New English Translation
Jeremiah 31:37
37The Lord says, “I will not reject all the descendants of Israel because of all that they have done. That could only happen if the heavens above could be measured or the foundations of the earth below could all be explored,” says the Lord.
Jeremiah 31:37 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord.
- New International Version (NIV)This is what the Lord says: “Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of all they have done,” declares the Lord.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Thus says the Lord: "If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, declares the Lord."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Thus says the Lord: “If heaven above can be measured, And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel For all that they have done, says the Lord.
Context of Jeremiah 31:37
35The Lord has made a promise to Israel. He promises it as the one who fixed the sun to give light by day and the moon and stars to give light by night. He promises it as the one who stirs up the sea so that its waves roll. He promises it as the one who is known as the Lord who rules over all. 36The Lord affirms, “The descendants of Israel will not cease forever to be a nation in my sight. That could only happen if the fixed ordering of the heavenly lights were to cease to operate before me.” The Lord says, “I will not reject all the descendants of Israel because of all that they have done. That could only happen if the heavens above could be measured or the foundations of the earth below could all be explored,” says the Lord. 38“Indeed a time is coming,” says the Lord, “when the city of Jerusalem will be rebuilt as my special city. It will be built from the Tower of Hananel westward to the Corner Gate. 39The boundary line will extend beyond that, straight west from there to the Hill of Gareb and then turn southward to Goah.
Read all of Jeremiah 31Jeremiah 31:37 word by word
כֹּ֣ה׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה אִם־יִמַּ֤דּוּ שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ מִלְמַ֔עְלָה וְיֵחָקְר֥וּ מֽוֹסְדֵי־אֶ֖רֶץ לְמָ֑טָּה גַּם־אֲנִ֞י אֶמְאַ֨ס בְּכָל־זֶ֧רַע יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל עַֽל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשׂ֖וּ נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thus saithאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- If heavenשָׁמַיִםshâmayim shâmeh · heavenH8064
- aboveמַ֫עַלma‛al · aboveH4605
- can be measuredמָדַדmâdad · to measureH4058
- and the foundationsמוֹסָדָהmôsâdâh môsâdâh · foundationH4146
- of the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- searched outחָקַרchâqar · to searchH2713
- beneathמַ֫טָּהmaţţâh · beneathH4295
- I will also cast offמָאַסmâ'as · to rejectH3988
- all the seedזֶ֫רַעzera‛ · seed: childrenH2233
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- for all that they have doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- saithנְאֻםne'ûm · utteranceH5002
Cross-references for Jeremiah 31:37
- Jeremiah 33:22I will make the children who follow one another in the line of my servant David very numerous. I will also make the Levites who minister before me very numerous. I will make them all as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sands which are on the seashore.’”
- Job 11:7“Can you discover the essence of God? Can you find out the perfection of the Almighty?
- Psalms 89:2For I say, “Loyal love is permanently established; in the skies you set up your faithfulness.”
- Proverbs 30:4Who has ascended into heaven, and then descended? Who has gathered up the winds in his fists? Who has bound up the waters in his cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? – if you know!
- Isaiah 40:12Who has measured out the waters in the hollow of his hand, or carefully measured the sky, or carefully weighed the soil of the earth, or weighed the mountains in a balance, or the hills on scales?
- Jeremiah 30:11For I, the Lord, affirm that I will be with you and will rescue you. I will completely destroy all the nations where I scattered you. But I will not completely destroy you. I will indeed discipline you, but only in due measure. I will not allow you to go entirely unpunished.”
- Jeremiah 33:24“You have surely noticed what these people are saying, haven’t you? They are saying, ‘The Lord has rejected the two families of Israel and Judah that he chose.’ So they have little regard that my people will ever again be a nation.
- Jeremiah 46:28I, the Lord, tell you not to be afraid, you descendants of Jacob, my servant, for I am with you. Though I completely destroy all the nations where I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will indeed discipline you but only in due measure. I will not allow you to go entirely unpunished.”
- Romans 11:2God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew! Do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?
Commentaries on Jeremiah 31:37
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 37All the seed - Unworthy members of Israel may be cast away, but the race shall never entirely cease to exist.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 35-40Verses 35-40 As surely as the heavenly bodies will continue their settled course, according to the will of their Creator, to the end of time, and as the raging sea obeys him, so surely will the Jews be continued a separate people. Words can scarcely set forth more strongly the restoration of Israel. The rebuilding of Jerusalem, and its enlargement and establishment, shall be an earnest of the great things God will do for the gospel church. The personal…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 35-37The Lord compared his promise of the new covenant to his reliability in upholding the laws of nature.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3737. (Compare Jr 33:22). for all that they have done--namely, all the sins. God will regard His own covenant promise, rather than their merits.Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 31:37
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
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