Jeremiah 31:29

29 "When those days come they will no longer say, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.'

Jeremiah 31:29 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 31:29

In those days they shall say no more
The following proverb or byword; they should have no occasion to use it, nor should they choose to use it; since they would understand themselves, and the dispensations of Providence towards them, better than to use it: the fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set
on edge;
that is, the fathers have sinned, and the children are punished for their sins. So the Targum,

``the fathers have sinned, and the children are smitten.''

This was in some sense true; they were punished for their fathers' sins in the captivity, particularly for Manasseh's; nor was it unusual with God to visit the iniquities of the fathers upon the children; nor at all unjust, since they were a part of their parents, and especially since they were guilty of the same sins; nor is it thought unjust among men to punish children for the treason of their parents, as every sin is treason against God. But this was not all that was meant by this proverb; the sense of those that used it was, that they themselves were quite clear and innocent, and that they only suffered for their fathers' faults; which was false, of which they should be convinced, and use the proverb no more, as charging God with injustice.

Jeremiah 31:29 In-Context

27 "Here, the days are coming," says ADONAI, when I will sow the house of Isra'el and the house of Y'hudah with the seed of humans and the seed of animals.

28 At that time, just as I used to watch over them with the intent to uproot, break down, overthrow, destroy and do harm; so then I will watch over them to build and plant," says ADONAI.

29 "When those days come they will no longer say, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.'

30 Rather, each will die for his own sin; every one who eats sour grapes, his own teeth will be set on edge.

31 "Here, the days are coming," says ADONAI, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Isra'el and with the house of Y'hudah.