Jeremiah 31:12
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.
Original Language Analysis
וּבָאוּ֮
Therefore they shall come
H935
וּבָאוּ֮
Therefore they shall come
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
1 of 26
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
וְרִנְּנ֣וּ
and sing
H7442
וְרִנְּנ֣וּ
and sing
Strong's:
H7442
Word #:
2 of 26
properly, to creak (or emit a stridulous sound), i.e., to shout (usually for joy)
בִמְרוֹם
in the height
H4791
בִמְרוֹם
in the height
Strong's:
H4791
Word #:
3 of 26
altitude, i.e., concretely (an elevated place), abstractly (elevation, figuratively (elation), or adverbially (aloft)
צִיּוֹן֒
of Zion
H6726
צִיּוֹן֒
of Zion
Strong's:
H6726
Word #:
4 of 26
tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of jerusalem
וְנָהֲר֞וּ
and shall flow together
H5102
וְנָהֲר֞וּ
and shall flow together
Strong's:
H5102
Word #:
5 of 26
to sparkle, i.e., (figuratively) be cheerful
ט֣וּב
to the goodness
H2898
ט֣וּב
to the goodness
Strong's:
H2898
Word #:
7 of 26
good (as a noun), in the widest sense, especially goodness (superlative concretely, the best), beauty, gladness, welfare
יְהוָ֗ה
of the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֗ה
of the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
8 of 26
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
9 of 26
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְעַל
H5921
וְעַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
11 of 26
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
תִּירֹ֣שׁ
and for wine
H8492
תִּירֹ֣שׁ
and for wine
Strong's:
H8492
Word #:
12 of 26
must or fresh grape-juice (as just squeezed out); by implication (rarely) fermented wine
וְעַל
H5921
וְעַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
13 of 26
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
יִצְהָ֔ר
and for oil
H3323
יִצְהָ֔ר
and for oil
Strong's:
H3323
Word #:
14 of 26
oil (as producing light); figuratively, anointing
וְעַל
H5921
וְעַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
15 of 26
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
בְּנֵי
and for the young
H1121
בְּנֵי
and for the young
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
16 of 26
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
צֹ֖אן
of the flock
H6629
צֹ֖אן
of the flock
Strong's:
H6629
Word #:
17 of 26
a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
וּבָקָ֑ר
and of the herd
H1241
וּבָקָ֑ר
and of the herd
Strong's:
H1241
Word #:
18 of 26
a beeve or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd
וְהָיְתָ֤ה
H1961
וְהָיְתָ֤ה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
19 of 26
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
נַפְשָׁם֙
and their soul
H5315
נַפְשָׁם֙
and their soul
Strong's:
H5315
Word #:
20 of 26
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
וְלֹא
H3808
וְלֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
23 of 26
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יוֹסִ֥יפוּ
any more
H3254
יוֹסִ֥יפוּ
any more
Strong's:
H3254
Word #:
24 of 26
to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing)
Cross References
Isaiah 35:10And 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 58:11And 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 3:18And 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 65:19And 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.Isaiah 60:20Thy 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.John 16:22And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.Ezekiel 17:23In 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.Revelation 7:17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.Revelation 21:4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.Psalms 130:4But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
Historical Context
The returned exiles did rebuild Jerusalem, reinstitute temple worship, and experience God's provision. Yet the restoration was partial—they remained under foreign domination (Persia, Greece, Rome), poverty characterized many, and sorrow was not eliminated. This partial fulfillment pointed forward to the complete fulfillment in Christ's kingdom, inaugurated at His first coming and consummated at His return.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the promise of comprehensive restoration—both spiritual and material—shape our understanding of salvation and the new creation?
- What does it mean that believers' souls will be 'as a watered garden'—what kind of flourishing does this describe?
- In what ways do we experience these blessings now, and what aspects await final fulfillment when Christ returns?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
This verse paints a picture of comprehensive restoration and joy. The returned exiles will 'sing in the height of Zion'—worship on God's holy mountain. They will 'flow together' (nahar, נָהַר), a word suggesting streaming like a river, united movement toward God. The object of their gathering is 'the goodness of the LORD'—specifically His material provision: wheat, wine, oil, flocks, and herds. Their soul will be 'as a watered garden'—flourishing, productive, beautiful. 'They shall not sorrow any more at all' promises complete reversal of mourning.
This comprehensive blessing—spiritual (worship, joy) and material (abundant provision)—reflects the holistic nature of God's restoration. The prophets never separated spiritual and physical blessing; God's salvation encompasses the whole person and ultimately the whole creation. The phrase 'watered garden' recalls Eden and anticipates the new creation. What was lost in the fall will be restored through God's redemptive work.
For Christians, this finds initial fulfillment in the joy and provision of the church, the new covenant community. Yet it also points forward to the new heavens and new earth, where God's people will experience unending joy, complete provision, and the end of all sorrow (Revelation 21:4). The material blessings listed here remind us that God's ultimate purpose includes the restoration of creation itself, not merely the salvation of disembodied souls (Romans 8:21).