Jeremiah 31 · Verse 9

Jeremiah 31:9

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.
Jeremiah 31:9, King James Version

Jeremiah 31:9 in other translations

BSBThey 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.”
WEBThey 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.
ASVThey 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.
YLTWith 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.
DARBYThey shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them; I will cause them to walk by water-brooks, in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble; for I will be a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
BBEThey will come with weeping, and going before them I will be their guide: guiding them by streams of water in a straight way where there is no falling: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is the first of my sons.
WebsterThey 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.

What does Jeremiah 31:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. weeping--for their past sins which caused their exile (Psa 126:5, 6). Although they come with weeping, they shall return with joy (Jr 50:4, 5). supplications--(Compare Jr 31:18, 19; Jr 3:21-25; Zec 12:10). Margin translates "favors," as in Jos 11:20; Ezr 9:8; thus God's favors or compassions are put in opposition to the people's weeping; their tears shall be turned into joy. But English Version suits the parellelism best. I will cause ... to walk by ... waters ... straight way--(Is 35:6-8; 43:19; 49:10, 11). God will give them waters to satisfy their thirst as in the wilderness journey from Egypt. So spiritually (Mt 5:6; Joh 7:37). Ephraim--the ten tribes no longer severed from Judah, but forming one people with it. my first-born--(Ex 4:22; Ho 11:1; Ro 9:4). So the elect Church (2Co 6:18; Jas 1:18).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 They shall come with weeping - Duly penetrated with a sense of their sins, they shall deeply deplore them; and, while weeping for them, earnestly supplicate God to have mercy upon them. By the rivers of waters - I will so guide and provide for them in the arid deserts, that they shall find streams of water whenever necessary. Every one knows of how much consequence water is to travelers in the eastern deserts. Ephraim is my first-born - Ephraim, being the most considerable, is often put for the whole of the ten tribes.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Jeremiah 31:1-9

The restoration of Israel. (Jr 31:1-9) Promises of guidance and happiness; Rachel lamenting. (Jr 31:10-17) Ephraim laments his errors. (Jr 31:18-20) The promised Saviour. (Jr 31:21-26) God's care over the church. (Jr 31:27-34) Peace and prosperity in gospel time. (Jr 31:35-40) Verses 1-9 God assures his people that he will again take them into covenant relation to himself. When brought very low, and difficulties…

Read the full comment on Jeremiah 31:1-9 →

Jeremiah 31:9 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

בִּבְכִ֣יbiv.Khiwith weepingH1065
יָבֹ֗אוּya.Vo.'uthey will comeH935
וּֽבְתַחֲנוּנִים֮u.ve.ta.cha.nu.Nimand with supplicationsH8469
אֽוֹבִילֵם֒'oi.LemI will bring themH2986
אֽוֹלִיכֵם֙'o.li.KhemI will lead themH1980
אֶל\־'el-toH413
נַ֣חֲלֵיNa.cha.leitorrents ofH5158
מַ֔יִםMa.yimwaterH4325
בְּדֶ֣רֶךְbe.De.rekhon a pathH1870
יָשָׁ֔רya.SharstraightH3477
לֹ֥אlo'notH3808
יִכָּשְׁל֖וּyi.ka.she.Luthey will stumbleH3782
בָּ֑הּBahin <the> it
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
הָיִ֤יתִיha.Yi.tiI have becomeH1961
לְיִשְׂרָאֵל֙le.Yis.ra.'Elof IsraelH3478
לְאָ֔בle.'Av<into> a fatherH1
וְאֶפְרַ֖יִםve.'ef.Ra.yimand EphraimH669
בְּכֹ֥רִיbe.Kho.ri[is] firstborn myH1060
הֽוּא\׃\ \סHu'heH1931

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Jeremiah 31:9

  • Exodus 4:22

    And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:

  • Jeremiah 3:4

    Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?

  • 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.

  • Matthew 5:4

    Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

  • 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.

  • Isaiah 64:8

    But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

  • Jeremiah 3:19

    But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.

  • 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. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

  • Deuteronomy 32:6

    Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?

  • 2 Corinthians 7:9-11

    Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:10

    Wherefore David blessed the Lord before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel our father, for ever and ever.

  • Psalms 23:2

    He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
come.
3:4; 50:4; Ps 126:5,6; Ho 12:4; Zec 12:10; Da 9:17,18; Mt 5:4
Lu 6:21; Ro 8:26; 2Co 7:9-11; Heb 5:7
supplications. or, favours. I will.
Ps 23:2; Isa 35:6-8; 41:17-19; 43:16-19; 49:9-11; Re 7:17
in a.
Isa 40:3,4; 57:14; 63:13; Mt 3:3; Lu 3:4-6; Heb 12:13
for I.
20; 3:4,19; Ex 4:22; De 32:6; 1Ch 29:10; Isa 63:16; 64:8; Mt 6:9
2Co 6:18; Heb 12:23
Ephraim.
Eze 34:12-14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Jeremiah 31:8

    Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.

  • Jeremiah 31:9

    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.

  • Jeremiah 31:10

    Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.

Read all of Jeremiah 31

Jeremiah 31:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Irán con lloro, mas con misericordias los haré volver, y harélos andar junto á arroyos de aguas, por camino derecho en el cual no tropezarán: porque soy á Israel por padre, y Ephraim es mi primogénito.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Ils viendront avec des larmes, et je les conduirai avec des supplications; je les ferai marcher vers des torrents d’eaux par un chemin droit; ils n’y trébucheront pas; car je serai pour père à Israël, et Éphraïm sera mon premier-né.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Mit Weinen kommen sie, und unter Flehen leite ich sie; ich führe sie zu Wasserbächen auf einem ebenen Wege, auf dem sie nicht straucheln werden. Denn ich bin Israel zum Vater geworden, und Ephraim ist mein Erstgeborener. -
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
In fletu venient, et in misericordia reducam eos: et adducam eos per torrentes aquarum in via recta, et non impingent in ea, quia factus sum Israëli pater, et Ephraim primogenitus meus est.