Jeremiah 31:5

5 Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit.

Jeremiah 31:5 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 31:5

Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria
Mountains are proper places for vines, and which generally produce the best wine; but vines are not to be understood merely literally, or as only expressive of the outward peace, plenty, and prosperity of Samaria, with other places given to the Jews, as Josephus F11 observes they were by the Demetrii; which they might improve by planting vines but figuratively of the planting of Gospel churches there, comparable to vines, ( Song of Solomon 2:13 ) ( 7:12 ) ; which was done in the first times of the Gospel; see ( John 4:29 John 4:30 John 4:42 ) ( Acts 8:5 Acts 8:6 Acts 8:12 ) ( 9:31 ) ; and which was a pledge of what will be done in those parts hereafter in the latter day: the planters shall plant, and shall eat [them] as common things;
the fruit of the vines planted by them. The allusion is to the law of eating the fruit of trees planted on the fifth year of their plantation, when, and not till then, it was lawful to eat of it; but here the planters might eat of it as soon as it was produced, even as the fruit of the fifth year, which was common and lawful, ( Leviticus 19:23 Leviticus 19:25 ) . The "planters" are the ministers of the Gospel; such an one the Apostle Paul was; who are instruments in founding and raising churches, and of planting members in them, as well as of watering, and making them fruitful; and who receive themselves benefit from hence; not only in things temporal, but spiritual; it giving them a real pleasure and satisfaction to see the plants grow and thrive, which they have planted, ( 1 Corinthians 3:6-8 ) ( 9:7 ) ( Psalms 92:14 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F11 Antiqu. Jud. l. 13. c. 2. sect. 3.

Jeremiah 31:5 In-Context

3 the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
4 Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall take your tambourines, and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers.
5 Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit.
6 For there shall be a day when sentinels will call in the hill country of Ephraim: "Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God."
7 For thus says the Lord: Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, "Save, O Lord, your people, the remnant of Israel."
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.