Jeremiah 31:13

13 Then rejoice doth a virgin in a chorus, Both young men and old men -- together, And I have turned their mourning to joy, And have comforted them, And gladdened them above their sorrow,

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 Jehovah hath ransomed Jacob, And redeemed him from a hand stronger than he.

12 And they have come in, And have sung in the high place of Zion, And flowed unto the goodness of Jehovah, For wheat, and for new wine, and for oil, And for the young of the flock and herd, And their soul hath been as a watered garden, And they add not to grieve any more.

13 Then rejoice doth a virgin in a chorus, Both young men and old men -- together, And I have turned their mourning to joy, And have comforted them, And gladdened them above their sorrow,

14 And satisfied the soul of the priests [with] fatness, And My people with My goodness are satisfied, An affirmation of Jehovah.

15 Thus said Jehovah, A voice in Ramah is heard, wailing, weeping most bitter, Rachel is weeping for her sons, She hath refused to be comforted for her sons, because they are not.