Jeremiah 31:7-14

Jeremiah 31:7-14
Second Sunday after Christmas Day ABC

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For thusI saysII the Lord:III

Sing aloudIV with gladnessV for Jacob,VI

Notes on verse 7a

I “thus” = koh. Perhaps from ki (that, for when, certainly) + hu (he, she, it). This is like this, thus, here, now.
II “says” = amar. This is to speak, say, answer, command, promise, report.
III “Lord” = YHVH. From havah (to be, become) or hayah (to come to pass, become, be). This is the name of the God of Israel, the self-existent and eternal one, the tetragrammaton. This pronunciation has been lost to time so “Lord” is generally used in its place.
IV “sing aloud” = ranan. This is a cry of joy or a joyful song. Properly, it is emitting a shrill sound, especially one of joy.
V “gladness” = simchah. From samach (to rejoice, be glad; properly, to brighten up; also used figuratively). This is joy, rejoicing, pleasure, or glee.
VI “Jacob” = Yaaqob. From the same as aqeb (heel, hind part, hoof, rear guard of an army, one who lies in wait, usurper). This is Isaac’s son and his descendants. The name means heel-catcher or supplanter.

    and raise shoutsVII for the chiefVIII of the nations;IX
proclaim,X give praise,XI and say,

Notes on verse 7b

VII “raise shouts” = tsahal. 9x in OT. This is to cry or shout – including an animal cry or neigh. It can also mean to gleam, rejoice, be glad.
VIII “chief” = rosh. This may come a word that means to shake. It is the head, captain, or chief. It can also be excellent or the forefront. It can be first in position or in statue or in time (i.e. the beginning).
IX “nations” = goy. From the same root as gevah (the back, person, or body); related to gev (among); related to gaah (to rise up). This is nation or people. Often used to refer to Gentiles or foreign nations. It can also be used figuratively for a group of animals. This is where the Yiddish “goy” comes from.
X “proclaim” = shama. This is to hear, call, consent, or consider. It implies listening intelligently, giving attention, and, because of these two factors, obedience and action are often implied.
XI “give praise” = halal. This is to be clear – it originally referred to a sound, then a color. It was to shine and then make a show or boast then to rave. In a causative sense it came to mean celebrate, give glory, sing praise, or be worth of praise. Because of the celebratory nature of the word, it could also mean to give in marriage. This is where Hallelujah comes from.

    “Save,XII O Lord, your people,XIII
    the remnantXIV of Israel.”XV

Notes on verse 7c

XII “save” = yasha. To deliver, defend, help, preserve, rescue, be safe. Properly, to be open, wide or free, which implies being safe. Used causatively, it means to free.
XIII “people” = am. From amam (to darken, hide, associate; creating shadows by huddling together). This is people or nation. It can be used specifically for a tribe, collectively of troops or armies, or figuratively to refer to a flock of animals.
XIV “remnant” = sheerith. From shaar (properly, swelling up i.e. being left over; a remnant, remaining, being redundant). This is a remainder, residue, or survivor. It can also refer to posterity.
XV “Israel” = Yisrael. From sarah (to persist, exert oneself, contend, persevere, wrestle, prevail) + El (God or god). This is Israel, meaning God strives or one who strives with God; new name for Jacob and for his offspring. This refers to the people and to the land.

See,XVI I am going to bringXVII them from the landXVIII of the northXIX

Notes on verse 8a

XVI “see” = hen. This is a remark of surprise or excitement: lo! Behold! It can also mean if or though.
XVII “bring” = bo. This is to enter, come in, advance, fulfill, bring offerings, enter to worship, attack. It can also have a sexual connotation.
XVIII “land” = erets. Root may mean to be firm. This is earth, ground, field land, or country.
XIX “north” = tsaphon. From tsaphan (to hide, hoard, reserve; to cover over or figuratively to deny; also to lurk). This is properly hidden, dark, or gloomy. It can also be used to refer to the north.

    and gatherXX them from the farthest partsXXI of the earth,XXII
among them the blindXXIII and the lame,XXIV

Notes on verse 8b

XX “gather” = qabats. This is to collect, assemble, heap, grasp, or gather.
XXI “farthest parts” = yerekah. From yarek (thigh, side, body, shank; can be figurative for genitalia). This is flank, side, recesses, border, quarter, extreme parts.
XXII “earth” = erets. Same as “land” in v8. See note XVIII above.
XXIII “blind” = ivver. From avar (to blind, put out). This is blindness or someone who is blind. It can be used literally or figuratively.
XXIV “lame” = pisseach. 13x in OT. From pasach (to limp, hesitate). This is lameness or someone who is lame.

    those with childXXV and those in laborXXVI together;XXVII
    a greatXXVIII company,XXIX they shall returnXXX here.XXXI

Notes on verse 8c

XXV “with child” = harah. 16x in OT. From harah (to conceive or be pregnant –literal or figurative). This is conceive or pregnant.
XXVI “in labor” = yalad. This is to bear or bring forth. It can mean to act as midwife or to show one’s lineage. This is often used for birth or begetting.
XXVII “together” = yachad. From yachad (to join, be united). This is a unit, both, altogether, unitedness, alike.
XXVIII “great” = gadol. From gadal (to grow up, become great, become wealthy – to advance. The root meaning may be to twist in the sense of the process of growing). This is great, high, bigger, noble, old, marvelous. It can also refer to someone who is powerful or distinguished.
XXIX “company” = qahal. This is an assembly, congregation, or multitude.
XXX “return” = shub. To turn back, return, turn away – literally or figuratively. Doesn’t necessarily imply going back to where you started from. This is also the root verb for the Hebrew word for repentance “teshubah.”
XXXI “here” = hennah. Related to “see” in v8. Perhaps from hen (see note XVI above). This is here in a location or here in a time, i.e. now.

With weepingXXXII they shall come,XXXIII
    and with consolationsXXXIV I will lead them back;XXXV

Notes on verse 9a

XXXII “weeping” = beki. From bakah (to weep, complain, lament). This is ongoing weeping, overflowing. By analogy, this can also mean dripping.
XXXIII “come” = bo. Same as “bring” in v8. See note XVII above.
XXXIV “consolations” = tachanun. 18x in OT. From chanan (beseech, show favor, be gracious; properly, to bend in kindness to someone with less status). This is entreaty, prayer, or supplication. It is looking for favor earnestly.
XXXV “lead…back” = yabal. 18x in OT. This is to lead, bring, carry, conduct. Properly, it means to flow. It can mean to bring or lead with fanfare.

I will let them walkXXXVI by brooksXXXVII of water,XXXVIII

Notes on verse 9b

XXXVI “walk” = halak. This is go, come, walk. It is walk literally and figuratively and includes people and animals. It can be used figuratively for one’s moral life – how we walk according to God’s way or against it. It can also refer to the walk of life as in the course one’s life takes, the choices we make, etc.
XXXVII “brooks” = nachal. From nachal (to take as heritage, inherit, or distribute). This is a river or stream. It could be a wadi or arroyo – sometimes a narrow valley with no water at all, but in strong rains or when winter snow melts, it swells or floods with water.
XXXVIII “water” = mayim. This is water, waters, or waterway in a general sense. Figuratively, it can also mean juice, urine, or semen.

    in a straightXXXIX pathXL where they shall not stumble,XLI

Notes on verse 9c

XXXIX “straight” = yashar. From yashar (to be straight, right, even, smooth, or agreeable; figuratively, to make something pleasant or prosperous). This is straight, right, level. Also, it is pleasing, whether pleasing God or pleasing other people. So, it is upright or righteous.
XL “path” = derek. From darak (to tread, march, to walk. Can also mean affixing a string to a box since one needs to step on it to bend it in the process; so also an archer). This is a road as a thing that is walked on. Can be used figuratively for the path that one’s life takes or how one chooses to live one’s life.
XLI “stumble” = kashal. This is to stumble, fail, be weak or decayed, be overthrown, to totter. It can refer to weak legs or ankles so it is falter, faint, or fall.

for I have becomeXLII a fatherXLIII to Israel,
    and EphraimXLIV is my firstborn.XLV

Notes on verse 9d

XLII “become” = hayah. Related to “Lord” in v7. See note III above.
XLIII “father” = ab. This is father, chief, or ancestor. It is father in a literal or figurative sense.
XLIV “Ephraim” = Ephrayim. From the same as epher (ashes or dust – properly something strewn) OR from parah (to grow, increase, be fruitful in a literal or figurative sense). This is Ephraim, one of Joseph’s sons, his descendants, and their land.
XLV “firstborn” = bekor. From bakar (to bear fruit, be firstborn, firstling, that which opens the womb, give the birthright to). This is firstborn or chief.

10 HearXLVI the wordXLVII of the Lord, O nations,
    and declareXLVIII it in the coastlandsXLIX far away;L

Notes on verse 10a

XLVI “hear” = shama. Same as “proclaim” in v7. See note X above.
XLVII “word” = dabar. From dabar (to speak, declare, discuss). This is speech, a word, a matter, an affair, charge, command, message, promise, purpose, report, request. It is a word, which implies things that are spoken of in a wide sense.
XLVIII “declare” = nagad. This is to declare, make conspicuous, stand in front, manifest, predict, explain.
XLIX “coastlands” = i. Perhaps from avah (to desire, crave, wish for, lust after). This is coastland, island, or region. It is a desirable place to live – dry land, coast.
L “far away” = merchaq. 17x in OT. From rachaq (to widen, become distant, cast, or remove in a literal or figurative sense). This is far away, somewhere remote, last.

say, “He who scatteredLI Israel will gather him
    and will keepLII him as a shepherdLIII does a flock.”LIV

Notes on verse 10b

LI “scattered” = zarah. This is to scatter or toss around. It can imply to disperse, cast away, or to scrutinize.
LII “keep” = shamar. This is to keep, watch, or preserve. It means to guard something or to protect it as a thorny hedge protects something.
LIII “shepherd” = ra’ah. This is to tend a flock, pasture, or graze. It can mean to rule or to associate with someone. Figuratively, it can be ruler or teacher.
LIV “flock” = eder. From adar (fail, missing) OR from adar (to dig, help, keep rank; properly, to muster troops as for battle; to miss or lack since you can see who is missing following muster; to arrange like a vineyard and so to hoe). This is arrangement – of animals, a flock or herd.

11 For the Lord has ransomedLV Jacob
    and has redeemedLVI him from handsLVII too strongLVIII for him.

Notes on verse 11

LV “ransomed” = padah. This is to sever, which is to say to ransom. To secure someone’s release (by paying their debt to free them from slavery) and thus redeem, rescue, deliver, preserve. Can also be the redemption price.
LVI “redeemed” = gaal. This is to redeem someone or something according to kinship laws. So, it could be acting on a relative’s behalf to buy back their property, to marry one’s brother’s widow, etc. This could be more briefly translated as to redeem, acts as kinsman, or purchase. As a noun, it could be deliverer or avenger.
LVII “hands” = yad. This is hand, ability, power. Hand in a literal sense, but also what one can do or the means by which one does it.
LVIII “too strong” = chazaq. From chazaq (to strengthen, seize, be courageous, repair, bind, heal, conquer, harden). This is strong, hard, powerful, loud, bold, violent, impudent. It is usually strong in a negative sense.

12 They shall come and sing aloud on the heightLIX of Zion,LX
    and they shall be radiantLXI over the goodnessLXII of the Lord,

Notes on verse 12a

LIX “height” = marom. From rum (to be high, rise, exalted, become proud, display, offer, present, set apart, extol; to rise in a literal or figurative sense). This can be height, high place, or lofty. It can be either exalted or haughty/proud. It can refer to dignity or to heaven.
LX “Zion” = Tsiyyon. Related to tsyiyyun (signpost, monument); from tsavah (to charge someone, to command, order); from the same as tsiyyah (dryness, drought); from a root meaning parched as desert, dry land. Zion can refer to a mountain in Jerusalem as well as another name for Jerusalem itself or the people.
LXI “radiant” = nahar. 6x in OT. This is to flow, sparkle, be cheerful, assemble.
LXII “goodness” = tub. From tob (to be pleasing, to be good). This is goodness, gladness, something that is good. It can also be beauty, welfare, or joy.

over the grain,LXIII the wine,LXIV and the oil,LXV
    and over the youngLXVI of the flockLXVII and the herd;LXVIII

Notes on verse 12b

LXIII “grain” = dagan. Perhaps from dagah (to multiply, move quickly, breed greatly, grow). This is grain or other cereal.
LXIV “wine” = tirosh. From yarash (inheriting or dispossessing; refers to occupying or colonizing – taking territory by driving out the previous inhabitants and living there instead of them; by implication, to seize or rob, to expel, ruin, or impoverish).  This is new wine or sweet wine – wine that is freshly squeezed. Sometimes used for fermented wine.
LXV “oil” = yitshar. From tsahar (to press oil or glisten). This is fresh oil, anointed. It is oil as that which is burned to make light; used figuratively to talk about anointing.
LXVI “young” = ben. From banah (to build or obtain children). This is son, age, child. It is son in a literal or figurative sense.
LXVII “flock” = tson. This is a flock of sheep and goats.
LXVIII “herd” = baqar. From baqar (to plow, break forth; figuratively, to inquire, inspect, consider). This is cattle – an animal used for plowing.

their lifeLXIX shall become like a wateredLXX garden,LXXI
    and they shall neverLXXII languishLXXIII again.LXXIV

Notes on verse 12c

LXIX “life” = nephesh. Related to naphash (to refresh or be refreshed). This is soul, self, person, emotion. It is a breathing creature. Can also refer to appetites and desires.
LXX “watered” = raveh. 3x in OT. From ravah (to have one’s thirst or cravings satisfied; to soak, water, or satisfy). This is watered or drunken.
LXXI “garden” = gan. From ganan (to put a hedge around – generally, protect or defend; to cover or surround). This is a garden in that it is fenced in. It can also be an enclosure.
LXXII {untranslated} = asaph. This is to gather, assemble, or bring. It can also mean to take away, destroy, or remove.
LXXIII “languish” = daeb. 3x in OT. This is to languish, grow faint, pine, waste away.
LXXIV “again” = od. From ud (to admonish, repeat, duplicate, testify, restore, record, relieve). This is still, yet, again, more.

13 Then shall the young womenLXXV rejoiceLXXVI in the dance,LXXVII
    and the young menLXXVIII and the oldLXXIX shall be merry.LXXX

Notes on verse 13a

LXXV “young women” = betulah. This is virgin, maiden, or bride. Can also be used figuratively for a place.
LXXVI “rejoice” = samach. Related to “gladness” in v7. See note V above.
LXXVII “dance” = machol. 6x in OT. From chul (whirling around so dancing as in a circle or writhing in pain; used particularly for the pain of childbirth or from writhing due to fear; can also be falling in pain or waiting). This is a round dance.
LXXVIII “young men” = bachur. From bachar (to choose, appoint, try, excellent). This is choice, chosen, selected. It is a youth or young man.
LXXIX “old” = zaqen. From the same as zaqan (beard or chin – the beard represents old age). This is old, aged, or elder.
LXXX {untranslated} = yachad. Same as “together” in v8. See note XXVII above.

I will turnLXXXI their mourningLXXXII into joy;LXXXIII
    I will comfortLXXXIV them and give them gladnessLXXXV for sorrow.LXXXVI

Notes on verse 13b

LXXXI “turn” = haphak. This is to turn, overturn, change, return, turn over, pervert.
LXXXII “mourning” = ebel. From abal (to mourn, bewail). This is mourning or lamentation.
LXXXIII “joy” = sason. From sus (to rejoice, be glad; properly, to be bright or cheerful). This is rejoicing, cheerfulness, and welcome.
LXXXIV “comfort” = nacham. Properly, this is a strong breath or a sigh. This can be to be sorry, to pity, console, comfort, or repent. But, one can also comfort oneself with less righteous thoughts, so this can also mean to avenge oneself.
LXXXV “give…gladness” = samach. Same as “rejoice” in v13. See note LXXVI above.
LXXXVI “sorrow” = yagon. 14x in OT. From yagah (to suffer, grieve, afflict). This is grief or sorrow.

14 I will give the priestsLXXXVII theirLXXXVIII fillLXXXIX of fatness,XC
    and my people shall be satisfiedXCI with my bounty,XCII
            saysXCIII the Lord.

Notes on verse 14

LXXXVII “priests” = kohen. This is literally the one who officiates i.e. the priest. This is where the Jewish last name “Cohen” (and its variants) comes from.
LXXXVIII {untranslated} = nephesh. Same as “life” in v12. See note LXIX above.
LXXXIX “give…fill” = ravah. Related to “watered” in v12. 14x in OT. See note LXX above.
XC “fatness” = deshen. 15x in OT. From dashen (to be fat, become greasy, be anointed or prosperous; can also mean to remove ashes from the fat offered for sacrifice). This is the ashes from that fat, fatness more broadly speaking, or, figuratively abundance.
XCI “satisfied” = saba. To be satisfied or full in a literal or figurative sense. Also, to have plenty of.
XCII “bounty” = tub. Same as “goodness” in v12. See note LXII above.
XCIII “says” = neum. From na’am (to speak a prophecy; properly, to whisper, which implies saying an oracle). This is an utterance or speaking an oracle.


Image credit: Statues of the Apostles at the Cathedral of our Lady of La Almudena in Madrid. Photo by Luu, 2011.

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