The Meaning of Jeremiah 31:23 Explained

Jeremiah 31:23

KJV: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.

YLT: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, Still they say this word in the land of Judah, And in its cities, In My turning back to their captivity, Jehovah doth bless thee, habitation of righteousness, Mountain of holiness.

Darby: Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: They shall again use this speech, in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall turn their captivity: Jehovah bless thee, O habitation of righteousness, mountain of holiness!

ASV: Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel, Yet again shall they use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity: Jehovah bless thee, O habitation of righteousness, O mountain of holiness.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Thus saith  the LORD  of hosts,  the God  of Israel;  As yet they shall use  this speech  in the land  of Judah  and in the cities  thereof, when I shall bring again  their captivity;  The LORD  bless  thee, O habitation  of justice,  [and] mountain  of holiness. 

What does Jeremiah 31:23 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Instead of Judah being a target for cursing in the future, as she became because of the Babylonian exile, she would be a subject of blessing. She would become a place where righteousness dwelt, a holy hill.

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 31:23 mean?

Thus says Yahweh of hosts the God of Israel again they shall use - speech this in the land of Judah and in its cities when I bring back their captivity bless you home of justice [and] mountain of holiness
כֹּֽה־ אָמַ֞ר יְהוָ֤ה צְבָאוֹת֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל ע֣וֹד יֹאמְר֞וּ אֶת־ הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה בְּאֶ֤רֶץ יְהוּדָה֙ וּבְעָרָ֔יו בְּשׁוּבִ֖י שְׁבוּתָ֑ם יְבָרֶכְךָ֧ נְוֵה־ צֶ֖דֶק הַ֥ר הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ

כֹּֽה־  Thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֞ר  says 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֤ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
צְבָאוֹת֙  of  hosts 
Parse: Noun, common plural
Root: צָבָא 
Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
אֱלֹהֵ֣י  the  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
ע֣וֹד  again 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
יֹאמְר֞וּ  they  shall  use 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַדָּבָ֣ר  speech 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הַזֶּ֗ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
בְּאֶ֤רֶץ  in  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
יְהוּדָה֙  of  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
וּבְעָרָ֔יו  and  in  its  cities 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
בְּשׁוּבִ֖י  when  I  bring  back 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, first person common singular
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
שְׁבוּתָ֑ם  their  captivity 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: שְׁבוּת 
Sense: captivity, captives.
יְבָרֶכְךָ֧  bless  you 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, second person masculine singular
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
נְוֵה־  home 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: נָוֶה 
Sense: abode, habitation, abode of shepherds or flocks, pasture.
צֶ֖דֶק  of  justice 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: צֶדֶק  
Sense: justice, rightness, righteousness.
הַ֥ר  [and]  mountain 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: הַר  
Sense: hill, mountain, hill country, mount.
הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ  of  holiness 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹדֶשׁ  
Sense: apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness.