Lectionary Calendar
Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

Jeremiah 31:37

God 's Message: "If the skies could be measured with a yardstick and the earth explored to its core, Then and only then would I turn my back on Israel, disgusted with all they've done." God 's Decree.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Astronomy;   Geology;   God;   God Continued...;   Heaven;   Scofield Reference Index - Covenant;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Heaven;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Building;   Day;   Ezekiel, Theology of;   Offerings and Sacrifices;   Promise;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Jeremiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Death;   Greek Versions of Ot;   Jeremiah;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Astronomy;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Antonia;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“This is what the Lord says:
Hebrew Names Version
Thus says the LORD: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the eretz searched out beneath, then will I also cast off all the seed of Yisra'el for all that they have done, says the LORD.
King James Version
Thus saith the Lord ; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord .
English Standard Version
Thus says the Lord : "If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel for all that they have done, declares the Lord ."
New American Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: "If the heavens above can be measured And the foundations of the earth searched out below, Then I will also reject all the descendants of Israel For everything that they have done," declares the LORD.
New Century Version
This is what the Lord says: "Only if people can measure the sky above and learn the secrets of the earth below, will I reject all the descendants of Israel because of what they have done," says the Lord .
Amplified Bible
Thus says the LORD, "If the heavens above can be measured And the foundations of the earth searched out below, Then I will also cast off and abandon all the descendants of Israel For all that they have done," says the LORD.
World English Bible
Thus says Yahweh: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then will I also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, says Yahweh.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Thus saith the Lorde, If the heauens can be measured, or the fundations of the earth be searched out beneath, then wil I cast off all the seed of Israel, for all that they haue done, saith the Lord.
Legacy Standard Bible
Thus says Yahweh,"If the heavens above can be measuredAnd the foundations of the earth searched out below,Then I will also reject all the seed of IsraelFor all that they have done," declares Yahweh.
Berean Standard Bible
This is what the LORD says: "Only if the heavens above could be measured and the foundations of the earth below searched out, would I reject all of Israel's descendants because of all they have done," declares the LORD.
Contemporary English Version
Can you measure the heavens? Can you explore the depths of the earth? That's how hard it would be for me to reject Israel forever, even though they have sinned. I, the Lord , have spoken.
Complete Jewish Bible
"Look, the days are coming," says Adonai , "when the city will be rebuilt for Adonai from the Tower of Hanan'el to the Corner Gate.
Darby Translation
Thus saith Jehovah: If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off the whole seed of Israel, for all that they have done, saith Jehovah.
Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord says, "I will never reject the descendants of Israel. That would happen only if people could measure the sky above, and learn all the secrets of the earth below. Only then would I reject them for the bad things they have done." This message is from the Lord .
George Lamsa Translation
Thus says the LORD: If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below explored, then I will also reject all the descendants of Israel for all that they have done, says the LORD.
Good News Translation
If one day the sky could be measured and the foundations of the earth explored, only then would he reject the people of Israel because of all they have done. The Lord has spoken.
Lexham English Bible
Thus says Yahweh, "If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, also I will reject all the offspring of Israel because of all that they have done," declares Yahweh.
Literal Translation
So says Jehovah, If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be searched out, I will also reject all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, declares Jehovah.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Morouer, thus saieth the LORDE: like as the heauen aboue can not be measured, and as the foundacions of the earth beneth maye not be sought out: So will I also not cast out the whole sede of Israel, for that they haue commytted, saieth the LORDE.
American Standard Version
Thus saith Jehovah: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then will I also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith Jehovah.
Bible in Basic English
This is what the Lord has said: If the heavens on high may be measured, and the bases of the earth searched out, then I will give up the seed of Israel, because of all they have done, says the Lord.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananel unto the gate of the corner.
King James Version (1611)
Thus saith the Lord, If heauen aboue can bee measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they haue done, saith the Lord.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Moreouer, thus saith the Lord, Like as the heauen aboue can not be measured, and as the foundations of the earth beneath may not be sought out: so will I also not cast out the whole seede of Israel for that they haue committed saith the Lorde.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
They shall all have their heads shaved in every place, and every beard shall be shaved; and all hands shall beat the breasts, and on all loins shall be sackcloth.
English Revised Version
Thus saith the LORD: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then will I also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The Lord seith these thingis, If heuenes aboue moun be mesurid, and the foundementis of erthe bynethe be souyt out, and Y schal caste awei al the seed of Israel, for alle thingis whiche thei diden, seith the Lord.
Update Bible Version
Thus says Yahweh: If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, then I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, says Yahweh.
Webster's Bible Translation
Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.
New English Translation
The Lord says, "I will not reject all the descendants of Israel because of all that they have done. That could only happen if the heavens above could be measured or the foundations of the earth below could all be explored," says the Lord .
New King James Version
Thus says the LORD: "If heaven above can be measured, And the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel For all that they have done, says the LORD.
New Living Translation
This is what the Lord says: "Just as the heavens cannot be measured and the foundations of the earth cannot be explored, so I will not consider casting them away for the evil they have done. I, the Lord , have spoken!
New Life Bible
The Lord says, "If one can find out how wide the heavens are, and look through the deepest places of the earth, then I will send all the children of Israel away from Me for all that they have done," says the Lord.
New Revised Standard
Thus says the Lord : If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will reject all the offspring of Israel because of all they have done, says the Lord .
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Thus, saith Yahweh - If the heavens above can be measured, Or the foundations of the earth beneath, be searched out I also, may reject all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, Declareth Yahweh.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thus saith the Lord: If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I also will cast away all the seed of Israel, for all that they have done, saith the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
Thus says the LORD: "If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will cast off all the descendants of Israel for all that they have done, says the LORD."
Young's Literal Translation
Thus said Jehovah: If the heavens above be measured, And the foundations of earth below searched, Even I kick against all the seed of Israel, For all that they have done, An affirmation of Jehovah.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Thus says the LORD, "If the heavens above can be measured And the foundations of the earth searched out below, Then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel For all that they have done," declares the LORD.

Contextual Overview

35 God 's Message, from the God who lights up the day with sun and brightens the night with moon and stars, Who whips the ocean into a billowy froth, whose name is God -of-the-Angel-Armies: 36 "If this ordered cosmos ever fell to pieces, fell into chaos before me"— God 's Decree— "Then and only then might Israel fall apart and disappear as a nation before me." 37 God 's Message: "If the skies could be measured with a yardstick and the earth explored to its core, Then and only then would I turn my back on Israel, disgusted with all they've done." God 's Decree. 38"The time is coming"—it's God 's Decree—"when God 's city will be rebuilt, rebuilt all the way from the Citadel of Hanamel to the Corner Gate. The master plan will extend west to Gareb Hill and then around to Goath. The whole valley to the south where incinerated corpses are dumped—a death valley if there ever was one!—and all the terraced fields out to the Brook Kidron on the east as far north as the Horse Gate will be consecrated to me as a holy place. "This city will never again be torn down or destroyed."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

If: Jeremiah 33:22, Job 11:7-9, Psalms 89:2, Proverbs 30:4, Isaiah 40:12

I: Jeremiah 30:11, Jeremiah 33:24-26, Jeremiah 46:28, Romans 11:2-5, Romans 11:26-29

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 17:20 - all the seed 2 Kings 23:27 - out of my sight Job 38:18 - General Psalms 18:15 - foundations Psalms 74:1 - O God Jeremiah 33:26 - will I Jeremiah 51:5 - though Lamentations 3:31 - General Micah 6:2 - foundations Romans 11:1 - Hath God

Cross-References

Genesis 31:3
That's when God said to Jacob, "Go back home where you were born. I'll go with you."
Genesis 31:4
So Jacob sent word for Rachel and Leah to meet him out in the field where his flocks were. He said, "I notice that your father has changed toward me; he doesn't treat me the same as before. But the God of my father hasn't changed; he's still with me. You know how hard I've worked for your father. Still, your father has cheated me over and over, changing my wages time and again. But God never let him really hurt me. If he said, ‘Your wages will consist of speckled animals' the whole flock would start having speckled lambs and kids. And if he said, ‘From now on your wages will be streaked animals' the whole flock would have streaked ones. Over and over God used your father's livestock to reward me.
Hebrews 13:18
Pray for us. We have no doubts about what we're doing or why, but it's hard going and we need your prayers. All we care about is living well before God. Pray that we may be together soon. May God, who puts all things together, makes all things whole, Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus, the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant, Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd, up and alive from the dead, Now put you together, provide you with everything you need to please him, Make us into what gives him most pleasure, by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah. All glory to Jesus forever and always! Oh, yes, yes, yes.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Thus saith the Lord, if heaven above can be measured,.... Either the space between the highest heavens and the earth; or the extent of the heavens, from one end of them to the other, which cannot be done by man; so the Targum,

"as it is impossible that man should know the measure of the heavens above;''

otherwise it is measured by the Lord, for he hath "meted out heaven with a span", Isaiah 40:12;

and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath: so as to be known what they are, or on what they are fastened, since the earth is hung upon nothing, Job 38:6;

I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord; as the former cannot be, so neither the latter; when there was a very great rejection of the Jews for their disbelief of the Messiah, they were not all cast off; the Apostle Paul was an instance to the contrary, and so were others: "the remnant according to the election of grace"; and there is a time coming when all Israel shall be saved, Romans 11:5; nor shall any of the spiritual Israel be cast off by him, or cast away from him, so as to perish; the Israel, whom God foreknew, is chosen, redeemed, and whom he calls by his grace; no, not for all the sins and transgressions they have been guilty of, however they may deserve it. The reasons are, because of his unchangeable love to them; his unalterable covenant with them; the satisfaction his son has made for them; and the free and full pardon of their sins, which he has granted to them.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

All the seed - Unworthy members of Israel may be cast away, but the race shall never entirely cease to exist.


 
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