New International Version
Jeremiah 31:37
37This 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)This is what the Lord says: “Just as the heavens cannot be measured and the foundations of the earth cannot be explored, so I will not consider casting them away for the evil they have done. I, the Lord, have spoken!
Context of Jeremiah 31:37
35This is what the Lord says, he who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar— the Lord Almighty is his name: 36“Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,” declares the Lord, “will Israel ever cease being a nation before me.” 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. 38“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when this city will be rebuilt for me from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. 39The measuring line will stretch from there straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn 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 descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars in the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.’ ”
- Job 11:7“Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
- Psalms 89:2I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.
- Proverbs 30:4Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!
- Isaiah 40:12Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?
- Jeremiah 30:11I am with you and will save you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’
- Jeremiah 33:24“Have you not noticed that these people are saying, ‘The Lord has rejected the two kingdoms he chose’? So they despise my people and no longer regard them as a nation.
- Jeremiah 46:28Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, for I am with you,” declares the Lord. “Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure; I will not let you go entirely unpunished.”
- Romans 11:2God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to 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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