Jeremiah 31:4

King James Version (KJV)

Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of

Other Translations

asv (asv)

eBible.org engASV USFM

For thus saith Jehovah of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels that are left in this city,

darby (darby)

eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext

I will build thee again, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel! Thou shalt again be adorned with thy tambours, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.

lxxbrent (lxxbrent)

Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM

Moab is ruined, proclaim [it] to Zogora:

vul1914 (vul1914)

Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)

Rursumque ædificabo te, et ædificaberis virgo Israel: adhuc ornaberis tympanis tuis, et egredieris in choro ludentium.

web (web)

WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV

I will build you again, and you will be built, O virgin of Israel. You will again be adorned with your tambourines, and will go out in the dances of those who make merry.

ylt (ylt)

Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8

Again do I build thee, And thou hast been built, O virgin of Israel, Again thou puttest on thy tabrets, And hast gone out in the chorus of the playful.

Explanations by Age Level

Explain Like I'm 5

This verse tells us that God made everything! Before there was anything at all - no toys, no houses, no animals, no people, not even the ground we walk on or the sky above us - there was only God. And God is so amazing and powerful that He made everything we see just by wanting it to exist. He made the whole world, the stars, the moon, the sun, and everything in it. God was there first, and He made everything else!

Explain Like I'm 10

Genesis 1:1 is like the opening line of the greatest story ever told. It tells us that before anything existed - no universe, no planets, no life - God was there. The word "beginning" doesn't mean God had a beginning, but rather the beginning of everything else. God created both "heaven" (the sky and space) and "earth" (our planet and everything on it). This verse teaches us that God is the source of everything, that He existed before time itself, and that He has the power to create something from nothing. It's the foundation that helps us understand who God is and where everything came from.

Explain Like I'm 15

Genesis 1:1 establishes several crucial theological and philosophical concepts. The Hebrew word "bereshit" (in the beginning) indicates the commencement of time and space, not God's beginning, since God is eternal. "Elohim" (God) is a plural noun used with singular verbs, possibly hinting at the Trinity. The verb "bara" (created) is used exclusively for divine creation and implies creation ex nihilo (from nothing), distinguishing God's creative act from human making or forming. "Heaven and earth" is a merism representing the totality of creation - everything that exists. This verse refutes atheism (God exists), pantheism (God is distinct from creation), polytheism (one God created all), and materialism (matter is not eternal). It establishes God as transcendent, eternal, and omnipotent, setting the foundation for understanding reality, purpose, and meaning.

Biblical Commentary

Historical Context

Genesis 1:1 was written by Moses around 1450-1410 BC during the Israelites' wilderness wanderings. This opening statement would have been particularly meaningful to the Israelites who had just come out of Egypt, where they were surrounded by polytheistic creation myths. This verse establishes monotheism and God's sovereignty over all creation.

Hebrew Insights

The Hebrew text reveals deeper meanings: "Bereshit" can also mean "in the beginning of" or "when God began to create," suggesting an ongoing relationship between God and creation. "Elohim" is grammatically plural but takes singular verbs, emphasizing both God's majesty and unity. The verb "bara" appears only with God as the subject in Scripture, indicating a type of creation that only God can perform.

Theological Significance

This verse establishes fundamental truths about God's nature: He is eternal (existing before creation), transcendent (separate from creation), omnipotent (able to create from nothing), and personal (actively involved in creation). It also establishes the material world as good and purposeful, not illusory or evil as some philosophies suggest.

Cross References

This verse connects with John 1:1-3 ("In the beginning was the Word"), Hebrews 11:3 ("By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command"), and Colossians 1:16 ("For in him all things were created"). These passages reinforce the truth that God, through Christ, is the creator of all things.