Jeremiah 31:21

Guidance and decisions Repentance

¹⁹ Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

²⁰ Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.

²² 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.

²³ Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.

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

Compare

BSB: “Set up the roadmarks, establish the signposts. Keep the highway in mind, the road you have traveled. Return, O Virgin Israel, return to these cities of yours.
KJV: Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
WEB: “Set up road signs. Make guideposts. Set your heart toward the highway, even the way by which you went. Turn again, virgin of Israel. Turn again to these your cities.
ASV: Set thee up waymarks, make thee guide-posts; set thy heart toward the highway, even the way by which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
DARBY: Set up waymarks, make for thyself signposts; set thy heart toward the highway, the way by which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
BLB: “Set up for yourself signposts, make for yourself landmarks; set your heart toward the highway, the way you have traveled. Turn back, O virgin Israel, turn back to these cities of yours.

ÅB: Reis deg merkesteiner, sett deg veivisere, gi akt på den banede vei, den vei du gikk! Vend tilbake, du jomfru, Israel, vend tilbake til dine byer her!
OTB: "Sett opp veiskilt; sett opp veivisere. Rett ditt sinn mot hovedveien, veien du gikk. Vend tilbake, Israels jomfru, vend tilbake til dine byer."
B1930: Reis dig merkestener, sett dig veivisere, gi akt på den banede vei, den vei du gikk! Vend tilbake, du jomfru, Israel, vend tilbake til dine byer her!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 50:5
They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.
Read in context
Isaiah 62:10
Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.
Read in context
Psalms 84:5
Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
Read in context
Jeremiah 3:14
Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:
Read in context
Isaiah 52:11–12
Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.
Read in context
Jeremiah 51:50
Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.
Read in context
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.
Read in context
Haggai 1:5
Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.
Read in context