responsibility |
| Deuteronomy 24:16 | The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin. | Old Testament principle |
| Romans 3:23 | For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; | Universal sinfulness |
| Romans 5:12 | Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: | Adam's sin's consequence |
| Romans 5:19 | For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. | Christ's obedience's effect |
| 1 Corinthians 15:22 | For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. | Christ's redemption |
| Hebrews 8:8 | For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: | New Covenant established |
| Hebrews 8:12 | For I will be merciful toward their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. | Forgiveness in New Covenant |
| Hebrews 10:16 | This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; | Law on hearts |
| 2 Corinthians 5:17 | Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. | Transformation |
| Isaiah 54:17 | No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. | God's protection |
| Jeremiah 30:3 | For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. | Restoration of Israel |
| Jeremiah 32:38 | And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: | New Covenant promise |
| Matthew 1:21 | And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall bring out his people from their sins. | Jesus saves from sin |
| Acts 13:38 | Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: | Forgiveness through Christ |
| Colossians 1:13 | Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: | Deliverance from darkness |
| 1 Peter 2:24 | Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. | Bearing our sins |
| John 1:12 | But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: | Sonship through belief |
| Galatians 3:13 | Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: | Redemption from curse |
| Philippians 3:9 | And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: | Righteousness in Christ |
| Revelation 21:4 | And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. | Final restoration |
Jeremiah 31 verses
Jeremiah 31 29 Meaning
This verse speaks of a future covenant restoration where the consequence of the fathers' sin will no longer fall upon the children. It highlights a shift from inherited guilt to individual responsibility for sin in the New Covenant. God's forgiveness will be so complete that past sins will not be the basis for future judgment on subsequent generations.
Jeremiah 31 29 Context
This verse appears in Jeremiah chapter 31, which is rich with promises of future restoration and a new covenant. The prophecy comes during a time of deep national distress for Judah, marked by exile and suffering due to their persistent sinfulness. The surrounding verses (31:23-34) vividly paint a picture of God’s future faithfulness to His people, involving their return from exile, the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and a profound spiritual transformation. This particular verse serves as a crucial signifier of this new era, directly addressing a common lament or proverb that had arisen in Israel due to the generational consequences of sin.
Jeremiah 31 29 Word Analysis
- Yet (וְעוֹד - wə‘ôḏ): Continues a thought, often signifying "and still" or "furthermore." It indicates that despite the current suffering and past pronouncements, God's promise of future change stands.
- shall they (עוֹד יֹאמְרוּ - ‘ôḏ yə’āmərū): "they will still say" or "they will continue to say." This refers to a persistent saying or proverb that will no longer be applicable in the future described.
- no more (לֹא - lō'): A strong negation, emphasizing the cessation of the previous statement or condition.
- The fathers (הָאָבוֹת - hā’āḇôṯ): Plural of "father." Refers to ancestral generations.
- have eaten (אָכְלוּ - ’āḵəlū): Past tense, perfective aspect. They did eat.
- sour grape (בַּעֲנָב - ḇa‘ªnāḇ): Literally "grape" or "vine fruit." Here it signifies unripe or sour grapes. The entire phrase "grapes of wrath" (though not directly from this verse but a related concept from Habakkuk 2:15) conveys the idea of suffering unjustly due to the sins of ancestors.
- and (וְ - wə): Conjunction connecting the first clause to the second.
- the children's (וְשִׁנֵּי - wəšinnê): "and teeth." Plural of "tooth."
- teeth (בָּנוּ - bāṉû): "our teeth." This appears to be a slight deviation in the Hebrew text's direct phrasing for the proverb, as commonly understood. The traditional proverb, as found in Ezekiel 18:2, reads "and the teeth of the children are set on edge." Here, the plural "our teeth" implies a collective generational suffering experienced and voiced.
- are set on edge (תִּקְהֶינָה - ṯiqhəhənnāh): Causative verb meaning "to make blunt" or "to set on edge." Refers to the unpleasant, sensitive sensation caused by eating something sour. The Hebrew construction in Jeremiah can be interpreted as "their teeth are dulled/blunted" or simply continuing the effect of the fathers' action.
Words Group Analysis:
- "The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge": This phrase encapsulates the proverb of generational sin and its perceived unjust consequences. It expresses a sense of fatalism where individuals bear the burdens of their ancestors' transgressions without personal culpability. This proverb was particularly resonant during periods of exile and national calamity, reflecting a misunderstanding of God's justice as taught in the Torah, which emphasized individual responsibility (Deuteronomy 24:16).
Jeremiah 31 29 Bonus Section
The proverb mentioned in this verse, about sour grapes causing set teeth, is also explicitly addressed and refuted in Ezekiel 18. Ezekiel directly confronts this saying, clarifying that God judges individuals for their own deeds. Jeremiah’s prophecy, however, looks forward to a time when the very notion of this proverb being relevant would be obsolete because of God's restorative action. This future restoration isn't just about correcting a theological understanding of justice; it's about a complete spiritual overhaul under the New Covenant. This shift from inherited sin as a basis for divine action to individual accountability before God is a cornerstone of Christian theology, empowered by the work of Jesus Christ who bears the sin of the world.
Jeremiah 31 29 Commentary
Jeremiah 31:29 is a powerful declaration of God's intent to establish a new covenant. The existing order, where the sins of previous generations seemed to unjustly burden their descendants, would be abolished. The proverb "The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge" reflects a theological difficulty and a popular complaint that people were suffering for the sins of their ancestors. This verse promises a future reality where God’s justice is applied individually.
In the context of the New Covenant ratified by Jesus Christ, this promise finds its ultimate fulfillment. Through Christ’s atoning sacrifice, believers are no longer held accountable for the sin inherited from Adam or their own past sins in the same way. God’s grace offers forgiveness and spiritual renewal, ensuring that one's standing before God is not determined by generational guilt but by personal faith in Christ. The prophetic vision points towards an era where personal accountability before God is paramount, and God's mercy is so comprehensive that past ancestral failings do not dictate future condemnation for their descendants.