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Selected Verse: Jeremiah 31:22 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Jer 31:22	Strong Concordance	How long wilt thou go about [02559], O thou backsliding [07728] daughter [01323]? for the LORD [03068] hath created [01254] a new thing [02319] in the earth [0776], A woman [05347] shall compass [05437] a man [01397].
	King James	How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
go about--namely, after human helps (Jer 2:18, Jer 2:23, Jer 2:36). Why not return immediately to me? MAURER translates, as in Sol 5:6, "How long wilt thou withdraw thyself?" Let thy past backslidings suffice thee now that a new era approaches. What God finds fault with in them is, that they looked hither and thither, leaning on contingencies, instead of at once trusting the word of God, which promised their restoration. To assure them of this, God promises to create a new thing in their land, A woman shall compass a man. CALVIN explains this: Israel, who is feeble as a woman, shall be superior to the warlike Chaldeans; the captives shall reduce their captors to captivity. HENGSTENBERG makes the "woman" the Jewish Church, and the "man" Jehovah, her husband, whose love she will again seek (Hos 2:6-7). MAURER, A woman shall protect (Deu 32:10, Margin; Psa 32:10) a man, that is, You need fear no foes in returning, for all things shall be so peaceful that a woman would be able to take man's part, and act as his protector. But the Christian fathers (Augustine, &c.) almost unanimously interpreted it of the Virgin Mary compassing Christ in her womb. This view is favored:--(1) By the connection; it gives a reason why the exiles should desire a return to their country, namely, because Christ was conceived there. (2) The word "created" implies a divine power put forth in the creation of a body in the Virgin's womb by the Holy Ghost for the second Adam, such as was exerted in creating the first Adam (Luk 1:35; Heb 10:5). (3) The phrase, "a new thing," something unprecedented; a man whose like had never existed before, at once God and man; a mother out of the ordinary course of nature, at once mother and virgin. An extraordinary mode of generation; one conceived by the Holy Ghost without man. (4) The specification "in the land" (not "earth," as English Version), namely, of Judah, where probably Christ was conceived, in Hebron (compare Luk 1:39, Luk 1:42, Luk 1:44, with Jos 21:11) or else in Nazareth, "in the territory" of Israel, to whom Jer 31:5-6, Jer 31:15, Jer 31:18, Jer 31:21 refer; His birth was at Beth-lehem (Mic 5:2; Mat 2:5-6). As the place of His nativity, and of His being reared (Mat 2:23), and of His preaching (Hag 2:7; Mal 3:1), are specified, so it is likely the Holy Spirit designated the place of His being conceived. (5) The Hebrew for "woman" implies an individual, as the Virgin Mary, rather than a collection of persons. (6) The restoration of Israel is grounded on God's covenant in Christ, to whom, therefore, allusion is naturally made as the foundation of Israel's hope (compare Isa 7:14). The Virgin Mary's conception of Messiah in the womb answers to the "Virgin of Israel" (therefore so called, Jer 31:21), that is, Israel and her sons at their final restoration, receiving Jesus as Messiah (Zac 12:10). (7) The reference to the conception of the child Messiah accords with the mention of the massacre of "children" referred to in Jer 31:15 (compare Mat 2:17). (8) The Hebrew for "man" is properly "mighty man," a term applied to God (Deu 10:17); and to Christ (Zac 13:7; compare Psa 45:3; Isa 9:6) [CALOVIUS].

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

go about--namely, after human helps (Jer 2:18, Jer 2:23, Jer 2:36). Why not return immediately to me? MAURER translates, as in Sol 5:6, "How long wilt thou withdraw thyself?" Let thy past backslidings suffice thee now that a new era approaches. What God finds fault with in them is, that they looked hither and thither, leaning on contingencies, instead of at once trusting the word of God, which promised their restoration. To assure them of this, God promises to create a new thing in their land, A woman shall compass a man. CALVIN explains this: Israel, who is feeble as a woman, shall be superior to the warlike Chaldeans; the captives shall reduce their captors to captivity. HENGSTENBERG makes the "woman" the Jewish Church, and the "man" Jehovah, her husband, whose love she will again seek (Hos 2:6-7). MAURER, A woman shall protect (Deu 32:10, Margin; Psa 32:10) a man, that is, You need fear no foes in returning, for all things shall be so peaceful that a woman would be able to take man's part, and act as his protector. But the Christian fathers (Augustine, &c.) almost unanimously interpreted it of the Virgin Mary compassing Christ in her womb. This view is favored:--(1) By the connection; it gives a reason why the exiles should desire a return to their country, namely, because Christ was conceived there. (2) The word "created" implies a divine power put forth in the creation of a body in the Virgin's womb by the Holy Ghost for the second Adam, such as was exerted in creating the first Adam (Luk 1:35; Heb 10:5). (3) The phrase, "a new thing," something unprecedented; a man whose like had never existed before, at once God and man; a mother out of the ordinary course of nature, at once mother and virgin. An extraordinary mode of generation; one conceived by the Holy Ghost without man. (4) The specification "in the land" (not "earth," as English Version), namely, of Judah, where probably Christ was conceived, in Hebron (compare Luk 1:39, Luk 1:42, Luk 1:44, with Jos 21:11) or else in Nazareth, "in the territory" of Israel, to whom Jer 31:5-6, Jer 31:15, Jer 31:18, Jer 31:21 refer; His birth was at Beth-lehem (Mic 5:2; Mat 2:5-6). As the place of His nativity, and of His being reared (Mat 2:23), and of His preaching (Hag 2:7; Mal 3:1), are specified, so it is likely the Holy Spirit designated the place of His being conceived. (5) The Hebrew for "woman" implies an individual, as the Virgin Mary, rather than a collection of persons. (6) The restoration of Israel is grounded on God's covenant in Christ, to whom, therefore, allusion is naturally made as the foundation of Israel's hope (compare Isa 7:14). The Virgin Mary's conception of Messiah in the womb answers to the "Virgin of Israel" (therefore so called, Jer 31:21), that is, Israel and her sons at their final restoration, receiving Jesus as Messiah (Zac 12:10). (7) The reference to the conception of the child Messiah accords with the mention of the massacre of "children" referred to in Jer 31:15 (compare Mat 2:17). (8) The Hebrew for "man" is properly "mighty man," a term applied to God (Deu 10:17); and to Christ (Zac 13:7; compare Psa 45:3; Isa 9:6) [CALOVIUS].

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Backsliding - Running after idols; or seeking help from foreign nations, instead of applying to God. A woman - This seems to be a promise of the Jewish church in its time, and of the gospel - church, prevailing over all its enemies; though, considering the fewness of the church's members, with the multitude of its enemies, and their power, it seemed as strange a thing, as for a woman to prevail against a strong and mighty man.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
A woman shall compass a man - נקבה תסובב גבר nekebah tesobeb gaber, "A weak woman shall compass or circumvent a strong man." This place has given much trouble to Biblical critics. By many Christian writers it is considered a prophecy of the miraculous conception of the holy virgin; but as I am sure no such meaning is in the words, nor in the context, so I am satisfied no such meaning can be fairly brought out of them. Houbigant thinks there is a small error in the text, i.e., תשובב teshobeb, shall return, and not תסובב tesobeb, shall compass. This reading is found in two of Kennicott's MSS., and he contends that the passage should be read, "The wife shall return to her husband;" alluding to the conversion of the Jewish people, called above a backsliding daughter. This makes a good sense; but I do not see why this should be called a new thing in the earth. After all, I think it likely that the Jews in their present distressed circumstances are represented under the similitude of a weak defenseless female נקבה nekebah; and the Chaldeans under that of a fierce strong man, גבר gaber, who had prevailed over and oppressed this weak woman. But, notwithstanding the disparity between them, God would cause the woman - the weak defenseless Jews, to compass - to overcome, the strong man - the powerful Babylonians. And this the prophet says would be a new thing in the land; for in such a case the lame would take the prey. The context favors both these meanings. Dr. Blayney gives a sense very near to this: "A weak woman shall repulse a strong or mighty man." It is most likely a proverbial expression.

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⁶ For unto us a child [03206] is born [03205], unto us a son [01121] is given [05414]: and the government [04951] shall be upon his shoulder [07926]: and his name [08034] shall be called [07121] Wonderful [06382], Counsellor [03289], The mighty [01368] God [0410], The everlasting [05703] Father [01], The Prince [08269] of Peace [07965].

³ Gird [02296] thy sword [02719] upon thy thigh [03409], O most mighty [01368], with thy glory [01935] and thy majesty [01926].

⁷ Awake [05782], O sword [02719], against my shepherd [07462], and against the man [01397] that is my fellow [05997], saith [05002] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635]: smite [05221] the shepherd [07462], and the sheep [06629] shall be scattered [06327]: and I will turn [07725] mine hand [03027] upon the little ones [06819].

¹⁷ For the LORD [03068] your God [0430] is God [0430] of gods [0430], and Lord [0113] of lords [0113], a great [01419] God [0410], a mighty [01368], and a terrible [03372], which regardeth [05375] not persons [06440], nor taketh [03947] reward [07810]:

¹⁷ Then [5119] was fulfilled [4137] that which [3588] was spoken [4483] by [5259] Jeremy [2408] the prophet [4396], saying [3004],

¹⁵ Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068]; A voice [06963] was heard [08085] in Ramah [07414], lamentation [05092], and bitter [08563] weeping [01065]; Rahel [07354] weeping [01058] for her children [01121] refused [03985] to be comforted [05162] for her children [01121], because they were not.

¹⁰ And I will pour [08210] upon the house [01004] of David [01732], and upon the inhabitants [03427] of Jerusalem [03389], the spirit [07307] of grace [02580] and of supplications [08469]: and they shall look [05027] upon me whom they have pierced [01856], and they shall mourn [04553] for him, as one mourneth [05594] for his only [03173] son, and shall be in bitterness [04843] for him, as one that is in bitterness [04843] for his firstborn [01060].

²¹ Set thee up [05324] waymarks [06725], make [07760] thee high heaps [08564]: set [07896] thine heart [03820] toward the highway [04546], even the way [01870] which thou wentest [01980]: turn again [07725], O virgin [01330] of Israel [03478], turn again [07725] to these thy cities [05892].

¹⁴ Therefore the Lord [0136] himself shall give [05414] you a sign [0226]; Behold, a virgin [05959] shall conceive [02030], and bear [03205] a son [01121], and shall call [07121] his name [08034] Immanuel [06005] [0410].

¹ Behold, I will send [07971] my messenger [04397], and he shall prepare [06437] the way [01870] before [06440] me: and the Lord [0113], whom ye seek [01245], shall suddenly [06597] come [0935] to his temple [01964], even the messenger [04397] of the covenant [01285], whom ye delight [02655] in: behold, he shall come [0935], saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].

⁷ And I will shake [07493] all nations [01471], and the desire [02532] of all nations [01471] shall come [0935]: and I will fill [04390] this house [01004] with glory [03519], saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635].

²³ And [2532] he came [2064] and dwelt [2730] in [1519] a city [4172] called [3004] Nazareth [3478]: that [3704] it might be fulfilled [4137] which [3588] was spoken [4483] by [1223] the prophets [4396], [3754] He shall be called [2564] a Nazarene [3480].

⁵ And [1161] they said [2036] unto him [846], In [1722] Bethlehem [965] of Judaea [2449]: for [1063] thus [3779] it is written [1125] by [1223] the prophet [4396],
⁶ And [2532] thou [4771] Bethlehem [965], in the land [1093] of Juda [2448], art [1488] not [3760] the least [1646] among [1722] the princes [2232] of Juda [2448]: for [1063] out of [1537] thee [4675] shall come [1831] a Governor [2233], that [3748] shall rule [4165] my [3450] people [2992] Israel [2474].

² But thou, Bethlehem [01035] Ephratah [0672], though thou be little [06810] among the thousands [0505] of Judah [03063], yet out of thee shall he come forth [03318] unto me that is to be ruler [04910] in Israel [03478]; whose goings forth [04163] have been from of old [06924], from everlasting [03117] [05769].

¹⁸ I have surely [08085] heard [08085] Ephraim [0669] bemoaning [05110] himself thus; Thou hast chastised [03256] me, and I was chastised [03256], as a bullock [05695] unaccustomed [03808] [03925] to the yoke: turn [07725] thou me, and I shall be turned [07725]; for thou art the LORD [03068] my God [0430].

⁵ Thou shalt yet plant [05193] vines [03754] upon the mountains [02022] of Samaria [08111]: the planters [05193] shall plant [05193], and shall eat them as common things [02490].
⁶ For there shall be [03426] a day [03117], that the watchmen [05341] upon the mount [02022] Ephraim [0669] shall cry [07121], Arise [06965] ye, and let us go up [05927] to Zion [06726] unto the LORD [03068] our God [0430].

¹¹ And they gave [05414] them the city [07151] of Arba [0704] [07153] the father [01] of Anak [06061], which city is Hebron [02275], in the hill [02022] country of Judah [03063], with the suburbs [04054] thereof round about [05439] it.

⁴⁴ For [1063], lo [2400], as soon as [5613] the voice [5456] of thy [4675] salutation [783] sounded [1096] in [1519] mine [3450] ears [3775], the babe [1025] leaped [4640] in [1722] my [3450] womb [2836] for [1722] joy [20].

⁴² And [2532] she spake out [400] with a loud [3173] voice [5456], and [2532] said [2036], Blessed [2127] art thou [4771] among [1722] women [1135], and [2532] blessed [2127] is the fruit [2590] of thy [4675] womb [2836].

³⁹ And [1161] Mary [3137] arose [450] in [1722] those [5025] days [2250], and went [4198] into [1519] the hill country [3714] with [3326] haste [4710], into [1519] a city [4172] of Juda [2448];

⁵ Wherefore [1352] when he cometh [1525] into [1519] the world [2889], he saith [3004], Sacrifice [2378] and [2532] offering [4376] thou wouldest [2309] not [3756], but [1161] a body [4983] hast thou prepared [2675] me [3427]:

³⁵ And [2532] the angel [32] answered [611] and said [2036] unto her [846], The Holy [40] Ghost [4151] shall come [1904] upon [1909] thee [4571], and [2532] the power [1411] of the Highest [5310] shall overshadow [1982] thee [4671]: therefore [1352] also [2532] that holy thing [40] which shall be born [1080] of [1537] thee [4675] shall be called [2564] the Son [5207] of God [2316].

¹⁰ Many [07227] sorrows [04341] shall be to the wicked [07563]: but he that trusteth [0982] in the LORD [03068], mercy [02617] shall compass [05437] him about.

¹⁰ He found [04672] him in a desert [04057] land [0776], and in the waste [08414] howling [03214] wilderness [03452]; he led him about [05437], he instructed [0995] him, he kept [05341] him as the apple [0380] of his eye [05869].

⁶ Therefore, behold, I will hedge [07753] up thy way [01870] with thorns [05518], and make [01443] a wall [01447], that she shall not find [04672] her paths [05410].
⁷ And she shall follow [07291] after her lovers [0157], but she shall not overtake [05381] them; and she shall seek [01245] them, but shall not find [04672] them: then shall she say [0559], I will go [03212] and return [07725] to my first [07223] husband [0376]; for then was it better [02896] with me than now [06258].

⁶ I opened [06605] to my beloved [01730]; but my beloved [01730] had withdrawn [02559] himself, and was gone [05674]: my soul [05315] failed [03318] when he spake [01696]: I sought [01245] him, but I could not find [04672] him; I called [07121] him, but he gave me no answer [06030].

³⁶ Why gaddest thou about [0235] so much [03966] to change [08138] thy way [01870]? thou also shalt be ashamed [0954] of Egypt [04714], as thou wast ashamed [0954] of Assyria [0804].

²³ How canst thou say [0559], I am not polluted [02930], I have not gone [01980] after [0310] Baalim [01168]? see [07200] thy way [01870] in the valley [01516], know [03045] what thou hast done [06213]: thou art a swift [07031] dromedary [01072] traversing [08308] her ways [01870];

¹⁸ And now what hast thou to do in the way [01870] of Egypt [04714], to drink [08354] the waters [04325] of Sihor [07883]? or what hast thou to do in the way [01870] of Assyria [0804], to drink [08354] the waters [04325] of the river [05104]?