Bible Strands

Jeremiah 31:28

Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, to demolish, destroy, and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the LORD.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD declares this to the house of Israel and Judah immediately after announcing His future sowing of restoration.

The words — שָקַדְתִּי (sha.Kad.ti) translates literally to "I kept watch," and עֲלֵיהֶם ('a.lei.Hem) means "over them."

The thread — This pattern of divine oversight for both judgment and renewal appears in Jeremiah 24:6, Jeremiah 1:10, and Jeremiah 18:7.

Why it lands — The text states that God’s past disciplinary surveillance matches His future restorative surveillance, requiring the reader to accept His sovereign authority over national destruction and rebuilding.

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

וְהָיָ֞הve./ha.Yahand/ it will beכַּאֲשֶׁ֧רka./'a.Sherjust/ asשָׁקַ֣דְתִּיsha.Kad.tiI kept watchעֲלֵיהֶ֗ם'a.lei./Hemover/ themלִנְת֧וֹשׁli/n.To.oshto/ pluck upוְלִנְת֛וֹץve./li/n.Totzand/ to/ pull downוְלַהֲרֹ֖סve./la./ha.Rosand/ to/ tear downוּלְהַאֲבִ֣ידu./le./ha.'a.Vidand/ to/ destroyוּלְהָרֵ֑עַu./le./ha.Re.a'and/ to/ do harmכֵּ֣ןkensoאֶשְׁקֹ֧ד'esh.KodI will keep watchעֲלֵיהֶ֛ם'a.lei./Hemover/ themלִבְנ֥וֹתli/v.Notto/ buildוְלִנְט֖וֹעַve./li/n.To.a'and/ to/ plantנְאֻם־ne.'um-[the] utterance ofיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehYahweh

King James Version

And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the Lord.

Cross-references