Jeremiah 31:16
Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
Original Language Analysis
כֹּ֣ה׀
H3541
כֹּ֣ה׀
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
1 of 17
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
מִנְעִ֤י
Refrain
H4513
מִנְעִ֤י
Refrain
Strong's:
H4513
Word #:
4 of 17
to debar (negatively or positively) from benefit or injury
וְעֵינַ֖יִךְ
and thine eyes
H5869
וְעֵינַ֖יִךְ
and thine eyes
Strong's:
H5869
Word #:
7 of 17
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
כִּי֩
H3588
כִּי֩
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
9 of 17
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
יֵ֨שׁ
shall be
H3426
יֵ֨שׁ
shall be
Strong's:
H3426
Word #:
10 of 17
there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)
שָׂכָ֤ר
rewarded
H7939
שָׂכָ֤ר
rewarded
Strong's:
H7939
Word #:
11 of 17
payment of contract; concretely, salary, fare, maintenance; by implication, compensation, benefit
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
14 of 17
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְשָׁ֖בוּ
and they shall come again
H7725
וְשָׁ֖בוּ
and they shall come again
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
15 of 17
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
Cross References
Ruth 2:12The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.Jeremiah 30:3For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.Hebrews 6:10For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.Hebrews 11:6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.2 Chronicles 15:7Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.Jeremiah 33:7And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.Isaiah 30:19For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.Jeremiah 30:18Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.Ecclesiastes 9:7Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for God now accepteth thy works.Isaiah 25:8He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
Historical Context
For exiles watching Jerusalem's destruction and facing decades in Babylon, this promise offered tangible hope. Their parents' and grandparents' faithfulness in raising children in covenant faith would be rewarded—the next generation would return and rebuild. Historically, Cyrus's decree (538 BC) enabled return, vindicating this promise. Yet full restoration awaited Messiah, who reverses the curse, defeats the ultimate enemy (death), and restores God's people eternally. Paul applies similar logic in 1 Corinthians 15:58—labor in the Lord is 'not in vain' because resurrection ensures ultimate restoration.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's promise that 'your work shall be rewarded' comfort those whose faithful service seems fruitless?
- What does it mean that exile to 'the land of the enemy' is temporary, not permanent, for God's people?
- In what ways does Christian hope for resurrection and restoration enable us to 'refrain from weeping' even amid present loss?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. This verse directly answers Rachel's weeping in v. 15 with divine comfort and promise. Refrain thy voice from weeping uses mana (מָנַע), meaning to withhold or restrain—not suppressing emotion but ceasing because grief's cause will be removed. And thine eyes from tears parallels this, emphasizing complete cessation of mourning.
The basis for this command is twofold: thy work shall be rewarded (pe'ulah, פְּעֻלָּה, labor/deed, and sakar, שָׂכָר, wage/reward) acknowledges that Rachel's 'work'—bearing and raising covenant children—will not be in vain. God will recompense her investment. Second, they shall come again from the land of the enemy promises concrete restoration. Come again (shuv, שׁוּב) is the key Hebrew word for return/repentance—physical return from Babylon and spiritual return to covenant faithfulness.
This promise reveals God's character: He sees and rewards faithful labor (Hebrews 6:10), even when circumstances seem to nullify it. The 'land of the enemy' was not final destination but temporary trial. This speaks powerfully to Christian hope—present suffering is not final; God will restore what was lost (Romans 8:18-23, Revelation 21:4).