Jeremiah 31:39 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Jeremiah 31:39 kjv
And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.
Jeremiah 31:39 nkjv
The surveyor's line shall again extend straight forward over the hill Gareb; then it shall turn toward Goath.
Jeremiah 31:39 niv
The measuring line will stretch from there straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn to Goah.
Jeremiah 31:39 esv
And the measuring line shall go out farther, straight to the hill Gareb, and shall then turn to Goah.
Jeremiah 31:39 nlt
A measuring line will be stretched out over the hill of Gareb and across to Goah.
Jeremiah 31 39 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 30:3 | "For behold, the days come… that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah... and I will cause them to return to the land..." | Promise of restoration and return from captivity. |
| Jer 31:4 | "Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel..." | Direct promise of rebuilding Israel. |
| Jer 31:31-34 | "Behold, the days come... that I will make a new covenant..." | Context of the New Covenant's spiritual renewal. |
| Zech 1:16 | "I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it..." | God's promise to rebuild Jerusalem. |
| Zech 2:4 | "Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls..." | Foreshadows an enlarged, uncontained Jerusalem. |
| Zech 8:3 | "Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth..." | God's return and dwelling in a holy Jerusalem. |
| Isa 49:19-20 | "thy waste and thy desolate places... shall even now be too narrow..." | Prophecy of expansion and growth for God's people. |
| Isa 54:2-3 | "Enlarge the place of thy tent... for thou shalt spread abroad on the right hand and on the left..." | Metaphor for the enlargement of God's people/territory. |
| Isa 56:7 | "For mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people." | Spiritual expansion to include all nations. |
| Ezek 36:33 | "Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded." | Rebuilding of ruined cities post-cleansing. |
| Ezek 40:3 | "...with a measuring reed in his hand..." | Use of a measuring device for a holy city/temple. |
| Ezek 48:30-35 | "These are the goings out of the city on the north side... The name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there." | Detailed boundaries and renaming of the rebuilt city. |
| Neh 3-4 | Account of the physical rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. | Historical example of Jerusalem's literal rebuilding. |
| Joel 3:18 | "...all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters..." | Future blessings and abundance in Zion. |
| Mic 4:1-2 | "...the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established... and people shall flow unto it." | Glorious future of Zion attracting all nations. |
| Zeph 3:15 | "The LORD hath taken away thy judgments... the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst of thee..." | Removal of judgment and God dwelling among His people. |
| Zech 14:10 | "...all the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon..." | Prophecy of significant topographical change around Jerusalem for a glorious future. |
| Zech 14:20-21 | "In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD..." | Universal sanctification in the restored city/kingdom. |
| Eph 2:19-22 | "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens... an holy temple in the Lord..." | Spiritual building, expanding to include Gentiles. |
| Rev 21:2 | "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." | The ultimate, spiritual "Jerusalem" and its heavenly nature. |
| Rev 21:15-17 | "And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city..." | Measuring the New Jerusalem, precise divine order. |
| Rev 21:24-27 | "And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it... and there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth..." | Inclusive, holy, and utterly sanctified nature of the eternal city. |
Jeremiah 31 verses
Jeremiah 31 39 meaning
Jeremiah 31:39 prophesies the comprehensive rebuilding and expansive restoration of Jerusalem following its desolation. It details the future boundaries of the city, indicating that its territory will extend beyond its previous limits, incorporating areas that might have been outside or even considered undesirable. This imagery assures God's people of a thorough and divinely ordered renewal, signifying a full restoration under the New Covenant.
Jeremiah 31 39 Context
Jeremiah 31:39 is part of Jeremiah's "Book of Consolation" (chapters 30-33), which contrasts sharply with the earlier prophecies of judgment. After foretelling the seventy-year Babylonian exile and the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem, this section offers glorious promises of national restoration for both Israel and Judah. Chapter 31 specifically outlines the future renewal of Israel, culminating in the prophecy of the New Covenant (verses 31-34), which promises a profound, internal spiritual transformation. Following this covenant, verses 38-40 provide a tangible, geographical illustration of this renewal, describing a rebuilt and expanded Jerusalem. The historical context is one of despair for the exiled Israelites, who had seen their capital city devastated. Jeremiah's prophecy offers a beacon of hope, not just for a return to the land but for a rebuilt, greater, and divinely sanctified city, representing a fully restored relationship with God. This divine surveying assures them of the concrete reality of God's promise.
Jeremiah 31 39 Word analysis
- And the measuring line (וְיָצָא קָו - ve-yātsā’ qāv):
- Measuring line (קָו - qāv): A cord or string used for surveying, construction, or drawing straight lines. It signifies divine precision, order, and intentionality in God's rebuilding plan. God is meticulously outlining the new, expansive Jerusalem. This term is often associated with divine judgment (e.g., Isa 28:17, Lam 2:8) but here denotes divine design for restoration and construction.
- Go out farther (וְיָצָא - ve-yātsā’): Implies outward movement, expansion, and thoroughness. The divine survey isn't confined to old boundaries but extends to new territory.
- straight onward:
- Implies directness and unimpeded progress. The rebuilding will follow God's clear, undeviating plan, overcoming any obstacles.
- unto the hill Gareb (עַל־גִּבְעַת גָּרֵב - ‘al-giv‘at gārev):
- Hill (גִּבְעַת - giv‘at): A natural elevation.
- Gareb (גָּרֵב - gārev): This name is likely derived from a root meaning "to scratch," "be leprous," or "scabrous." Historically, it was probably a geographical location south-west of Jerusalem, possibly associated with a place of uncleanness, refuse, or the disposal of lepers/condemned criminals. Its inclusion in the holy city's future boundaries is highly significant, symbolizing the comprehensive sanctification of Jerusalem, transforming even what was formerly considered impure or desolate into sacred space. It speaks to the radical nature of God's cleansing and redemptive work.
- and shall compass about (וְנָסַב - ve-nāsav):
- Indicates turning, encircling, or making a circuit. It describes the perimeter or full extent of the city's new boundaries, ensuring a complete and well-defined enclosure.
- to Goath (גֹּעָתָה - gō‘ātâ):
- Goath (גֹּעָה - gō‘āh): Another topographical marker, likely located to the west or southwest of ancient Jerusalem, less certain in its precise identification than Gareb. The etymology is debated, possibly related to "bellowing" or "moaning" (perhaps a place of animal sounds or mourning). Like Gareb, its inclusion highlights the expanded territorial limits of the restored city, confirming the full breadth of God's restoration.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And the measuring line shall go out farther straight onward": This phrase emphasizes a divine, purposeful expansion. The measuring line, symbolizing God's authoritative design, isn't simply redrawing old lines but actively extending beyond them. This speaks to a future of growth and blessing, exceeding past experiences or human expectations.
- "unto the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath": These geographical markers define the expanded perimeter. By including areas like Gareb, potentially associated with uncleanness or marginality, the prophecy underscores God's ability to redeem and sanctify all that belongs to His people. It signifies not just rebuilding, but a thorough spiritual cleansing and integration of every part of the redeemed community within His holy purposes.
Jeremiah 31 39 Bonus section
- Literal vs. Spiritual Interpretation: While this verse speaks of physical geographical points, within the broader context of prophecy (especially Jeremiah 31 and ultimately the New Testament), it also carries deep spiritual significance. The expanded and purified Jerusalem can be seen as a metaphor for the expansive and sanctified community of God's people—the church—under the New Covenant, whose boundaries extend beyond physical walls to embrace people from all nations (Isa 56:7; Eph 2:19-22). The "city" becomes less about a single urban center and more about the presence and reign of God among His people.
- Promise of Completion: The detailed mention of Gareb and Goath, along with the "measuring line," emphasizes the certainty and completeness of God's promise. It's not a vague hope but a divinely engineered future, precisely mapped out, leaving no part of the promised restoration incomplete or unholy. This provides immense assurance that God's plan of salvation will thoroughly encompass and redeem.
Jeremiah 31 39 Commentary
Jeremiah 31:39 provides a vivid, concrete detail within the "Book of Consolation," anchoring the sweeping promises of the New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34) in tangible reality. By describing the specific, expanded boundaries of the rebuilt Jerusalem—including potentially unclean or marginal areas like Gareb and Goath—the prophet assures his audience of God's meticulous care and comprehensive plan for restoration. This is more than a simple rebuilding; it's a divine expansion, signifying a new era where Jerusalem will be greater and more holy than ever before. This physical expansion foreshadows a spiritual truth: the all-encompassing nature of God's redemptive work. Through the New Covenant, not only are individuals transformed, but the community of faith, often symbolized by Jerusalem, is also broadened and purified, making formerly defiled aspects integral to God's sanctified space. This verse affirms God's commitment to fully renew His people and their dwelling place, embracing and sanctifying every part.