Jeremiah 31:3

Jeremiah 31:3

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

a. ASV: Jehovah appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

b. YLT: From afar Jehovah hath appeared to me, With love age-during I have loved thee, Therefore I have drawn thee with kindness.

c. Amplified Bible Classic: The Lord appeared from of old to me [Israel], saying, Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.

d. Septuagint [In the Septuagint Jeremiah 31:1-40 is listed under Jeremiah 38:1-34, 36, 37, 35, 38-40]: The Lord appeared to him from afar, [saying], I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore have I drawn thee in compassion.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings [In the Jewish Translation Jeremiah 31:3 is Jeremiah 31:2]: [Israel interjects,] From the distant past HASHEM appeared to me. [God continues:] And I have loved you with an eternal love, therefore I have extended kindness to you.

1. “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying…”

a. [The] LORD [Strong: 3068 Yᵉhôvâh, yeh-ho-vaw'; from H1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God:—Jehovah, the Lord.]

b. [hath] appeared [Strong: 7200 râʼâh, raw-aw'; a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):—advise self, appear, approve, behold, × certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, × indeed, × joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, × be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), × sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, × surely, × think, view, visions.]

c. of old [unto me saying] [Strong: 7350 râchôwq, raw-khoke'; or רָחֹק râchôq; from H7368; remote, literally or figuratively, of place or time; specifically, precious; often used adverbially (with preposition):—(a-) far (abroad, off), long ago, of old, space, great while to come.]

2. “...Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love…”

a. [Yea, I have] loved thee [Strong: 157 ʼâhab, aw-hab'; or אָהֵב ʼâhêb ; a primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise):—(be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend.]

b. [with an] everlasting [Strong: 5769 ʻôwlâm, o-lawm'; or עֹלָם ʻôlâm; from H5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always:—alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world (+without end).]

c. love [Strong: 160 ʼahăbâh, a-hab-aw; feminine of H158 and meaning the same:—love.]

1). Though the verse is directed to Israel it also applies to us. The plan of redemption is older than the earth . Before God began creating the earth He already had a plan to redeem us through Christ Jesus because He loves us and he loved us then.

a). 1 Peter 1:18-20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

2). The Hebrew word for everlasting is the same word used for eternity. Eternity future and past. So when God tells us in John 3:16, that He loved us, that love is in the eternal past. Glory to God.

3. “...therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”

a. [therefore with] lovingkindness [Strong: 2617 cheçed, kheh'-sed; from H2616; kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subjectively) beauty:—favour, good deed(-liness, -ness), kindly, (loving-) kindness, merciful (kindness), mercy, pity, reproach, wicked thing.]

b. [have I] drawn [thee] [Strong: 4900 mâshak, maw-shak'; a primitive root; to draw, used in a great variety of applications (including to sow, to sound, to prolong, to develop, to march, to remove, to delay, to be tall, etc.):—draw (along, out), continue, defer, extend, forbear, × give, handle, make (pro-, sound) long, × sow, scatter, stretch out.]