Jeremiah 31:4

4 And so now I'll start over with you and build you up again, dear virgin Israel. You'll resume your singing, grabbing tambourines and joining the dance.

Jeremiah 31:4 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 31:4

Again, I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of
Israel
The same with "all the families of Israel", ( Jeremiah 31:1 ) ; who, when converted, will be espoused to Christ as a chaste virgin; have a sincere affection for him; unfeigned faith in him, and purely worship him; receiving the pure doctrines of the Gospel, and submitting to the ordinances of it; and then will the church, comparable to a building, consisting of lively stones, laid upon the foundation Christ, which is fallen down, and lies in ruins, be rebuilt, and none shall hinder it; and a glorious building it will be, and will continue so, when its stones are laid with fair colours; its foundations with sapphires; its windows made of agates; its gates of carbuncles; and all its borders of pleasant stones, ( Isaiah 54:11 Isaiah 54:12 ) ( Acts 15:16 ) ; thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets;
or timbrels, instruments of music, such as women used at times of public joy and mirth, ( Exodus 15:20 ) ( Judges 11:34 ) ( 1 Samuel 18:6 ) ; which became them, and were very ornamental to them; and their playing on these was usually attended with dancing; hence it follows: and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry;
phrases expressive of spiritual joy, which will be in the hearts of the saints, and expressed by the behaviour of them at the time of the conversion of the, Jews, which will be the marriage of the Lamb; and when the bride will be ready, being adorned with the robe of Christ's righteousness, and with the graces of his Spirit, and be brought into his presence, accompanied with a chorus of virgins her companions, undefiled ones, having harps in their hands, singing the Lamb's new song; see ( Revelation 14:2-4 ) ( 19:7-9 ) ( Psalms 45:13-15 ) .

Jeremiah 31:4 In-Context

2 This is the way God put it: "They found grace out in the desert, these people who survived the killing. Israel, out looking for a place to rest,
3 met God out looking for them!" God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!
4 And so now I'll start over with you and build you up again, dear virgin Israel. You'll resume your singing, grabbing tambourines and joining the dance.
5 You'll go back to your old work of planting vineyards on the Samaritan hillsides, And sit back and enjoy the fruit - oh, how you'll enjoy those harvests!
6 The time's coming when watchmen will call out from the hilltops of Ephraim: 'On your feet! Let's go to Zion, go to meet our God!'"
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.