(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.
"When that time comes," says ADONAI, "I will be God of all the clans of Isra'el, and they will be my people."
“At that time,” declares the LORD, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be My people.”
At that time, saith Jehovah, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.
At the same time{H6256}, saith{H5002} the LORD{H3068}, will I be the God{H430} of all the families{H4940} of Israel{H3478}, and they shall be my people{H5971}.
Jeremiah 31:1 is a verse that carries a profound message of hope and restoration for the nation of Israel. It is set within the larger context of the Book of Jeremiah, which addresses the southern kingdom of Judah during a time of great turmoil and impending exile. The historical context is the late 7th to early 6th century BCE, a period when the Babylonian Empire was on the rise and would eventually destroy Jerusalem and take many of its inhabitants into captivity.
The verse itself is a declaration from the LORD (Yahweh), promising a renewed covenantal relationship with the people of Israel. Despite the judgment that had befallen them due to their disobedience and idolatry, God expresses His unwavering commitment to His people. The theme of this verse is one of divine fidelity and the reestablishment of a relationship where God is the God of all the families of Israel, not just a select few, and they, in turn, are acknowledged as His people.
This promise of a restored relationship looks forward to a time when the divisions between the northern and southern kingdoms would be healed, and all of Israel would once again be united under God. It speaks to the enduring nature of God's love and the certainty of His promises, offering comfort and assurance to a people who were facing the consequences of their actions. The verse is part of a larger section known as the "Book of Consolation" within Jeremiah, which includes prophecies of hope and restoration that counterbalance the judgments pronounced earlier in the book.
In essence, Jeremiah 31:1 encapsulates the themes of hope, restoration, and the steadfast love of God, which remain central to the Jewish understanding of their covenant relationship with the Divine. This verse also prefigures the New Covenant that Jeremiah speaks of later in chapter 31, which is central to Christian theology as well, seeing its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)