can anyone tell me what this verse means?

[jackie d]

"22 The second half of this verse is one of the most disputed in the entire book. Interpretations vary greatly and are often mutually exclusive. Many scholars admit that a satisfactory solution is not attainable; no interpretation has been accepted by a majority of scholars. The verse is difficult because the background is lacking. One view sees here a prophecy of the Virgin Birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is an ancient interpretation, coming from the church fathers; but it is rejected by the majority of interpreters. It is based on the concept of the Lord's creation of "a new thing," obviously something miraculous, and the idea of a woman in some way controlling a man (so Broadbent, Streane et al.). This view is invalid for the following reasons.

1. The word "woman" (neqebah, lit., "a female") does not even have the definite article (cf. Isa 7:14).

2. The word "woman" cannot be made to mean a virgin. In fact, it is a most general word for woman in contradistinction to man.

3. The verb sabab ("surround") is poles apart from the idea of conceiving.

4. The interpretation is ill suited to the context. How does it flow from its context? Granted that the word "virgin" occurs in v.21 and earlier in v.4; but it is plain that these references are to Israel, not an individual. The interpretation is reverent, but not possible.

Other solutions do not fare much better. Some propose that the "new thing" is a woman who protects a man. Thus it describes a physically weaker partner surrounding and sustaining a stronger one (so Harrison). A second proposal is that "Virgin Israel" returns to the Lord (so Hyatt). A third one is that the words refer to the security Israel will enjoy so that the women will be able to protect the nation in case of attack, allowing the men to be occupied with their work (so Cundall). A fourth view is that, though the Lord has embraced the woman Israel in love, the latter days will witness a situation in which the woman Israel will seek after and embrace her lover, the Lord (so Jensen). A fifth view suggests that the woman will propose marriage to the man; that is, Israel will seek union with the Lord. This requires the translation "a female will turn into a man"

[jackie d]

That particular verse is interpreted differently by various scholars. Here's my non-scholarly interpretation.

Jeremiah is one of my OT heros. Look at who he was talking to - a nation that had turned its back on God. Of all the prophets, his term had to have been one of the hardest. The people never listened to him. Not once. He never got to see the fruit of his labor, yet he endured through it all. He was "employed" at a time of great upheaval for Judah. They were more interested in the pagan gods surrounding them than God. They were hard-hearted. And, they were being ruled by who is considered to be the most evil king Judah ever had, King Jehoiakim. Remember, when Jeremiah first began it was under the reign of Josiah, the king who literally found the written law in a back room in the temple. The people didn't have the word of God! King Josiah had never heard it! Josiah had the word read to him and realized that they had not been following the law of God. Up to this point, the people had not heard of the promises, the prophecies,or anything else. So anything at this point in time, was new to them. He immediately read the law to the people and then marched throughout the land and destroyed "to dust" the pagan altars and idols that he found. Unfortunatley, this revival burst didn't last and the people again turned. Knowing the covenant, they broke the law.

So, enter Jeremiah who delivers the message of judgement. Throughout his life he declared thier unrighteousness and the penalty for it. He spoke amidst the false prophets that were saying everything was going to be all right. He stood alone - pronouncing the coming judgement. Of course, it was the last days of Judah as a nation. Soon they would be carried off to Babylon. But - before that happened - Jeremiah said some very remarkable things.

The prophets spoke from inside an onion, speaking away layer after layer of prophecies. The layers, though identical, were also sometimes different. By that, I mean that though they spoke of the things to come in the near future, it also sometimes meant the things to come in the distant future. these things were spoken in one prophecy, as I believe (IMHO) Jeremiahs was in this verse.

He spoke not only of the people returning after the Babylonian captivity, but also of the New Covenant - the returning of the nation of Israel. This was the new thing, for he goes on to speak of of it in these verses.

31

[Treasure]

Jeremiah is a fascinating book. I love the verse that you've been discussing and learned a lot from this. Thanks.

[psalmone]

I am made aware of the fact that what the prophet 'foresaw' was called a 'new thing', and worthy of mention so significantly.

This scripture would have an immediate context and then a parallel type as does most prophecy, often marvelling of things pertaining to the 'New Covenent' and 'the Day that the Lord Has made'.

I believe it could pertain to something similar to what we are told of in Heb12:1, of the faithful being encompassed about with a great cloud of witnesses, except rather this could be a mans wife.

The New Covent would then be complete upon the blood of Jesus being shed and there would now be sufficient authority to subdue the excesses of such conditions while transitions are taking place like growth in grace and such.

As men we are told to teach our wives in quietness, meaning that until they are up to the strength of "neither male nor female' and the "liveliness of the Hebrew women' (though in Christ), there may be some redeeming of the the womans ability to encompass man, in lieu of fulfillment.

They may have forseen some of the grace we presently enjoy in Christian influenced society and the liberty women enjoy, even successfull cases and it was a marvel to them.

Haveing said all that, 'not all things are expedient'. Some of this territory has to do with redeeming things that may had been associated with operations of darkness as we undestand was so abused by some and claiming it to serve the light even then unto the non-handling of such..

[jackie d]

I am made aware of the fact that what the prophet 'foresaw' was called a 'new thing', and worthy of mention so significantly.

This scripture would have an immediate context and then a parallel type as does most prophecy, often marvelling of things pertaining to the 'New Covenent' and 'the Day that the Lord Has made'.

I believe it could pertain to something similar to what we are told of in Heb12:1, of the faithful being encompassed about with a great cloud of witnesses, except rather this could be a mans wife.

The New Covent would then be complete upon the blood of Jesus being shed and there would now be sufficient authority to subdue the excesses of such conditions while transitions are taking place like growth in grace and such.

As men we are told to teach our wives in quietness, meaning that until they are up to the strength of "neither male nor female' and the "liveliness of the Hebrew women' (though in Christ), there may be some redeeming of the the womans ability to encompass man, in lieu of fulfillment.

They may have forseen some of the grace we presently enjoy in Christian influenced society and the liberty women enjoy, even successfull cases and it was a marvel to them.

Haveing said all that, 'not all things are expedient'. Some of this territory has to do with redeeming things that may had been associated with operations of darkness as we undestand was so abused by some and claiming it to serve the light even then unto the non-handling of such..

[Yeshua01]

This scripture is about Israel. Here is a little more information about this verse.

"Jeremiah 31:22: "A Woman shall Compass a Man"."

This is a very much disputed verse, and has been for centuries. Assuming the text is correct (and I believe that it is) "a woman will surround a man" is represented here in Jer.31:22 as "a new thing", a change in the natural order of things, at least as far as the world is now constituted. This is starting point of C.F. Keil's explanation and he gives a good parallel in Is.43:19. Keil stresses this verse in its symbolic meaning, namely, Virgin Israel (cf. v. 21) will "surround" (i.e., give loving attention to) her "husband", the Lord. This is certainly correct as far as it goes, and does, as Keil points out, provide motivation for Israel to "return" to Him in their hearts (i.e., with the prospect of a new, closer relationship with Him than has ever existed before as an incentive). However, based on the parallel of Is.43:19 and the very concrete nature of this prophecy, it seems clear that we are also (and first) to take these words to mean some clear change in the way things work at present. For women to give solicitous attention to men (in terms of protection, provision, affection, what have you), instead of the other way around, indicates a new set of circumstances in which the brutish, dangerous and materially restricted mode of living in general in the world has given way to one of justice, security and plenty (as will be the case during the Messiah's reign). So we are not meant to understand any change of male or female nature from these verses, but merely a recognition that life in the Millennium will be so serene, that previous protective male behavior patterns that have been universal (if occasionally muted in highly civilized societies) will be largely unnecessary under the perfect rule of Christ. So this verse predicts the Millennium, focusing upon the coming human security and ease of that blessed time, just as Is.43:19 does by focusing upon the ecological transformation that will take place. Thucydides says that "war is a violent teacher", noting that human conflict makes people more brutish by taking away the ease and security of normal life. While this is a secular appraisal, it stands the test of history and is not inconsistent with the Bible. But in the Millennium, the trend will be in the opposite direction, so much so that behavior patterns of male/female (though not their natures) will reflect this unprecedented time of blessing and peace. This is certainly something to anticipate for all believers in Christ.

http://www.ichthys.com/mail-compass.htm

[psalmone]

As I was going to mention but lost the post :-/ ... I believe its because of the solutions that the New Covenant would bring, that there would me a change in the order of things. Prior to this there was segregation between men and women and an awkward prejudice.

The leverage men attempted to claim the relational imbalance was and still is vague, guilty and confused and immature.

Realty called for genuine solutions and vision that only the New Covenant provides.