Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
Therefore they shall come {H935} and sing {H7442} in the height {H4791} of Zion {H6726}, and shall flow together {H5102} to the goodness {H2898} of the LORD {H3068}, for wheat {H1715}, and for wine {H8492}, and for oil {H3323}, and for the young {H1121} of the flock {H6629} and of the herd {H1241}: and their soul {H5315} shall be as a watered {H7302} garden {H1588}; and they shall not sorrow {H1669} any more {H3254} at all.
They will come and sing on the heights of Tziyon, streaming to the goodness of Adonai, to the grain, the wine, the olive oil, and the young of the flock and the herd. They themselves will be like a well-watered garden, never to languish again.
They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD— the grain, new wine, and oil, and the young of the flocks and herds. Their life will be like a well-watered garden, and never again will they languish.
And they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow unto the goodness of Jehovah, to the grain, and to the new wine, and to the oil, and to the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
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Isaiah 35:10
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. -
Isaiah 58:11
And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. -
Joel 3:18
¶ And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. -
Isaiah 65:19
And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. -
Ezekiel 17:23
In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell. -
Isaiah 60:20
Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. -
Jeremiah 33:9
And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.
Context of Jeremiah 31:12
Jeremiah 31:12 is a vibrant part of what is often called the "Book of Consolation" (Jeremiah chapters 30-33). This section of the prophet Jeremiah's writings shifts from pronouncements of judgment and exile to powerful promises of future restoration for both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Following verses that speak of God's enduring love (Jeremiah 31:3) and the return of the exiles, this verse paints a picture of the blessings that await the repentant and restored people. It anticipates a time when their suffering will end, replaced by joy and abundance, under the renewed covenant relationship with God.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The KJV phrase "watered garden" is a beautiful translation of the Hebrew gan ravah (גַּן רָוֶה). Gan means "garden," and ravah means "to be watered, saturated, refreshed." It implies a garden that is not merely watered, but richly and abundantly supplied with water, thriving and lush. This contrasts sharply with the dry, parched conditions often faced in the ancient Near East, making the image especially potent for expressing complete satisfaction and spiritual vitality.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 31:12 offers profound hope and encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that God's plan for His people ultimately involves restoration, joy, and abundant blessing, even after periods of hardship or spiritual dryness. This verse encourages us to: