Jeremiah 31:8

8 Watch! I am going to bring them from the northern land. I will gather them from remote regions of the earth^[a]- the blind and the lame will be with them, along with those who are pregnant and those about to give birth. They will return here as a great assembly!^[b]

Jeremiah 31:8 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 31:8

Behold, I will bring them from the north country
As from Babylon, at the end of the seventy years' captivity, which lay north of Judea; so, in the latter day, from those northern countries, as ours, where they now are in great numbers: and gather them from the coasts of the earth;
or "sides" of it; from all the parts of the world where they are: [and] with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her
that travaileth with child together;
signifying that no difficulties whatsoever should hinder them in their return to their own land; provision should be made for persons under these circumstances, so unfit to travel. All this may be understood, in a figurative sense, of those who are spiritually "blind"; who are made to see their lost estate, and need of Christ; and are brought to him, and to his church, in a way they had not known, and in paths they knew not before: and of the lame and impotent, unable to do any good thing in a spiritual sense, and will not come to Christ, unless drawn; these are made to leap as a hart, and to flee to Christ for refuge, and run the ways of his commandments: and of such who are laden and burdened, as "women with child"; and who are encouraged and enabled as such to come to Christ, and cast their burdens on him, and find rest for their souls: and of such who are in pain and distress, as one "that travaileth with child": in the pangs of the new birth, under a sense of wrath, and as ready to perish; who also are enabled to come and venture their souls on Christ, receive his Gospel, and submit to his ordinances, where they find peace and comfort: a great company shall return thither;
three thousand were converted under one sermon, in the first times of the Gospel; and, in the latter day, the nation of the Jews shall be born again at once; the number of the children of Israel shall then be as the sand of the sea, and great shall be the day of Jezreel, ( Isaiah 66:8 ) ( Hosea 1:10 Hosea 1:11 ) .

Jeremiah 31:8 In-Context

6 For there will be a day when watchmen will call out in the hill country of Ephraim: Get up, let's go up to Zion, to the Lord our God!

7 For this is what the Lord says: Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the chief of the nations! Proclaim, praise, and say: Lord, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!

8 Watch! I am going to bring them from the northern land. I will gather them from remote regions of the earth- the blind and the lame will be with them, along with those who are pregnant and those about to give birth. They will return here as a great assembly!

9 They will come weeping, but I will bring them back with consolation. I will lead them to wadis [filled] with water by a smooth way where they will not stumble, for I am Israel's Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.

10 Nations, hear the word of the Lord, and tell it among the far off coastlands! Say: The One who scattered Israel will gather him. He will watch over him as a shepherd [guards] his flock,

Footnotes

• [a] Jr 6:22; 25:32; 50:41
• [b] Ezk 38:15