Jeremiah 31:39

39 And gone out again hath the measuring line Over-against it, unto the height of Gareb, And it hath compassed 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 Thus said Jehovah: If the heavens above be measured, And the foundations of earth below searched, Even I kick against all the seed of Israel, For all that they have done, An affirmation of Jehovah.

38 Lo, days [are coming], an affirmation of Jehovah, And the city hath been built to Jehovah, From the tower of Hananeel to the gate of the corner.

39 And gone out again hath the measuring line Over-against it, unto the height of Gareb, And it hath compassed to Goah.

40 And all the valley of the carcases and of the ashes, And all the fields unto the brook Kidron, Unto the corner of the horse-gate eastward, [Are] holy to Jehovah, it is not plucked up, Nor is it thrown down any more to the age!