Jeremiah 31:13

13 Young women will dance and be happy, young men and old men will join in. I'll convert their weeping into laughter, lavishing comfort, invading their grief with joy.

Jeremiah 31:13 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 31:13

Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men
and old together
Not any particular virgin, but all virgins, as Kimchi interprets it. The Targum is,

``then shall the congregation of Israel rejoice as in dances;''

it may very well be understood of the church of Christ, espoused to him as a chaste virgin, and of her spiritual joy in him, in allusion to the joy expressed by such persons in dancing, both upon civil and religious accounts; and it denotes that the joy should be very general and extensive, that persons of every age and sex should partake of it; see ( Zechariah 9:17 ) ; for I will turn their mourning into joy:
their mourning for sin, and for want of the divine presence, into joy, on account of the goodness of the Lord to them, and the large provisions made for them; though they come weeping to Zion, yet, when come thither, sing in the height of it, ( Jeremiah 31:9 Jeremiah 31:12 ) ; their fasts, as elsewhere, are turned into festivals; sometimes the joy of the saints is suddenly turned into grief, and again their sorrow turned into joy; see ( Psalms 30:5-7 Psalms 30:11 Psalms 30:12 ) ; and will comfort them;
with the discoveries of love, with the divine Presence, and views of pardoning grace: and make them rejoice from their sorrow;
cause their sorrow to break off through joy: or, "after their sorrow" ^F16; that being ended, joy shall succeed.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 (Mnwgym) "post moerorem suum", Cataker.

Jeremiah 31:13 In-Context

11 I, God, will pay a stiff ransom price for Jacob; I'll free him from the grip of the Babylonian bully.

12 The people will climb up Zion's slopes shouting with joy, their faces beaming because of God's bounty - Grain and wine and oil, flocks of sheep, herds of cattle. Their lives will be like a well-watered garden, never again left to dry up.

13 Young women will dance and be happy, young men and old men will join in. I'll convert their weeping into laughter, lavishing comfort, invading their grief with joy.

14 I'll make sure that their priests get three square meals a day and that my people have more than enough.'" God's Decree.

15 Again, God's Message: "Listen to this! Laments coming out of Ramah, wild and bitter weeping. It's Rachel weeping for her children, Rachel refusing all solace. Her children are gone, gone - long gone into exile."