Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 31:4
Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
4. will I build thee, and thou shalt be built ] For build = make to prosper, see note on Jer 12:16.
O virgin of Israel ] The nation is addressed under the figure of a woman, as so often.
tabrets ] The tabret or timbrel, the Heb. tph, the duff or diff of the Arabs, is a hoop on which pieces of brass are often fixed, and over which parchment is extended. It is thus played with the fingers like our tambourine. It was used in early times by the Syrians of Paddanaram (Gen 31:27), played principally by women (Exo 15:20; Jdg 11:34 ; 1Sa 18:6; Psa 68:25), but also by prophets (1Sa 10:5) and by others (2Sa 6:5; 1Ch 13:8). Peake refers for the place occupied by dancing in the religion of the later (post-exilic) period to an essay by Franz Delitzsch, Iris, pp. 189, 204.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
O virgin of Israel – i. e., the whole people (compare Jer 14:17 note).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 4. O virgin of Israel] Israelites in general; now called virgin, because restored to their ancient purity.
With thy tabrets] Women in general played on these; they were used in times of rejoicing, and accompanied with dancing. To these customs, still preserved, the prophet alludes.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
As upon their being carried into captivity both their civil state and church, which either of them were as a building framed together, were broken and pulled down, and they were scattered here and there, like the stones of a building pulled down; so Gods bringing them again together, and cementing them by a political and ecclesiastical government, is fitly compared to a building. The calling them the
virgin Israel doth not signify that the body of that people had not been defloured by idolatry, but either signifies that this promise only concerned such as had kept their virginity; or else (which it may be is more probable) Israel is here called a virgin with relation to the following words, they being virgins which were wont to go out with tabrets, 1Sa 18:6, and to dance in the time of their mirth and jollity, Exo 15:20; Jdg 11:34. The virgins are said to be adorned with their tabrets, or timbrels, either (as some think) because they were wont to tie scarfs or ribands about them, or because they looked comely with these instruments of music in their hands, or should use them in a more handsome and comely manner than they had done before, when they used them at unseasonable times. That which is here prophesied is, a merry, joyful, pleasant time to this people, when their mirth should become them; or the restoration of their religions festivals, at which they used instruments of music to express their inward spiritual joy and gladness. The prophets, 1Sa 10:5, came from the high place with a tabret, &c.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
4. I will build . . . thou shalt bebuiltThe combination of the active and passiveto express the same fact implies the infallible certainty of itsaccomplishment. “Build,” that is, establish in prosperity(Jer 33:7).
adorned with . . . tabrets(1Sa 18:6). Or, “adornthyself with thy timbrels“; used by damsels onoccasions of public rejoicings (Exo 15:20;Jdg 11:34). Israel had cast awayall instruments of joy in her exile (Ps137:4).
dancesholy joy, notcarnal mirth.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Again, I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel,…. The same with “all the families of Israel”, Jer 31:1; who, when converted, will be espoused to Christ as a chaste virgin; have a sincere affection for him; unfeigned faith in him, and purely worship him; receiving the pure doctrines of the Gospel, and submitting to the ordinances of it; and then will the church, comparable to a building, consisting of lively stones, laid upon the foundation Christ, which is fallen down, and lies in ruins, be rebuilt, and none shall hinder it; and a glorious building it will be, and will continue so, when its stones are laid with fair colours; its foundations with sapphires; its windows made of agates; its gates of carbuncles; and all its borders of pleasant stones, Isa 54:11;
thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets; or timbrels, instruments of music, such as women used at times of public joy and mirth,
Ex 15:20; which became them, and were very ornamental to them; and their playing on these was usually attended with dancing; hence it follows:
and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry; phrases expressive of spiritual joy, which will be in the hearts of the saints, and expressed by the behaviour of them at the time of the conversion of the, Jews, which will be the marriage of the Lamb; and when the bride will be ready, being adorned with the robe of Christ’s righteousness, and with the graces of his Spirit, and be brought into his presence, accompanied with a chorus of virgins her companions, undefiled ones, having harps in their hands, singing the Lamb’s new song; see
Re 14:2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Jeremiah, in this verse, proceeds with the same subject, — that though there would be the long time of seventy years, yet God would become the liberator of his Church. Length of time might have extinguished the faith of the people, as it is too commonly the case: for when nothing appears to us but the naked word, and when God repeats the same promises from day to day, we think it of no moment; and then when some evil has been prevailing, we think that all ways have been already closed up, so that God cannot bring a remedy; we thus measure his power by our own standard: and as he comes late to help us, because he suffers men to be long afflicted with disease or other evils, so we imagine that God will never come, when he suspends and delays his favor longer than we wish.
Hence the Prophet says here, I will yet build thee, and built shalt thou be, virgin of Israel; and then, thou shalt yet be adorned with thy tabrets Joy is here set in opposition to the grief with which the people were to be oppressed in exile, and in part had been already oppressed, for many had been driven into exile. But Jeremiah expresses their joy and gladness by a figurative mode of speaking, by tabrets and dances of those who play For when the Prophets announce the vengeance of God, they are wont to say, “cease shall all joy among you; ye shall not play any more with the harp or with musical instruments.” So also in this place Jeremiah says, that they would return to the tabrets and dances, when God restored them to their own country. We ought not at the same time to turn this testimony of the Prophet to excuse profane lasciviousness, by which profane men pervert the benefits of God, for they preserve no moderation in their joy, but abandon themselves, and thus become wanton against God. And it is the tendency of all dances and sounds of tabrets, to besot profane men. The Prophet then did not intend to allow this sort of licentiousness to the people: for we must ever bear in mind what he said yesterday, that the voice of praise would go forth with joy. By tabrets and dances, he then means holy joy, connected with praises to God, and with the sacrifice of thanksgiving. (23) It afterwards follows —
(23) See Exo 15:20; Jud 11:34; 1Sa 18:6; Psa 68:25. “Tabrets” or timbrels were carried in one hand, and beaten by the fingers of the other. It was a hoop with bits of brass, and over this hoop parchment was distended; they were very like what are now called tambourins. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(4) Thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets . . .The implied idea is that of a time of rejoicing after triumphant restoration (the building of the previous sentence is more than that of material walls and towers), when the daughters of Israel (as in Exo. 15:20; Jdg. 11:34; 1Sa. 18:6; Psa. 68:11) should again go forth with timbrels and dances, with tabrets and joy and instruments of music. The tabret was a musical instrument of the drum type, somewhat like the Spanish or Italian tambourine, with bells attached to the metal hoop.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
4. Virgin See on Jer 14:17.
Tabrets Better, as in the margin, timbrels; a certain drum-like musical instrument, carried or worn especially by women in times of rejoicing. See Jdg 11:34; 1Sa 18:6; Job 21:12; Isa 30:32.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 31:4. Again I will build thee “Thy inhabitants shall be again restored, who shall rebuild their cities and habitations which lay desolate during the time of their captivity: thou shalt again hear rejoicing in thy land as before,” &c. The Jews are called the virgin of Israel, to imply that, they returning in repentance and faith, the stains of their former idolatries, so often compared to whoredoms, have been taken away through the merit of their great Deliverer, the Messiah. See Lowth and Calmet.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
All these blessings arise out of what went before. The Church was now partly in bondage, and the residue of the people were shortly to be sent thither. But the Lord looks beyond times of bondage, and comforts the people with these assurances. There shall be a day in Christ, when all these sweet effects shall follow. And whereas the Church is now without ordinances and means of grace, there shall in gospel times be great plenty, and men shall invite one another to attend them. Songs of praise shall be sung in the same to the Lord.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jer 31:4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
Ver. 4. Again I will build thee. ] See Jer 34:18 .
Thou shalt be adorned with thy tabrets.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Again . . . again, &c. App-92. Figure of speech Anaphora.
tabrets. See notes on Exo 15:20. 1Sa 10:5.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
build: Jer 1:10, Jer 30:18, Jer 33:7, Psa 51:18, Psa 69:35, Amo 9:11, Act 15:16, Eph 2:20-22, Rev 21:10-27
O: Jer 31:21, Jer 14:17, Jer 18:13, 2Ki 19:21, Isa 37:22, Lam 1:15, Lam 2:13, Amo 5:2
again: Jer 31:13, Exo 15:20, Exo 15:21, Jdg 11:34, 1Sa 18:6, 1Sa 18:7, Psa 149:3, Psa 150:3-6, Luk 15:23, Rev 19:1-8
tabrets: or, timbrels
Reciprocal: 1Ki 8:34 – forgive the sin Job 22:23 – built up Psa 28:5 – not build Psa 30:11 – dancing Psa 63:5 – my soul Psa 68:25 – among Psa 102:16 – When Psa 147:2 – build Isa 17:7 – General Isa 44:26 – that saith Isa 65:21 – General Jer 18:9 – to build Jer 30:19 – out Jer 31:12 – Therefore Jer 31:16 – they Jer 33:9 – a name Lam 5:21 – renew Eze 28:26 – build Oba 1:19 – the fields of Ephraim Mat 11:17 – piped Luk 15:25 – he
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 31:4. I will build thee is a prediction of the restoration of the people to their native land and the rebuilding of their national institutions. The mention of tabrets and dances is a prediction of the joy that was to come to Israel upon their return to the home country after 70 years of enforced absence.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
31:4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again {f} be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
(f) You will still have opportunity to rejoice which is meant by tabrets and dancing as their custom was after notable victories, Exo 15:20, Jud 11:34 .
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
The Lord would rebuild His people into a nation that was uniquely His own. He would see her just as appealing as in the time she departed from Egypt, like a virgin. Joy and rejoicing would return to the Israelites who would, however, first experience a silencing of their joy in exile (Jer 7:34; Jer 16:9; Jer 25:10).