“At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about a future promise; it's a powerful declaration of God's intention to reunite a deeply fractured people. "All the families of Israel" emphasizes God's desire to bring back not only Judah but also the long-lost northern ten tribes, healing the ancient division between them. This restoration signifies a complete re-establishing of their identity as His people, not just a select portion.
“At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following prophecies of judgment and imminent exile, this verse ushers in a message of hope and future restoration. It signifies that God's renewed covenant and relationship will extend to all the scattered tribes of Israel, not just the kingdom of Judah, promising a future reunion and divine favor. This declaration sets the stage for the chapter's extensive visions of healing, comfort, and the establishment of a new covenant.
This verse doesn't just speak of a future event; it connects to a specific point in God's redemptive plan. What does "at that time" really mean for Israel and for us?
Jeremiah 31:1 begins with the phrase "At that time." This isn't a vague, distant future, but points to a specific, appointed moment in God's unfolding plan.
A Future Fulfillment
This phrase is directly linked to the end of Jeremiah 30, which speaks of God's judgment turning and His people being restored. It signifies a turning point from exile and punishment to restoration and blessing. It's a promise that God's ultimate redemptive purposes would, in due time, be fully realized.
More Than Just Return
While the immediate context is the return from Babylonian exile, scholars note that this promise looks even further ahead. It points to a time when all the tribes of Israel, not just Judah, would be gathered and restored. Many commentators see this as pointing towards a future, ultimate fulfillment, often understood as the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of His kingdom, and ultimately, the salvation of all of believing Israel.
This "at that time" speaks of God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, even when His people faltered.
The verse highlights a significant reunion. It's not just about a remnant, but about a complete restoration that overcomes past divisions.
Jeremiah 31:1 makes a powerful declaration: "I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people." This is a profound statement of divine intention that addresses a long-standing fracture in God's chosen people.
Ask a follow-up
Healing the Divide
For centuries, the nation of Israel had been divided into two kingdoms: the northern Kingdom of Israel (often called Ephraim) and the southern Kingdom of Judah. The northern kingdom had been conquered and exiled by the Assyrians much earlier than Judah's exile by Babylon. This verse explicitly promises the reunification and restoration of all these tribes. It signals God's heart to bring back not just the exiles of Judah, but also the dispersed descendants of the ten northern tribes.
A Unified People
This promise signifies God’s desire to restore the complete, unified nation He originally intended. It emphasizes that God's covenant faithfulness extends to all His people, overcoming historical divisions and scattering. This inclusive language speaks to God's comprehensive redemptive plan, aiming to make His people whole again under His direct care.
The core of this promise is a renewed affirmation of relationship. What does it truly mean to say, 'They shall be my people'?
The verse culminates in the reciprocal declaration: "I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people." This is the bedrock of the covenant relationship between God and His people.
God's Initiative and Presence
When God says, "I will be the God of... Israel," it's an active statement. It means He will be their protector, their provider, their guide, and their dwelling place. It signifies His intimate presence and ongoing engagement with them, not as a distant ruler, but as a God who actively participates in their lives and history.
Their Identity in Him
The response, "they shall be my people," signifies their identity and belonging found solely in Him. It's about their devotion, obedience, and recognition of Him as their sovereign Lord. This isn't just a title; it implies a community set apart, defined by their relationship with the Creator, dedicated to living according to His ways. This promise reassures them that even after judgment and exile, God's fundamental commitment to them remains, and their identity as His chosen people is secure in His faithfulness.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, representing His self-existence, holiness, and faithfulness to His people. It is the name by which He revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush.
Elohim · Hebrew Noun
A relational and covenantal term describing God’s unique commitment to His people, wherein He pledges to be their protector, provider, and ultimate authority, and they pledge to be His exclusive worshippers.
Yisra'el · Hebrew Noun
A term referring to the descendants of Jacob; in this context, it signifies the covenant people of God, including both the northern and southern kingdoms, reunited under His grace.
This prophecy, spoken during Judah's exile, offers a vision of hope that transcends immediate political circumstances, promising a future reunion of all Israelite tribes—both those exiled by Assyria and those by Babylon—under God's direct care.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The Northern Kingdom of Israel, known as Ephraim, is conquered by the Assyrian Empire. Its people are exiled and scattered, marking the disappearance of the ten northern tribes from the historical record as a distinct entity.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Babylonian Exile
The Southern Kingdom of Judah, including its capital Jerusalem, is conquered by the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The Temple is destroyed, and a significant portion of the population is exiled to Babylon.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great's Decree
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon. He issues a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews from Judah, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
c. 538-516 BC
Return of Exiles to Judah
The first wave of Jewish exiles returns to Judah from Babylon, beginning the process of rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple. This marks the initial phase of restoration for the southern kingdom.
Late 6th Century BC
Rebuilding the Temple
The Second Temple in Jerusalem is completed, symbolizing a return to national and religious life for the Jewish people. However, the northern ten tribes are not part of this restoration.
Undated, during Jeremiah's ministry (c. 626-586 BC)— this verse
Prophecy of Restoration and Reunion
Jeremiah delivers this prophecy, looking beyond the immediate devastation of Judah to a future restoration that will include not only the people of Judah but also the scattered tribes of Israel, promising their reunion as one people under God.
This passage lays the foundation for the covenant relationship, stating that Israel would be God's 'treasured possession' and a 'kingdom of priests' if they obeyed. Jeremiah 31:1 echoes this by reaffirming God's commitment to be their God and for them to be His people, but in the context of future restoration and a new covenant.
Ezekiel 37:15-28This passage directly addresses the reunification of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, mirroring Jeremiah's promise. Ezekiel vividly describes God making a covenant of peace with them and placing His sanctuary among them, underscoring the renewed communal relationship promised in Jeremiah 31:1.
Romans 11:25-27The Apostle Paul directly references this future fulfillment of God's promise to Israel, stating that 'all Israel will be saved' and that God will take away their sins. This New Testament perspective illuminates the ultimate and enduring nature of the covenant declared in Jeremiah 31:1.
Hebrews 8:8-12This New Testament passage explicitly quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34, which follows Jeremiah 31:1, to describe the New Covenant. It highlights that God's law will be written on their hearts, signifying a deeper, internal transformation that fulfills the promise of God being their God and them being His people.
clarkeJeremiah 31:1: "At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people."
At the same time - This discourse was delivered at the same time with the former; and, with that, constitutes the Book which God ordered the prophet to write. Will I be the God of all the families of Israel - I shall bring back the ten tribes, as well as their brethren the Jews. The restoration of the Israelites is the principal subject of this chapter.
pooleJeremiah 31:1: "At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people."
The restoration of Israel published, Jeremiah 31:1-14 . Rachel mourning is comforted, Jeremiah 31:15-17 . Ephraim repenting is brought home, Jeremiah 31:18-21 . Christ promised, Jeremiah 31:22-26 . His care over the church, Jeremiah 31:27-30 . His new covenant, Jeremiah 31:31-34 . The stability and enlargement of the church, Jeremiah 31:35-40 . When the Lord’s anger s…
This verse isn't just about a future promise; it's a powerful declaration of God's intention to reunite a deeply fractured people. "All the families of Israel" emphasizes God's desire to bring back not only Judah but also the long-lost northern ten tribes, healing the ancient division between them. This restoration signifies a complete re-establishing of their identity as His people, not just a select portion.
Following prophecies of judgment and imminent exile, this verse ushers in a message of hope and future restoration. It signifies that God's renewed covenant and relationship will extend to all the scattered tribes of Israel, not just the kingdom of Judah, promising a future reunion and divine favor. This declaration sets the stage for the chapter's extensive visions of healing, comfort, and the establishment of a new covenant.
Following prophecies of judgment and imminent exile, this verse ushers in a message of hope and future restoration. It signifies that God's renewed covenant and relationship will extend to all the scattered tribes of Israel, not just the kingdom of Judah, promising a future reunion and divine favor. This declaration sets the stage for the chapter's extensive visions of healing, comfort, and the establishment of a new covenant.
"“At that time, declares the LORD, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.”" — This verse isn't just about a future promise; it's a powerful declaration of God's intention to reunite a deeply fractured people. "All the families of Israel" emphasizes God's desire to bring back n…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026