Jeremiah 31:22
How long will you waver, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing on the earth: a woman encircles a man.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "a woman encircles a man" is incredibly rich, suggesting a reversal of the normal order where a weaker entity (the "woman") overcomes or surrounds a stronger one (the "man"). This isn't just about physical strength, but points to a divine intervention that will empower the seemingly feeble nation of Israel, making them prevail against their mighty oppressors in a way that defies natural expectation.
Jeremiah is addressing the "faithless daughter" of Israel, who is described as wavering and hesitant to return to God and their homeland. This verse comes as God reveals His intention to bring about a radical reversal and renewal. The prophet assures them that He will create a "new thing," a surprising event that flips the usual order of things, symbolizing God's powerful intervention for His people.
The people are restless, unsure if they should return. What holds us back from God's promises?
Jeremiah begins with a pointed question: "How long will you waver, O faithless daughter?" This isn't just a casual inquiry; it's a challenge to those who are hesitating, described as "backsliding." They're depicted as restless, pacing back and forth, unsure whether to fully commit to God's call to return. This internal conflict, this back-and-forth, shows a reluctance to fully embrace the path God is laying out.
This wavering often happens when we face the unknown. God's call might lead us away from familiar comforts or into uncertain territory. It's easier to stay put, even in a state of "backsliding," than to take a leap of faith. The prophet urges them to stop this indecisiveness and move forward.
God declares He's doing something entirely new. What does it mean for the 'new thing' to appear on earth?
The heart of this passage is God's astounding declaration: "For the LORD has created a new thing on the earth: a woman encircles a man."
This isn't just a minor adjustment; it's a divine act of "creation." The word itself speaks of bringing something into existence that wasn't there before. What could be so revolutionary?
Many scholars see this as a promise that God's people, though seemingly weak like a woman, would overcome their powerful enemies, like the Babylonian captors. It flips the natural order, where strength prevails. It's a sign that God's power is at work in ways that defy human expectation.
Others have seen in this a foreshadowing of the miraculous conception of Jesus. Regardless of the specific interpretation, the core message is that God is about to do something unprecedented, something that will redefine power and demonstrate His unique intervention in human affairs.
The imagery of a woman encircling a man is startling. What does this inversion reveal about true strength?
The phrase "a woman encircles a man" is deliberately paradoxical. In the ancient world, and often still today, men were seen as the protectors, the strong ones, and women as the ones needing protection. The natural order suggested the man would encompass, control, or defend the woman.
Understand the original words
shobabah · Hebrew Adjective
A term used for God's covenant people when they have turned away from Him to follow idols. It denotes a breach of the covenant relationship, specifically highlighting the spiritual infidelity of the people toward their divine Husband.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Israel. It signifies His eternal, self-existent nature and His unchanging faithfulness to the covenant promises made to His people.
This prophecy comes at a critical juncture: the Babylonian exile has devastated Judah, but the promise of return and rebuilding is on the horizon. The verse's promise of a 'new thing' speaks directly to the weariness of the exiles, offering a radical hope that defies their current powerlessness and the seemingly insurmountable challenges they face.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of its people and the scattering of the ten tribes. This event marked a significant trauma and loss for the Israelite people.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under Nebuchadnezzar II, the Babylonian Empire begins its campaign against Judah, leading to the first wave of exiles, including members of the royal family and educated elite, taken to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
A further deportation occurs when Babylon captures Jerusalem. This event included prominent figures and craftsmen, deepening the sense of loss and displacement for the Judean people.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
The Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II raze Jerusalem and its Temple, marking the devastating climax of the Babylonian conquest. The remaining population is exiled.
This passage parallels Jeremiah's imagery of Israel as a 'backsliding daughter' or unfaithful wife, describing a process of wooing and reconciliation initiated by God, echoing the idea of a return to a relationship.
Isaiah 7:14This prophecy of a virgin conceiving a son ('Immanuel') is a significant parallel, with many interpreters seeing a connection to Jeremiah's 'new thing,' where a woman is involved in a divine act.
Isaiah 43:19This verse speaks of God doing a 'new thing,' specifically opening a way in the wilderness, which resonates with Jeremiah's declaration that 'the LORD has created a new thing,' indicating a miraculous divine intervention.
Luke 1:35This New Testament passage describes the Holy Spirit overshadowing Mary, directly relating to the concept of God's 'new thing' in the miraculous conception, often linked to Jeremiah's enigmatic verse.
Zechariah 12:10This verse, speaking of mourning for one 'whom they have pierced,' is often connected to the Messianic prophecies, and when paired with the idea of a woman encompassing a man, points towards the Messianic fulfillment as the 'new thing.'
pooleJeremiah 31:22: "How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man."
That the Jews are here meant by the backsliding daughter is out of question; but what going about is here intended is not so plain. Some interpret it of their running after idols; some, of their seeking help from foreign nations, instead of applying themselves unto God; others, of their wandering up and down in captivity. But the greater di…
clarkeJeremiah 31:22: "How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man."
A woman shall compass a man - נקבה תסובב גבר nekebah tesobeb gaber, "A weak woman shall compass or circumvent a strong man." This place has given much trouble to Biblical critics. By many Christian writers it is considered a prophecy of the miraculous conception of the holy virgin; but as I am sure no such meaning is in the words, nor in t…
The phrase "a woman encircles a man" is incredibly rich, suggesting a reversal of the normal order where a weaker entity (the "woman") overcomes or surrounds a stronger one (the "man"). This isn't just about physical strength, but points to a divine intervention that will empower the seemingly feeble nation of Israel, making them prevail against their mighty oppressors in a way that defies natural expectation.
Jeremiah is addressing the "faithless daughter" of Israel, who is described as wavering and hesitant to return to God and their homeland. This verse comes as God reveals His intention to bring about a radical reversal and renewal. The prophet assures them that He will create a "new thing," a surprising event that flips the usual order of things, symbolizing God's powerful intervention for His people.
Jeremiah is addressing the "faithless daughter" of Israel, who is described as wavering and hesitant to return to God and their homeland. This verse comes as God reveals His intention to bring about a radical reversal and renewal. The prophet assures them that He will create a "new thing," a surprising event that flips the usual order of things, symbolizing God's powerful intervention for His people.
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Here, that order is reversed. A woman encircling a man suggests a new dynamic of power and influence. It could mean:
Whatever the precise meaning, it signals a divine intervention where perceived weakness becomes the source of ultimate triumph, and God's creative power redefines strength itself.
c. 539 BC
Cyrus the Great and the Persian Empire
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, establishing the Persian Empire. He issues a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands.
c. 538 BC
Return from Exile
The first wave of Jewish exiles returns to Judah under leaders like Zerubbabel to begin rebuilding the Temple and their community. This marked a turning point from despair to hope.
c. 540-530 BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Prophecies on Return and Restoration
Jeremiah delivered prophecies of future restoration and a new covenant during the turbulent late Judean monarchy and the early years of the Babylonian exile. Jeremiah 31:22 speaks into this context of impending, yet uncertain, return and rebuilding.
"How long will you waver, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing on the earth: a woman encircles a man.”" — The phrase "a woman encircles a man" is incredibly rich, suggesting a reversal of the normal order where a weaker entity (the "woman") overcomes or surrounds a stronger one (the "man"). This isn't ju…
