Jeremiah 31:1

Context

31:1 At that time I will be the God of all the clans of Israel¹

and they will be my people.

I, the Lord, affirm it!”²

Jeremiah 31:33

Context
31:33 “But I will make a new covenant with the whole nation of Israel³ after I plant them back in the land,”⁴ says the Lord.⁵ “I will⁶ put my law within them⁷ and write it on their hearts and minds.⁸ I will be their God and they will be my people.⁹

[31:1] ¹sn This verse repeats v. 22 but with specific reference to all the clans of Israel, i.e., to all Israel and Judah. It functions here as a transition to the next section which will deal with the restoration of Israel (31:3-20) and Judah (31:21-25) and their reunification in the land (31:27-29) under a new covenant relation with God (31:31-37). See also the study note on 30:3 for further reference to this reunification in Jeremiah and the other prophets.

[31:1] ²tn Heb “Oracle of the Lord.”

[31:33] ³tn Heb “with the house of Israel.” All commentators agree that the term here refers to both the whole nation which was divided into the house of Israel and the house of Judah in v. 30.

[31:33] ⁴tn Heb “after those days.” Commentators are generally agreed that this refers to the return from exile and the repopulation of the land referred to in vv. 27-28 and not to something subsequent to the time mentioned in v. 30. This is the sequencing that is also presupposed in other new covenant passages such as Deut 30:1-6; Ezek 11:17-20; 36:24-28.

[31:33] ⁵tn Heb “Oracle of the Lord.”

[31:33] ⁶tn Heb “‘But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after these days:’ says the Lord, ‘I will….’” The sentence has been reworded and restructured to avoid the awkwardness of the original style.

[31:33] ⁷tn Heb “in their inward parts.” The Hebrew word here refers to the seat of the thoughts, emotions, and decisions (Jer 9:8 [9:7 HT]). It is essentially synonymous with “heart” in Hebrew psychological terms.

[31:33] ⁸tn The words “and minds” is not in the text but is supplied in the translation to bring the English psychology more into line with the Hebrew where the “heart” is the center both of knowing/thinking/reflecting and deciding/willing.

[31:33] ⁹sn Compare Jer 24:7; 30:22; 31:1 and see the study note on 30:2.