Jeremiah 31:13

13 The young women will dance for joy, and the men—old and young—will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.

Jeremiah 31:13 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 31:13

Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men
and old together
Not any particular virgin, but all virgins, as Kimchi interprets it. The Targum is,

``then shall the congregation of Israel rejoice as in dances;''

it may very well be understood of the church of Christ, espoused to him as a chaste virgin, and of her spiritual joy in him, in allusion to the joy expressed by such persons in dancing, both upon civil and religious accounts; and it denotes that the joy should be very general and extensive, that persons of every age and sex should partake of it; see ( Zechariah 9:17 ) ; for I will turn their mourning into joy:
their mourning for sin, and for want of the divine presence, into joy, on account of the goodness of the Lord to them, and the large provisions made for them; though they come weeping to Zion, yet, when come thither, sing in the height of it, ( Jeremiah 31:9 Jeremiah 31:12 ) ; their fasts, as elsewhere, are turned into festivals; sometimes the joy of the saints is suddenly turned into grief, and again their sorrow turned into joy; see ( Psalms 30:5-7 Psalms 30:11 Psalms 30:12 ) ; and will comfort them;
with the discoveries of love, with the divine Presence, and views of pardoning grace: and make them rejoice from their sorrow;
cause their sorrow to break off through joy: or, "after their sorrow" ^F16; that being ended, joy shall succeed.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 (Mnwgym) "post moerorem suum", Cataker.

Jeremiah 31:13 In-Context

11 For the LORD has redeemed Israel from those too strong for them.

12 They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem. They will be radiant because of the LORD ’s good gifts— the abundant crops of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and the healthy flocks and herds. Their life will be like a watered garden, and all their sorrows will be gone.

13 The young women will dance for joy, and the men—old and young—will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.

14 The priests will enjoy abundance, and my people will feast on my good gifts. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

15 This is what the LORD says: “A cry is heard in Ramah— deep anguish and bitter weeping. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted— for her children are gone.”