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The New Covenant
Jeremiah 31:26–40 gives Yahweh’s promises about coming days. The passage moves from rebuilding after judgement to a new covenant, forgiven sin, and a future city that belongs wholly to Yahweh.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
The passage begins with Jeremiah waking from sweet sleep and then records repeated words from Yahweh about “the days” to come. These promises concern Israel and Judah, the covenant, the fixed order of creation, and the rebuilding of the city.
Jeremiah 31:26–40Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Yahweh promises a new covenant marked by inward obedience, true knowledge of him, forgiveness, and a future made secure by his word.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01From uprooting to plantingJeremiah says he awakened and his sleep was sweet. Then Yahweh announces coming days for the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
Explanation
Jeremiah says he awakened and his sleep was sweet. Then Yahweh announces coming days for the house of Israel and the house of Judah. He will “sow” them with people and animals. The one who had watched over them to pluck up, destroy, and afflict now says he will watch over them to build and plant.
02Each person and his own iniquityThe saying about fathers eating sour grapes and children’s teeth being set on edge will no longer be used in those days.
Explanation
The saying about fathers eating sour grapes and children’s teeth being set on edge will no longer be used in those days. Instead, the passage says each person will die for his own iniquity. The image stays the same, but responsibility is applied to the one who eats the sour grapes.
03A new covenant written withinYahweh says he will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant made when he brought their fathers out of Egypt, which they broke.
Explanation
Yahweh says he will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant made when he brought their fathers out of Egypt, which they broke. In the new covenant, Yahweh will put his law in their inward parts and write it on their heart.
04Known by all, secured by YahwehYahweh says, “I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” All will know him, from least to greatest, because he will forgive iniquity and remember sin no more.
Explanation
Yahweh says, “I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” All will know him, from least to greatest, because he will forgive iniquity and remember sin no more. Then he points to the sun, moon, stars, sea, heaven, and earth to underline his enduring word, and promises a rebuilt city holy to Yahweh, never again plucked up or thrown down.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What change does Yahweh describe in Jeremiah 31:28?
Notice the movement from “pluck up” and “destroy” to “build and plant,” and describe what future direction Yahweh announces.
02How is the new covenant described as different from the earlier covenant?
Compare the covenant connected with the exodus, which was broken, with the new covenant where the law is written within and on the heart.
03Why does the passage mention creation before speaking of the city?
Use the references to the sun, moon, stars, sea, heaven, and earth to explain how the text presents Yahweh’s commitment as firm.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Jeremiah 31:26–40
26On this I awakened, and saw; and my sleep was sweet to me.
27“Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of animal.
28It will happen that, like as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down and to overthrow and to destroy and to afflict, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” says Yahweh.
29“In those days they will say no more, “ ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’
30But everyone will die for his own iniquity. Every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge.
31“Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah,
32not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, which covenant of mine they broke, although I was a husband to them,” says Yahweh.
33“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says Yahweh: “I will put my law in their inward parts, and I will write it in their heart. I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34They will no longer each teach his neighbor, and every man teach his brother, saying, ‘Know Yahweh;’ for they will all know me, from their least to their greatest,” says Yahweh, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
35Yahweh, who gives the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirs up the sea, so that its waves roar— Yahweh of Armies is his name, says:
36“If these ordinances depart from before me,” says Yahweh, “then the offspring of Israel also will cease from being a nation before me forever.”
37Yahweh says: “If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done,” says Yahweh.
38“Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that the city will be built to Yahweh from the tower of Hananel to the gate of the corner.
39The measuring line will go out further straight onward to the hill Gareb, and will turn toward Goah.
40The whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields to the brook Kidron, to the corner of the horse gate toward the east, will be holy to Yahweh. It will not be plucked up or thrown down any more forever.”