What does Jeremiah 31:22 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Israel had wandered from the Lord long enough, as a wayward daughter. He would bring a new thing to pass, namely, Israel"s repentance and return to the land. The last line of this verse may have been a popular proverb describing something very unusual and unexpected. Some interpreters, following the early church father Jerome, have taken it as a prophecy about Mary"s conception of Jesus, but this seems unlikely. Others view it as simply a figure expressing security, here of Israel"s security back in the land. Perhaps the expression points to something amazing and hard to believe that would happen without being explicit about what it would be. Still other interpreters believe the woman represents Israel and the man Yahweh, the point being that the woman who had formerly departed from her Husband would cling to Him in the future (cf. Jeremiah 2:20-21; Hosea 1-3). ^[1] I prefer this view. Another view is that the woman, Israel, will become aggressive and will cling to and overpower warriors among the nations who will oppose her. ^[2] [source]

"Two things are "new," which have not been seen before in the land: (1) Faithless Israel, who is called a whore in chap3 , will be taken back by God, even though such a thing is never done ( Jeremiah 3:1-2). (2) Mourning will be turned to joy." ^[3] [source]

Context Summary

It is God's purpose to care for His people through shepherds (pastors) who are responsible to Him. Jesus our Lord is the Branch into which we may be grafted. He is our King who saves us and clothes us with His own spotless righteousness. God finds us in Him, Philippians 3:9. Because He reigns, we are saved and dwell in safety. When we are brought into contact with false shepherds, whether the failure be in doctrine or example, let us ask for the broken heart of Jeremiah 23:9.

God is everywhere present; as the latter paragraph indicates, He is near at hand to overhear the blasphemy of those who deride religion, and to be a very present help in time of trouble. If He fills heaven and earth, can He not fill thy heart? If His Word is like fire, let it cleanse thee! If it is as a hammer, let it pulverize thy pride! Let those of us who essay to teach and preach, not steal our words from our neighbors, or utter our own, but receive them from the source of all truth. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 31

¹  The restoration of Israel
¹⁰  The publication thereof
¹⁵  Rahel mourning is comforted
¹⁸  Ephraim repenting is brought home again
²²  Christ is promised
²⁷  His care over the church
³¹  His new covenant
³⁵  The stability,
³⁸  and amplitude of the church