The Meaning of Jeremiah 31:19 Explained

Jeremiah 31:19

KJV: Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

YLT: For after my turning back I repented, And after my being instructed I struck on the thigh, I have been ashamed, I have also blushed, For I have borne the reproach of my youth.

Darby: Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after I knew myself, I smote upon my thigh. I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, for I bear the reproach of my youth.

ASV: Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Surely after  that I was turned,  I repented;  and after  that I was instructed,  I smote  upon [my] thigh:  I was ashamed,  yea, even confounded,  because I did bear  the reproach  of my youth. 

What does Jeremiah 31:19 Mean?

Study Notes

repented
.
Repentance (O.T.), Summary: In the O.T., repentance is the English word used to translate the Heb. nacham, to be "eased" or "comforted." It is used of both God and man. Notwithstanding the literal meaning of nacham, it is evident, from a study of all the passages, that the sacred writers use it in the sense of metanoia in the N.T.--a change of mind. Matthew 3:2 (See Scofield " Acts 17:30 ") . As in the N.T., such change of mind is often accompanied by contrition and self-judgment. When applied to God the word is used phenomenally according to O.T. custom. God seems to change His mind. The phenomena are such as, in the case of man, would indicate a change of mind.

Verse Meaning

Ephraim repented, and felt humiliated and ashamed of his previous youthful rebellion against the Lord. Slapping one"s thigh, an onomatopoeic expression in Hebrew, was a common expression of remorse, horror, and terror in ancient Near Eastern culture (cf. Ezekiel 21:12). [1]

Context Summary

Jeremiah 31:1-40 - Shepherds That Mislead God's Flock
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

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 31:19 mean?

Surely after my turning I repented and after I was instructed I struck myself on the thigh I was ashamed and yes even humiliated because I bore the reproach of my youth
כִּֽי־ אַחֲרֵ֤י שׁוּבִי֙ נִחַ֔מְתִּי וְאַֽחֲרֵי֙ הִוָּ֣דְעִ֔י סָפַ֖קְתִּי עַל־ יָרֵ֑ךְ בֹּ֚שְׁתִּי וְגַם־ נִכְלַ֔מְתִּי כִּ֥י נָשָׂ֖אתִי חֶרְפַּ֥ת נְעוּרָֽי

כִּֽי־  Surely 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
אַחֲרֵ֤י  after 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
שׁוּבִי֙  my  turning 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
נִחַ֔מְתִּי  I  repented 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: נָחַם  
Sense: to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted.
וְאַֽחֲרֵי֙  and  after 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
הִוָּ֣דְעִ֔י  I  was  instructed 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
סָפַ֖קְתִּי  I  struck  myself 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: סָפַק 
Sense: to clap, slap.
יָרֵ֑ךְ  the  thigh 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: יָרֵךְ  
Sense: thigh, side, loin, base.
בֹּ֚שְׁתִּי  I  was  ashamed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: בֹּושׁ 
Sense: to put to shame, be ashamed, be disconcerted, be disappointed.
וְגַם־  and  yes  even 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
נִכְלַ֔מְתִּי  humiliated 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: כָּלַם  
Sense: to insult, shame, humiliate, blush, be ashamed, be put to shame, be reproached, be put to confusion, be humiliated.
כִּ֥י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
נָשָׂ֖אתִי  I  bore 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
חֶרְפַּ֥ת  the  reproach 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: חֶרְפָּה  
Sense: reproach, scorn.
נְעוּרָֽי  of  my  youth 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: נְעוּרִים 
Sense: youth, early life.