Jeremiah 31:23

This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “When I restore them from captivity, they will once again speak this word in the land of Judah and in its cities: ‘May the LORD bless you, O righteous dwelling place, O holy mountain.’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD of hosts, God of Israel, speaks to Judah and its cities at the moment of national restoration from captivity. The declaration marks the resumption of settled life and communal worship in the land.

The words — The Hebrew ע֣וֹד (od) translates literally as “again,” while יֹאמְר֞וּ (yo.me.Ru) means “they will say,” both anchoring the verse to the resumption of a specific liturgical formula after exile.

The thread — This restoration pattern appears in Zech 8:3, where God returns to dwell in Jerusalem, and Isa 1:26, where judges and counselors are restored to establish the City of Righteousness. It stands in tension with Jer 50:7, where enemies attribute Israel’s fate to divine abandonment rather than future renewal.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge that communal blessing follows divine restoration and to trace how the promise of inhabited cities functions as a consistent prophetic marker.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The Lord bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.

Cross-references

Zechariah 8:3 This is what the LORD says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the LORD of Hosts will be called the Holy Mountain.”
Isaiah 1:26 I will restore your judges as at first, and your counselors as at the beginning. After that you will be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful City.”
Jeremiah 50:7 All who found them devoured them, and their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty, for they have sinned against the LORD, their true pasture, the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’
Ruth 2:4 Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and said to the harvesters, “The LORD be with you.” “The LORD bless you,” they replied.
Psalms 28:9 Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; shepherd them and carry them forever.
Psalms 48:1 A song. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain.
Psalms 87:1 A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A song. He has founded His city on the holy mountains.
Psalms 122:5 For there the thrones of judgment stand, the thrones of the house of David.
Psalms 128:5 May the LORD bless you from Zion, that you may see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life,
Psalms 129:8 May none who pass by say to them, “The blessing of the LORD be on you; we bless you in the name of the LORD.”