Jeremiah 31:38
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner.
Original Language Analysis
יָמִ֥ים
Behold the days
H3117
יָמִ֥ים
Behold the days
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
2 of 12
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
לַֽיהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
לַֽיהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
5 of 12
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
הָעִיר֙
that the city
H5892
הָעִיר֙
that the city
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
7 of 12
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
לַֽיהוָ֔ה
the LORD
H3068
לַֽיהוָ֔ה
the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
8 of 12
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
מִמִּגְדַּ֥ל
from the tower
H4026
מִמִּגְדַּ֥ל
from the tower
Strong's:
H4026
Word #:
9 of 12
a tower (from its size or height); by analogy, a rostrum; figuratively, a (pyramidal) bed of flowers
חֲנַנְאֵ֖ל
of Hananeel
H2606
חֲנַנְאֵ֖ל
of Hananeel
Strong's:
H2606
Word #:
10 of 12
chananel, probably an israelite, from whom a tower of jerusalem was named
Cross References
Zechariah 14:10All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.2 Kings 14:13And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.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.Jeremiah 31:27Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.2 Chronicles 26:9Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.Isaiah 44:28That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.Jeremiah 23:5Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.Daniel 9:25Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
Historical Context
Hananeel means 'God is gracious'—apt symbolism for a restoration prophecy. The Corner Gate area was breached by enemies (2 Chronicles 25:23, 26:9), so its restoration signifies complete security. Zerubbabel's post-exilic rebuilding (520-516 BC) partially fulfilled this, but Zechariah and Revelation point to ultimate fulfillment in the New Jerusalem.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does God include such specific geographical detail in prophecy about future restoration?
- What does it mean for a city to be 'built to the LORD' rather than merely rebuilt for human habitation?
- How do these physical promises to Israel inform Christian hope in the 'city whose builder and maker is God' (Hebrews 11:10)?
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Analysis & Commentary
The city shall be built to the LORD (תִּבָּנֶה הָעִיר לַיהוָה)—Jerusalem's reconstruction is la-YHWH, 'belonging to the LORD,' marking it as holy space, not merely civic restoration. The Hebrew banah (built) contrasts with earlier 'plucked up and thrown down' (v. 40, echoing 1:10). Specific landmarks—the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner—delineate the northern boundary of the rebuilt city.
The Tower of Hananel stood at the northeast corner (Nehemiah 3:1, 12:39), while the Corner Gate marked the northwest (2 Kings 14:13). This precision serves multiple purposes: it grounds eschatological hope in recognizable geography, shows God's intimate knowledge of His city, and anticipates the detailed temple vision of Ezekiel 40-48. Zechariah 14:10-11 echoes this same boundary description for the Messianic Jerusalem.