Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble, because I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my firstborn son. New Living Translation Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care. They will walk beside quiet streams and on smooth paths where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my oldest child. English Standard Version With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. Berean Standard Bible They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.” King James Bible They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. New King James Version They shall come with weeping, And with supplications I will lead them. I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters, In a straight way in which they shall not stumble; For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn. New American Standard Bible “They will come with weeping, And by pleading I will bring them; I will lead them by streams of waters, On a straight path on which they will not stumble; For I am a father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.” NASB 1995 “With weeping they will come, And by supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, On a straight path in which they will not stumble; For I am a father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.” NASB 1977 “With weeping they shall come, And by supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, On a straight path in which they shall not stumble; For I am a father to Israel, And Ephraim is My first-born.” Legacy Standard Bible With weeping they will come, And by supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, On a straight path in which they will not stumble; For I am a father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.” Amplified Bible “They will come with weeping [in repentance and for joy], And by [their] prayer [for the future] I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, On a straight path in which they will not stumble, For I am a Father to Israel, And Ephraim (Israel) is My firstborn.” Christian Standard Bible They will come weeping, but I will bring them back with consolation. I will lead them to wadis filled with water, by a smooth way where they will not stumble, for I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is my firstborn. Holman Christian Standard Bible They will come weeping, but I will bring them back with consolation. I will lead them to wadis filled with water by a smooth way where they will not stumble, for I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn. American Standard Version They shall come with weeping; and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way wherein they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born. Aramaic Bible in Plain English With weeping they shall depart and in fervent prayer they shall come. I shall lead them on the path of the waters, in the straight ways in which they will not stumble, because I have been to Israel for a Father and Aphrim was my firstborn Brenton Septuagint Translation They went forth with weeping, and I will bring them back with consolation, causing them to lodge by the channels of waters in a straight way, and they shall not err in it: for I am become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born. Contemporary English Version They will weep and pray as I bring them home. I will lead them to streams of water. They will walk on a level road and not stumble. I am a father to Israel, my favorite children. Douay-Rheims Bible They shall come with weeping: and I will bring them back in mercy: and I will bring them through the torrents of waters in a right way, and they shall not stumble in it: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. English Revised Version They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. GOD'S WORD® Translation They will cry as they return. They will pray as I bring them back. I will lead them beside streams on a level path where they will not stumble. I will be a Father to Israel, and Ephraim will be my firstborn. Good News Translation My people will return weeping, praying as I lead them back. I will guide them to streams of water, on a smooth road where they will not stumble. I am like a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my oldest son." International Standard Version They'll come crying, and I'll lead them as they pray for mercy. I'll make them walk by streams of water, along a straight path on which they won't stumble. For I am Israel's father, and Ephraim is my firstborn." JPS Tanakh 1917 They shall come with weeping, And with supplications will I lead them; I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, In a straight way wherein they shall not stumble; For I am become a father to Israel, And Ephraim is My first-born. Literal Standard Version They come in with weeping, | And I bring them with supplications, | I cause them to go to streams of waters, | In a right way—they do not stumble in it, | For I have been a Father to Israel, | And Ephraim—he [is] My firstborn.” Majority Standard Bible They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.” New American Bible With weeping they shall come, but with compassion I will guide them; I will lead them to streams of water, on a level road, without stumbling. For I am a father to Israel, Ephraim is my firstborn. NET Bible They will come back shedding tears of contrition. I will bring them back praying prayers of repentance. I will lead them besides streams of water, along smooth paths where they will never stumble. I will do this because I am Israel's father; Ephraim is my firstborn son.'" New Revised Standard Version With weeping they shall come, and with consolations I will lead them back, I will let them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble; for I have become a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. New Heart English Bible They shall come with weeping; and with petitions will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they shall not stumble; for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.'" Webster's Bible Translation They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born. World English Bible They will come with weeping. I will lead them with petitions. I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters, in a straight way in which they won’t stumble; for I am a father to Israel. Ephraim is my firstborn. Young's Literal Translation With weeping they come in, And with supplications I bring them, I cause them to go unto streams of waters, In a right way -- they stumble not in it, For I have been to Israel for a father, And Ephraim -- My first-born is he. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Mourning Turned to Joy…8Behold, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, including the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor. They will return as a great assembly! 9They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.” 10Hear, O nations, the word of the LORD, and proclaim it in distant coastlands: “The One who scattered Israel will gather them and keep them as a shepherd keeps his flock.… Cross References Exodus 4:22 Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: 'Israel is My firstborn son, Numbers 2:18 On the west side, the divisions of Ephraim are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Ephraimites is Elishama son of Ammihud, Psalm 89:27 I will indeed appoint him as My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. Psalm 107:7 He led them on a straight path to reach a city where they could live. Psalm 126:5 Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. Isaiah 42:16 I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them. Isaiah 43:20 The beasts of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I provide water in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people. Treasury of Scripture They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. come. Jeremiah 3:4 Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth? Jeremiah 50:4 In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God. Psalm 126:5,6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy… supplications. Psalm 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Isaiah 35:6-8 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert… Isaiah 41:17-19 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them… in a. Isaiah 40:3,4 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God… Isaiah 57:14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people. Isaiah 63:13 That led them through the deep, as an horse in the wilderness, that they should not stumble? for I. Jeremiah 31:20 Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 3:4,19 Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth? … Exodus 4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: Ephraim. Ezekiel 34:12-14 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day… Jump to Previous Brooks Cause Consolations Ephraim E'phraim First Firstborn First-Born Guide Israel Israel's Lead Path Petitions Rivers Straight Streams Stumble Supplication Supplications Walk Water Waters Way Weeping WhereinJump to Next Brooks Cause Consolations Ephraim E'phraim First Firstborn First-Born Guide Israel Israel's Lead Path Petitions Rivers Straight Streams Stumble Supplication Supplications Walk Water Waters Way Weeping WhereinJeremiah 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. (9) They shall come with weeping . . .--The present version agrees with the Hebrew punctuation, but a slight change would give, They shall come with weeping and with supplications; I will lead them; I will cause them to walk . . . The procession of those whom the prophet sees with his mental eye is that of those who weep tears of sorrow for the past, of joy for the present, and pour out prayers for the future. Of this we have a partial fulfilment in the memorable and touching scene brought before us in Ezra 3:12-13. A hand which they do not see shall lead them by the "rivers of waters," both literally and figuratively. (Comp. Isaiah 35:7-8; Isaiah 43:19; Isaiah 48:21; Isaiah 49:10-11, for like promises.) Ephraim is my firstborn.--Ephraim stands here, as often elsewhere (e.g., Hosea 11:3; Hosea 11:12; Hosea 13:1; Hosea 13:12) for the whole northern kingdom of the Ten Tribes, of which it was the most conspicuous member. The term "firstborn" is used, as an echo of Exodus 4:22, as marking out Ephraim as the object of the special favour of Jehovah, the birthright of Reuben having been transferred to the sons of Joseph (1Chronicles 5:1). The prominence of Ephraim over the other tribes is conspicuous throughout the whole history (Judges 12:1-3). The prophet apparently recognised it as taking its place once more in the restored unity of the people, when the king should be of the house of David, Jerusalem the centre of worship, Ephraim the leading tribe. (Comp. the contemporary prophecy of Ezekiel 37:19.) It is not without interest to note how the northern prophet looks to Judah as more faithful than Ephraim (Hosea 11:12), while Jeremiah turns from the sins of the princes and priests of Judah to look with hope on the remnant of Israel. . . . Verse 9. - With weeping; i.e. with a joy dashed with sorrow at the thought of the sin which has rendered such an interposition necessary (comp. Jeremiah 31:18). Cause them to walk by the rivers of waters. The reference here is primarily to the homeward journey of the exiles, which shall be free from the trials of the first Exodus, but not exclusively (see on next verse). The question arises how this prediction is to be reconciled with facts. For, as Kimchi has remarked, we find no reference to miracles performed for the Jews who returned from Babylon. A twofold reply seems admissible. We may say either that to those who enjoy a vivid sense of the favour and protection of God no trial is grievous, no circumstances exclude an undercurrent of joy (comp. Psalm 23.); or that the prophecy is still waiting for its complete fulfilment, Israel having still a great future reserved for it upon its recognition of the true Messiah. In a straight way; or, in an even way, i.e. one free from hindrances. Comp. Ezra's prayer (Ezra 8:21), and Psalm 107:7, in both of which passages "right" should probably be "even." Ephraim is my firstborn. It is doubted whether this simply means that Ephraim (i.e. North Israel) shall be in no respect inferior to Judah - a strong form of expression being chosen, on account of the longer continuance of Ephraim's captivity; or whether it implies a restoration to the tribes of Joseph of the prerogative conferred upon the sons of Joseph (1 Chronicles 5:1, 2; comp. Genesis 48:15). The former view seems hardly consistent with the dignity of a prophetic writer. "Forms of expression," i.e. rhetorical phrases, may be admitted in poetical passages, but hardly in solemn prophetic revelations. It was true that Judah had "prevailed above his brethren;" but the original "gift of God" to Ephraim was "without repentance." With regard to the fulfilment of this prediction, we must remember that the remnant of the northern tribes whose faith was strong enough to induce them to profit by the edict of Cyrus, was smaller than that of the southern. Hence the outward signs of God's favour to Ephraim could not be so great as they would have been had the moral conditions of the fulfilment of the promise been more fully complied with.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew They will comeיָבֹ֗אוּ (yā·ḇō·’ū) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go with weeping, בִּבְכִ֣י (biḇ·ḵî) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1065: A weeping, a dripping and by their supplication וּֽבְתַחֲנוּנִים֮ (ū·ḇə·ṯa·ḥă·nū·nîm) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural Strong's 8469: Supplication for favor I will lead them; אֽוֹבִילֵם֒ (’ō·w·ḇî·lêm) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 2986: To conduct, bear along I will make them walk אֽוֹלִיכֵם֙ (’ō·w·lî·ḵêm) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk beside אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to streams נַ֣חֲלֵי (na·ḥă·lê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 5158: A stream, a winter torrent, a, valley, a shaft of waters, מַ֔יִם (ma·yim) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen on a level יָשָׁ֔ר (yā·šār) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 3477: Straight, right path בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ (bə·ḏe·reḵ) Preposition-b | Noun - common singular Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action where they will not לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no stumble. יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ (yik·kā·šə·lū) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 3782: To totter, waver, to falter, stumble, faint, fall For כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction I am הָיִ֤יתִי (hā·yî·ṯî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be Israel’s לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (lə·yiś·rā·’êl) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc Father, לְאָ֔ב (lə·’āḇ) Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1: Father and Ephraim וְאֶפְרַ֖יִם (wə·’ep̄·ra·yim) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 669: Ephraim -- a son of Joseph, also his descendants and their territory is My firstborn.” בְּכֹ֥רִי (bə·ḵō·rî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief Links Jeremiah 31:9 NIVJeremiah 31:9 NLT Jeremiah 31:9 ESV Jeremiah 31:9 NASB Jeremiah 31:9 KJV Jeremiah 31:9 BibleApps.com Jeremiah 31:9 Biblia Paralela Jeremiah 31:9 Chinese Bible Jeremiah 31:9 French Bible Jeremiah 31:9 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Jeremiah 31:9 They shall come with weeping (Jer.) |
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