God promises to restore every corner of Jerusalem as a place of holiness and stability, showing His unfailing love and permanent covenant with His people.
In Jeremiah 31:38, the prophet Jeremiah looks ahead to a time of restoration for Jerusalem: "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when the city will be rebuilt for the LORD from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate" (v. 38). Jeremiah prophesied in the late seventh and early sixth centuries BC, a period when the kingdom of Judah was under threat from Babylon. Through this promise, God promises His people that the holycity will be reestablished, even after the devastation they faced because of their disobedience.
The Tower of Hananel occupies an important location on Jerusalem’s northern perimeter, historically marking a corner or tower in the city’s wall. In Jeremiah’s vision, God’s plan to rebuild includes even these boundary places, emphasizing a complete renewal rather than a mere patchwork repair. The Corner Gate, another point on the city’s perimeter, further symbolizes the totality of this restoration——God will watch over everything from one end of Jerusalem to the other, demonstrating His desire for His people to dwell securely.
In a broader biblical narrative, this promise of a renewed city resonates with the hope of future restoration found elsewhere in Scripture, culminating in the New Testament’s depiction of a new Jerusalem (Revelation 21). Through Jeremiah’s words, the LORD’s character as a faithful covenant—keeper shines through, pointing forward to ultimate fulfillment in His redemptive plan through the Messiah.
Continuing the prophetic outline, The measuring line will go out farther straight ahead to the hill Gareb; then it will turn to Goah (v. 39) depicts a systematic and deliberate expansion of Jerusalem’s boundaries. A measuring line implies precision and care, showing that God is intentionally crafting the boundaries of His holycity. This imagery emphasizes that the LORD is not merely returning things to the way they were before but extending them beyond prior limits.
The hillGareb and the area called Goah are lesser—known geographical markers not often mentioned elsewhere in Scripture. Their exact locations are debated, but their inclusion highlights that even seemingly obscure corners of the city are under God’s detailed plan. No place is overlooked; the LORD’s vision of renewal extends across every part of His land and people.
At the heart of Jeremiah’s prophecy lies a message of hope: God’s measured rebuilding means stability and a permanent covenant relationship. He is showing His people that His promises are reliable, even when circumstances look bleak. By placing His "measuring line" over the land, God ensures that every detail of restoration fits into His redemptive design.
Finally, Jeremiah 31:40 says, "And the whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields as far as the brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD; it will not be plucked up or overthrown anymore forever" (v. 40). This verse speaks of God’s power to transform unclean or abandoned spaces. Thevalleyof the dead bodies (v. 40) likely alludes to areas used for burial or disposal, while the brook Kidron flows along the eastern edge of Jerusalem. Despite their association with impurity, these regions will become places set apart for the LORD——holy and no longer defiled.
The HorseGate, sometimes seen as another peripheral point in Jerusalem’s fortifications, underscores how God’s sanctifying presence will stretch to every boundary. By declaring that these places will never be uprooted again, the LORD promises a permanent, perpetual safety. This everlasting stability goes beyond political or military might; it is a spiritual and covenantal security founded on God’s unchanging faithfulness.
This forward—looking prophecy carries a message of renewal and redemption. Though judgment and exile had befallen Judah, the LORD’s promise ensures that desolation is not the final word. In His grace, He renews the land, consecrates formerly defiled areas, and establishes a divine future that cannot be undone.
Jeremiah 31:38-40
38 “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the city will be rebuilt for the LORD from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.
39 “The measuring line will go out farther straight ahead to the hill Gareb; then it will turn to Goah.
40 “And the whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields as far as the brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD; it will not be plucked up or overthrown anymore forever.”
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Jeremiah 31:38-40 meaning
In Jeremiah 31:38, the prophet Jeremiah looks ahead to a time of restoration for Jerusalem: "Behold, days are coming," declares the LORD, "when the city will be rebuilt for the LORD from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate" (v. 38). Jeremiah prophesied in the late seventh and early sixth centuries BC, a period when the kingdom of Judah was under threat from Babylon. Through this promise, God promises His people that the holy city will be reestablished, even after the devastation they faced because of their disobedience.
The Tower of Hananel occupies an important location on Jerusalem’s northern perimeter, historically marking a corner or tower in the city’s wall. In Jeremiah’s vision, God’s plan to rebuild includes even these boundary places, emphasizing a complete renewal rather than a mere patchwork repair. The Corner Gate, another point on the city’s perimeter, further symbolizes the totality of this restoration——God will watch over everything from one end of Jerusalem to the other, demonstrating His desire for His people to dwell securely.
In a broader biblical narrative, this promise of a renewed city resonates with the hope of future restoration found elsewhere in Scripture, culminating in the New Testament’s depiction of a new Jerusalem (Revelation 21). Through Jeremiah’s words, the LORD’s character as a faithful covenant—keeper shines through, pointing forward to ultimate fulfillment in His redemptive plan through the Messiah.
Continuing the prophetic outline, The measuring line will go out farther straight ahead to the hill Gareb; then it will turn to Goah (v. 39) depicts a systematic and deliberate expansion of Jerusalem’s boundaries. A measuring line implies precision and care, showing that God is intentionally crafting the boundaries of His holy city. This imagery emphasizes that the LORD is not merely returning things to the way they were before but extending them beyond prior limits.
The hill Gareb and the area called Goah are lesser—known geographical markers not often mentioned elsewhere in Scripture. Their exact locations are debated, but their inclusion highlights that even seemingly obscure corners of the city are under God’s detailed plan. No place is overlooked; the LORD’s vision of renewal extends across every part of His land and people.
At the heart of Jeremiah’s prophecy lies a message of hope: God’s measured rebuilding means stability and a permanent covenant relationship. He is showing His people that His promises are reliable, even when circumstances look bleak. By placing His "measuring line" over the land, God ensures that every detail of restoration fits into His redemptive design.
Finally, Jeremiah 31:40 says, "And the whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields as far as the brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD; it will not be plucked up or overthrown anymore forever" (v. 40). This verse speaks of God’s power to transform unclean or abandoned spaces. The valley of the dead bodies (v. 40) likely alludes to areas used for burial or disposal, while the brook Kidron flows along the eastern edge of Jerusalem. Despite their association with impurity, these regions will become places set apart for the LORD——holy and no longer defiled.
The Horse Gate, sometimes seen as another peripheral point in Jerusalem’s fortifications, underscores how God’s sanctifying presence will stretch to every boundary. By declaring that these places will never be uprooted again, the LORD promises a permanent, perpetual safety. This everlasting stability goes beyond political or military might; it is a spiritual and covenantal security founded on God’s unchanging faithfulness.
This forward—looking prophecy carries a message of renewal and redemption. Though judgment and exile had befallen Judah, the LORD’s promise ensures that desolation is not the final word. In His grace, He renews the land, consecrates formerly defiled areas, and establishes a divine future that cannot be undone.