Jeremiah 31:37

37 The Lord saith these things, If (the) heavens above may be measured, and the foundaments of [the] earth beneath be sought out, and I shall cast away all the seed of Israel, for all things which they did, saith the Lord. (The Lord saith these things, If the heavens above could be measured, and the foundations of the earth beneath could be sought out, only then would I cast away all the children, or the descendants, of Israel, for all the things which they have done, saith the Lord.)

Jeremiah 31:37 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 31:37

Thus saith the Lord, if heaven above can be measured
Either the space between the highest heavens and the earth; or the extent of the heavens, from one end of them to the other, which cannot be done by man; so the Targum,

``as it is impossible that man should know the measure of the heavens above;''
otherwise it is measured by the Lord, for he hath "meted out heaven with a span", ( Isaiah 40:12 ) ; and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath:
so as to be known what they are, or on what they are fastened, since the earth is hung upon nothing, ( Job 38:6 ) ( 26:7 ) ; I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have
done, saith the Lord;
as the former cannot be, so neither the latter; when there was a very great rejection of the Jews for their disbelief of the Messiah, they were not all cast off; the Apostle Paul was an instance to the contrary, and so were others: "the remnant according to the election of grace"; and there is a time coming when all Israel shall be saved, ( Romans 11:5 Romans 11:25 Romans 11:26 ) ; nor shall any of the spiritual Israel be cast off by him, or cast away from him, so as to perish; the Israel, whom God foreknew, is chosen, redeemed, and whom he calls by his grace; no, not for all the sins and transgressions they have been guilty of, however they may deserve it. The reasons are, because of his unchangeable love to them; his unalterable covenant with them; the satisfaction his son has made for them; and the free and full pardon of their sins, which he has granted to them.

Jeremiah 31:37 In-Context

35 The Lord saith these things, that giveth the sun in the light of day, the order of the moon and of the stars in the light of the night, which troubleth the sea, and the waves thereof sound, the Lord of hosts is name to him. (The Lord saith these things, who giveth the sun for the light of the day, and the order of the moon and of the stars for the light of the night, who troubleth the sea, and its waves sound, or roar, the Lord of hosts is his name.)
36 If these laws fail before me, saith the Lord, then and the seed of Israel shall fail, that it be not a folk before me in all days. (If these laws fail before me, saith the Lord, then also the children, or the descendants, of Israel shall fail, so that they be not a nation before me forever.)
37 The Lord saith these things, If (the) heavens above may be measured, and the foundaments of [the] earth beneath be sought out, and I shall cast away all the seed of Israel, for all things which they did, saith the Lord. (The Lord saith these things, If the heavens above could be measured, and the foundations of the earth beneath could be sought out, only then would I cast away all the children, or the descendants, of Israel, for all the things which they have done, saith the Lord.)
38 Lo! days come, saith the Lord, and a city shall be builded (again) to the Lord, from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner. (Lo! the days shall come, saith the Lord, and the city shall be rebuilt in the Lord's honour, from the Tower of Hananeel unto the Corner Gate.)
39 And it shall go out over the rule of [the] measure, in the sight thereof, on the hill (of) Gareb, and it shall compass Goath (and it shall go all around Goath),
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.