Jeremiah 31:4

I will rebuild you, my dear children Israel, ¹  so that you will once again be built up. Once again you will take up the tambourine and join in the happy throng of dancers. ² 

Ex 15:20,21; Jud 11:34; 1Sa 18:6,7; 2Ki 19:21; Ps 51:18; Ps 69:35; Ps 149:3; Ps 150:3-6; Isa 37:22; Jer 1:10; Jer 14:17; Jer 18:13; Jer 30:18; Jer 31:13; Jer 31:21; Jer 33:7; La 1:15; La 2:13; Am 5:2; Am 9:11; Lu 15:23; Ac 15:16; Eph 2:20-22; Re 19:1-8; Re 21:10-27

¹ tn Heb “Virgin Israel.”

sn For the significance of this metaphor see the note on Jer 14:17. Here the emphasis appears on his special love and care for his people and the hint (further developed in vv. 21-22) that, though guilty of sin, he considers them like an innocent young virgin.

² sn Contrast Jer 7:34 and 25:10.