Jeremiah 31:7

7 This is what the LORD says: Sing a happy song about Jacob. Sing joyfully for the leader of the nations. Shout, sing praise, and say, "O LORD, rescue your people, the remaining few from Israel."

Jeremiah 31:7 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 31:7

For thus saith the Lord, sing with gladness for Jacob
For the restoration of Jacob, or the conversion of the Jews; which will be matter of joy to the Christians among the Gentiles; who seem to be here called upon to express their joy on that occasion, as they will; for it will be to them as life from the dead, ( Romans 11:15 ) ( 15:10 ) ( Revelation 19:7 ) . Kimchi thinks there is a trajection in the words; and that they may be rendered, "thus saith the Lord to Jacob, sing with gladness"; as if the exhortation was to him to rejoice, and not to others on his account; and so the Septuagint and Arabic versions render it; and to the same sense the Syriac version, "thus saith the Lord, sing, O ye of the house of Jacob, with gladness"; and so the Targum; it will no doubt be a joyful time with them: and shout among the chief of the nations;
where they shall be when converted, as in Great Britain, and other places: or, "on the top of the nations" ^F12; on some high place among them. It seems to denote the publicness of the shout; it will be open and manifest to all; so the Targum,

``and exult with head uncovered, in the sight of all people;''

Turks, Papists, and Pagans: publish ye;
or "cause to hear", or "to be heard" ^F13; cause their voice to be heard, both in prayer and praise to God; or cause men to hear their faith in Christ, and profession of it; and publish that Gospel, and spread it among others, which before they rejected and despised: praise ye;
the Lord for his wonderful grace in the conversion of them: and say, O Lord, save thy people, the remnant of Israel;
his covenant people; the remnant according to the election of grace. This is a direction to the Jews that are converted, to pray for the rest that are not; or to the Gentiles to pray for them; who are before called upon to rejoice at the first appearance of this wonderful work, and to spread it abroad, and to go on publishing the Gospel for the more forwarding of it; and to praise the Lord for what he had done; and to pray unto him to go on with the work of saving his people, the residue of them.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F12 (Mywgh varb) "in cacumine gentium", Castalio; "in capite gentium", Pagninus, Montanus.
F13 (weymvh) "auditum facite", Pagninus, Montanus; "audiri facite", Schmidt.

Jeremiah 31:7 In-Context

5 Once again you will plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria. Those who plant them will enjoy the fruit.

6 There will be a day when watchmen on the mountains of Ephraim will call out this message: 'Arise! Let's go to Zion, to the LORD our God.'"

7 This is what the LORD says: Sing a happy song about Jacob. Sing joyfully for the leader of the nations. Shout, sing praise, and say, "O LORD, rescue your people, the remaining few from Israel."

8 "I will bring them from the land of the north. I will gather them from the farthest parts of the earth. Blind people and lame people will return together with pregnant women and those in labor. A large crowd will return here.

9 They will cry as they return. They will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams on a level path where they will not stumble. I will be a Father to Israel, and Ephraim will be my firstborn.