Jeremiah 31:20-21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 31:18-26

We have here, I. Ephraim's repentance, and return to God. Not only Judah, but Ephraim the ten tribes, shall be restored, and therefore shall thus be prepared and qualified for it, Hos. 14:8. Ephraim shall say, What have I do to any more with idols? Ephraim the people, is here spoken of as a single person to denote their unanimity; they shall be as one man in their repentance and shall glorify God in it with one mind and one mouth, one and all. It is likewise thus expressed that it might be the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 31:20

Is Ephraim my dear son ?.... Questions put in this form, in the Hebrew language, usually more vehemently deny; and then the sense must be, Ephraim is not my dear son: and agreeably to this all the following clauses must be interpreted; which seems quite contrary to the scope and design of the context: wherefore it seems better to render the words thus, " Is not Ephraim my dear son?" F23 הבן יקיר לי "nonne filius pretiosus mihi?" Pagninus, Montanus. yes, he is; and so is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 31:21

Set thee up way marks, make thee high heaps ,.... Of stones, raised up as pillars, or like pyramids; or upright, as palm trees, which signification the word F26 תמרורים "columnulas", Schmidt; "pyramidas", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "palmulas", Tigurine version, "a תמר palma". has; to be marks and signs, to know the way again upon a return. The Targum is, "O congregation of Israel, remember the right works of thy fathers; pour out supplications; in bitterness set thy... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 31:20

Is Ephraim my dear son? - It is impossible to conceive any thing more tenderly affectionate than this. Let us consider the whole account. The ten tribes, called here Ephraim, for the reason before alleged, are represented as acknowledging their sins. I have heard Ephraim bemoaning himself; and in his lamentation he says, Thou hast chastised me. Though he at first rebelled against the chastisement, yet at last he submitted and acknowledged his offenses. He turned from all his offenses;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 31:21

Set thee up waymarks - Alluding to stones, or heaps of stones, which travelers in the desert set up to ascertain the way, that they may know how to return. Mark the way to Babylon: thither ye shall certainly go; but from it ye shall as certainly return. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 31:20

Verse 20 God here complains of the Israelites, because he had produced so little an effect on them by his great goodness: for the adoption with which he had favored them was an immense benefit;but by their ingratitude they had in a manner annihilated that favor. God then here asks, what sort of people the Israelites had been. But a question makes a thing stronger; for he who asks a question shews that he speaks not of a thing uncertain, but the knowledge of which is so conspicuous that it... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 31:21

Verse 21 He describes what mercy would do, even that God would at length restore the captives and bring them back from exile to their own country. There was however mention made previously of his favor, that we may know that the people were restored for no other reason but because God had mercy on them. The Prophet then having pointed out the fountain of redemption, passes on now to the external effect, by which God proved that he was reconciled to his people. Hence he says, set up for thee... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 31:15-22

From this glorious prospect Jeremiah's eye turns to the melancholy present. The land of Ephraim is orphaned and desolate. The prophet seems to hear Rachel weeping for her banished children, and comforts her with the assurance that they shall yet be restored. For Ephraim has come to repentance, and longs for reconciliation with his God, and God, who has overheard his soliloquy, relents, and comes to meet him with gracious promises. Then another voice is heard summoning Ephraim to prepare for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 31:18-21

Ephraim bemoaning himself; or, the penitent's restoration. The exiled Israelites are represented as about to grieve over their apostasy, and to seek God in confession and prayer. The answer of God is full of mercy and encouragement. The Captivity is to be brought back, and the cities of Israel are to be again occupied. I. THE STAGES AND PROCESSES OF TRUE REPENTANCE . ( Jeremiah 31:18 , Jeremiah 31:19 .) 1 . Conviction and acknowledgment of sin. The unbroken... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 31:20

The Divine speaker asks, as it were in surprise, whether Ephraim, who has so flagrantly sinned against him, can really be his dear (or, precious ) son , his pleasant child (literally, child of caressing, i.e. one caressed). The latter expression occurs in a remarkable passage of Isaiah ( Isaiah 5:7 ). Since I spake against him; rather, as often as I spake against him; i.e. as often as I pronounced sentence against Ephraim—such a sentence as is recorded in Isaiah 9:8-21 (where... read more

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