Jeremiah 31:15

Grief Parents and children Death and loss Comfort

¹³ Then the maidens will rejoice with dancing, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into joy, and give them comfort and joy for their sorrow.

¹⁴ I will fill the souls of the priests abundantly, and will fill My people with My goodness,” declares the LORD.

This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

¹⁶ This is what the LORD says: “Keep your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for the reward for your work will come, declares the LORD. Then your children will return from the land of the enemy.

¹⁷ So there is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children will return to their own land.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
KJV: Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
WEB: The LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children. She refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.”
ASV: Thus saith Jehovah: A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuseth to be comforted for her children, because they are not.
DARBY: Thus saith Jehovah: A voice hath been heard in Ramah, the wail of very bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children, because they are not.
BLB: Thus says YHWH: “A voice is heard in Ramah, wailing [and] weeping of bitterness—Rachel weeping for her children, [and] refusing to be comforted over her children, because they are no more.”

ÅB: Så sier Herren: En røst høres i Rama, veklage, bitter gråt; Rakel gråter over sine barn; hun vil ikke la seg trøste over sine barn, for de er ikke mere til.
OTB: Dette sier Herren: "En røst høres i Rama, gråt og stor sorg, Rakel som gråter for sine barn og nekter å la seg trøste, fordi de ikke er mer."
B1930: Så sier Herren: En røst høres i Rama, veklage, bitter gråt; Rakel gråter over sine barn; hun vil ikke la sig trøste over sine barn, for de er ikke mere til.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Matthew 2:16–18
When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.
Read in context
Psalms 77:2
In the day of trouble I sought the Lord; through the night my outstretched hands did not grow weary; my soul refused to be comforted.
Read in context
Jeremiah 40:1
This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan captain of the guard had released him at Ramah, having found him bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.
Read in context
Jeremiah 10:20
My tent is destroyed, and all its ropes are snapped. My sons have departed from me and are no more. I have no one left to pitch my tent or set up my curtains.
Read in context
Genesis 37:35
All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.
Read in context
Isaiah 22:4
Therefore I said, “Turn away from me, let me weep bitterly! Do not try to console me over the destruction of the daughter of my people.”
Read in context
Genesis 35:19
So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).
Read in context
Genesis 42:13
But they answered, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”
Read in context