Jer 31:27 | NET2full | STEP | “ Indeed , a time is coming ,” says the Lord , “when I will cause people and animals to sprout up in the lands of Israel and Judah .

‏ Jeremiah 31:27

Israel and Judah Will Be Repopulated

27 “Indeed, a time is coming,” ^{▼▼tn Heb “Behold days are coming!” The particle “Behold” is probably used here to emphasize the reality of a fact. See the translator’s note on 1:6.} ^{▼▼sn This same expression is found in the introduction to the Book of Consolation (Jer 30:1-3) and in the introduction to the promise of a new covenant (31:31). In all three passages it is emphasized that the conditions apply to both Israel and Judah. The Lord will reverse their fortunes and restore them to their lands (30:3), increase their numbers and build them up (31:27-28), and make a new covenant with them involving forgiveness of sins (31:31-34).} says the Lord, ^{▼▼tn Heb “Oracle of the Lord.”} “when I will cause people and animals to sprout up in the lands of Israel and Judah. ^{▼▼tn Heb “Behold, the days are coming and [= when] I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of people and of animals.” For the significance of the metaphor see the study note.} ^{▼▼sn The metaphor used here presupposes that drawn in Hos 2:23 (2:25 HT), which is in turn based on the wordplay with Jezreel (meaning “God sows”) in Hos 2:22. The figure is that of plant seed in the ground that produces a crop; here what are sown are the “seeds of people and animals.” For a similar picture of the repopulating of Israel and Judah, see Ezek 36:10-11. The promise here reverses the scene of devastation that Jeremiah had depicted apocalyptically and hyperbolically in Jer 4:23-29 as judgment for Judah’s sins.}