God’s Word Translation
Jeremiah 31:16
16This is what the Lord says: Stop your crying, and wipe away your tears. You will be rewarded for your work, declares the Lord. You will return from the land of the enemy.
Jeremiah 31:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
- New International Version (NIV)This is what the Lord says: “Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded,” declares the Lord. “They will return from the land of the enemy.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Thus says the Lord: "Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Thus says the Lord: “Refrain your voice from weeping, And your eyes from tears; For your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, And they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
Context of Jeremiah 31:16
14I will satisfy the priests with rich food. My people will be filled with my blessings,” declares the Lord. 15This is what the Lord says: A sound is heard in Ramah, the sound of crying in bitter grief. Rachel is crying for her children. She refuses to be comforted, because they are dead. This is what the Lord says: Stop your crying, and wipe away your tears. You will be rewarded for your work, declares the Lord. You will return from the land of the enemy. 17Your future is filled with hope, declares the Lord. Your children will return to their own territory. 18“I have certainly heard Ephraim mourn and say, ‘You disciplined me, and I was disciplined. I was like a young, untrained calf. Turn me, and I will be turned, because you are the Lord my God.
Read all of Jeremiah 31Jeremiah 31:16 word by word
כֹּ֣ה׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה מִנְעִ֤י קוֹלֵךְ֙ מִבֶּ֔כִי וְעֵינַ֖יִךְ מִדִּמְעָ֑ה כִּי֩ יֵ֨שׁ שָׂכָ֤ר לִפְעֻלָּתֵךְ֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה וְשָׁ֖בוּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ אוֹיֵֽב׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thus saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- Refrainמָנַעmâna‛ · to withholdH4513
- thy voiceקוֹלqôl qôl · voiceH6963
- from weepingבְּכִיbekîy · weepingH1065
- and thine eyesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eyeH5869
- from tearsדִּמְעָהdim‛âh · tearsH1832
- for thy workפְּעֻלָּהpe‛ûllâh · wagesH6468
- shall beיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
- rewardedשָׂכָרώâkâr · wagesH7939
- saithנְאֻםne'ûm · utteranceH5002
- and they shall come againשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- from the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- of the enemyאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
Cross-references for Jeremiah 31:16
- Genesis 43:31Then he washed his face and came out. He was in control of his emotions when he said, “Serve the food.”
- Genesis 45:1Joseph could no longer control his emotions in front of everyone who was standing around him, so he cried out, “Have everyone leave me!” No one else was there when Joseph told his brothers who he was.
- Psalms 30:5His anger lasts only a moment. His favor lasts a lifetime. Weeping may last for the night, but there is a song of joy in the morning.
- Mark 5:38When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a noisy crowd there. People were crying and sobbing loudly.
- John 20:13The angels asked her why she was crying. Mary told them, “They have removed my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve put him.”
- 1 Thessalonians 4:14We believe that Jesus died and came back to life. We also believe that, through Jesus, God will bring back those who have died. They will come back with Jesus.
- Ruth 2:12May the Lord reward you for what you have done! May you receive a rich reward from the Lord God of Israel, under whose protection you have come for shelter.”
- 2 Chronicles 15:7But you must remain strong and not become discouraged. Your actions will be rewarded.”
- Ecclesiastes 9:7Go, enjoy eating your food, and drink your wine cheerfully, because God has already accepted what you’ve done.
- Hebrews 6:10God is fair. He won’t forget what you’ve done or the love you’ve shown for him. You helped his holy people, and you continue to help them.
- Hebrews 11:6No one can please God without faith. Whoever goes to God must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
- Jeremiah 31:4Once again I will build you up, and you will be rebuilt, my dear people Israel. Once again you will take your tambourines, and you will go dancing with happy people.
- Jeremiah 23:3“Then I will gather the remaining part of my flock from all the countries where I chased them. I will bring them back to their pasture, and they will be fertile and increase in number.
- Jeremiah 29:14I will let you find me, declares the Lord. I will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I’ve scattered you, declares the Lord. I will bring you back from the place where you are being held captive.
- Jeremiah 30:3The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity. I will bring them back to the land that I gave their ancestors, and they will take possession of it.”
- Jeremiah 33:7I will restore Judah and Israel and rebuild them as they were before.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 31:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16They shall come again from the land of the enemy - This could not be said of the murdered innocents at Bethlehem; they never came again; but the Jews, who had gone into captivity, did come again from the land of their enemy to their own border.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15-22Verses 15-22 The religious character of the restoration of the ten tribes. Chastisement brought repentance, and with it forgiveness; therefore God decrees their restoration. Jeremiah 31:15 Ramah, mentioned because of its nearness to Jerusalem, from which it was distant about five miles. As the mother of three tribes, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, Rachel is regarded as the mother of the whole ten. This passage is quoted by Matthew (marginal reference)…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-17Verses 10-17 He that scattered Israel, knows where to find them. It is comfortable to observe the goodness of the Lord in the gifts of providence. But our souls are never valuable as gardens, unless watered with the dews of God's Spirit and grace. A precious promise follows, which will not have full accomplishment except in the heavenly Zion. Let them be satisfied of God's loving-kindness, and they will be satisfied with it, and desire no more to make…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-17Rachel should not cry, because the Lord promised to return her exiled children to their land.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. thy work--thy parental weeping for thy children [Rosenmuller]. Thine affliction in the loss of thy children, murdered for Christ's sake, shall not be fruitless to thee, as was the case in thy giving birth to the "child of thy sorrow," Benjamin. Primarily, also, thy grief shall not be perpetual: the exiles shall return, and the land be inhabited again [Calvin]. come again--(Ho 1:11).Read the comment
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries