Jeremiah 31:39

39 A measuring line will stretch from there straight to the Hill of Gareb, and then it will turn to Goah.

Jeremiah 31:39 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 31:39

And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it,
&c.] Or, "before it" ^F16; the gate proceeding right on from it; of the length of the measuring line, or reed; see ( Ezekiel 40:5 ) ; though some render it, "before him" ^F17; before the Lord, under whose direction and powerful providence the work went on; so the city gates and walls of the New Jerusalem are said to be measured with a reed, ( Revelation 21:15 ) ; upon the hill Gareb;
which signifies a "scab", so called, as is supposed, from scabby and leprous persons sent here to dwell, which was a "lazaretto" for them. Lightfoot, following Lyra, takes it to be the same with Mount Calvary: it was on the north side of the city, bending to the west; and, if the same with Calvary, it was on the west side. The Targum renders it,

``the hill which was near to Gareb:''

and shall compass about to Goath;
so called perhaps from the difficulty of its ascent, it being a laborious work to go up to it, enough to make a man breathe. Lyra takes it to be Golgotha, which is not very likely; it seems to be at some distance from the former; since from that there was a round about, a compass fetched to this: it is supposed to lie on the west side of the city, towards the south. The Targum renders it the calves' pool, or the round pool; it is thought by some more likely to be the hill Josephus ^F18 speaks of, that hung over the valley of Siloam.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 (wdgn) "ante ipsam", Tigurine version, Gataker
F17 "Coram eo", Pagninus, Montanus; "coram ipso", Calvin.
F18 De Bello Jud. l. 5. c. 12. sect. 2.

Jeremiah 31:39 In-Context

37 This is what the LORD says: Only if the heavens could be measured or the foundations of the earth could be searched, would I ever reject all of Israel's descendants because of everything that they have done, declares the LORD.

38 "The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when the city will be rebuilt for me from the Tower of Hananel to Corner Gate.

39 A measuring line will stretch from there straight to the Hill of Gareb, and then it will turn to Goah.

40 The whole valley, filled with its dead bodies and ashes, and the whole area to the Kidron Valley, as far as the corner of Horse Gate in the east, will be holy to the LORD. It will never be uprooted or torn down again."