Jeremiah 31:28

28 Once I watched over them to uproot them, to tear them down, and to wreck, ruin, and hurt them. Now I will watch over them to build them up and to plant them," declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 31:28 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 31:28

And it shall come to pass, [that] like as I have watched over
them
In providence; looked upon them with an eye of vindictive justice; observed all their actions and motions; diligently attended to everything that passed, and took the first and most fitting opportunity: to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and
to afflict;
which words, as they have an elegance and an agreeableness in their sound, in the original; so they are expressive of the utter overthrow of the city, temple, and nation of the Jews, and of the several troubles and calamities they should be afflicted with: so will I watch over them;
be as careful and diligent, as intent, earnest, and early: to build, and to plant, saith the Lord;
to build their city and temple, and to plant them in their own land. So the church of God is his building, whose foundation he lays, the superstructure of which he rears up, and will complete it in his own time; and it is his plantation, into which he puts his pleasant plants, his plants of renown; which he waters with his Spirit and grace, by the ministry of the word, that they may grow, and become fruitful.

Jeremiah 31:28 In-Context

26 At this, I woke up and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant.

27 "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will plant the nations of Israel and Judah with people and animals.

28 Once I watched over them to uproot them, to tear them down, and to wreck, ruin, and hurt them. Now I will watch over them to build them up and to plant them," declares the LORD.

29 "When those days come, people will no longer say, 'Fathers have eaten sour grapes, and their children's teeth are set on edge.'

30 But each person will die for his own sin. Whoever eats sour grapes will have his own teeth set on edge.