Jeremiah 31:40
And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.
Original Language Analysis
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
1 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַפְּגָרִ֣ים׀
of the dead bodies
H6297
הַפְּגָרִ֣ים׀
of the dead bodies
Strong's:
H6297
Word #:
3 of 22
a carcase (as limp), whether of man or beast; figuratively, an idolatrous image
וְהַדֶּ֡שֶׁן
and of the ashes
H1880
וְהַדֶּ֡שֶׁן
and of the ashes
Strong's:
H1880
Word #:
4 of 22
the fat; abstractly fatness, i.e., (figuratively) abundance; specifically the (fatty) ashes of sacrifices
וְכָֽל
H3605
וְכָֽל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
5 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
7 of 22
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
נַ֨חַל
unto the brook
H5158
נַ֨חַל
unto the brook
Strong's:
H5158
Word #:
8 of 22
a stream, especially a winter torrent; (by implication) a (narrow) valley (in which a brook runs); also a shaft (of a mine)
עַד
H5704
עַד
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
10 of 22
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
פִּנַּ֨ת
unto the corner
H6438
פִּנַּ֨ת
unto the corner
Strong's:
H6438
Word #:
11 of 22
an angle; by implication, a pinnacle; figuratively, a chieftain
קֹ֖דֶשׁ
shall be holy
H6944
קֹ֖דֶשׁ
shall be holy
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
15 of 22
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
לַֽיהוָ֑ה
unto the LORD
H3068
לַֽיהוָ֑ה
unto the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
16 of 22
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
17 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
וְֽלֹא
H3808
וְֽלֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
19 of 22
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Cross References
Joel 3:17So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.2 Samuel 15:23And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.John 18:1When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.2 Kings 11:16And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she slain.2 Chronicles 23:15So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entering of the horse gate by the king's house, they slew her there.Nehemiah 3:28From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.Zechariah 14:20In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD'S house shall be like the bowls before the altar.2 Kings 23:6And he brought out the grove from the house of the LORD, without Jerusalem, unto the brook Kidron, and burned it at the brook Kidron, and stamped it small to powder, and cast the powder thereof upon the graves of the children of the people.2 Kings 23:12And the altars that were on the top of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, did the king beat down, and brake them down from thence, and cast the dust of them into the brook Kidron.
Historical Context
The valley of Hinnom (Gehenna) was infamous for child sacrifice to Molech (7:31-32, 19:6), making its transformation into holy ground especially significant. Jesus's use of 'Gehenna' for eternal judgment (Matthew 5:22, 29-30) inverts Jeremiah's redemptive vision—what God cleanses stays pure; what remains defiled faces eternal consequences.
Questions for Reflection
- What areas of your life seem too defiled for God to redeem and consecrate?
- How does this verse's 'never again' promise relate to God's covenant faithfulness despite Israel's repeated unfaithfulness?
- In what sense does the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21-22) fulfill this promise of permanent, undefiled holiness?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes (כָּל־הָעֵמֶק הַפְּגָרִים וְהַדֶּשֶׁן)—areas of ritual impurity become consecrated. Pegarim (corpses, פְּגָרִים) and deshen (ashes, דֶּשֶׁן, specifically sacrificial ashes) marked the valley of Hinnom (Gehenna) and the ash dump east of the city as ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 4:12). God declares these spaces holy unto the LORD (קֹדֶשׁ לַיהוָה)—the strongest possible reversal.
The brook of Kidron (Kidron Valley) was Jerusalem's eastern boundary where idols were burned (2 Kings 23:4, 6, 12) and corpses dumped (2 Chronicles 29:16). The corner of the horse gate completed the city's southeastern corner. It shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever (לֹא־תִנָּתֵשׁ וְלֹא־תֵהָרֵס עוֹד לְעוֹלָם) directly counters Jeremiah's commission to 'pluck up and throw down' (1:10)—permanent restoration replaces cyclical judgment.