Sometimes you read a passage in a different version and something jumps out.
“Set up road signs, erect guideposts,
pay attention to the highway,
the path on which you traveled.
Come back, virgin Isra’el,
come back to these cities of yours!
How long will you hesitate,
you unruly daughter?
For YHWH has created something new on earth:
a woman with the strengths of a man.” Jeremiah 31:21-22 CJB
The KJV has the end of verse 22 as, “for the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.” Yet, the NLT has,
“For the Lord will cause something new to happen—
Israel will embrace her God.” And the Message has,
“God will create a new thing in this land:
A transformed woman will embrace the transforming God!”
And the NIV: “The Lord will create a new thing on earth—
the woman will return to[b] the man.” Or,
“The Lord will create a new thing on earth—
the woman will protect the man.”
Is this about women and men, or is it about Israel returning to her husband (God)? A few verses later is this curious verse:
“At this point I woke up and looked around, but I had enjoyed my sleep.” Jeremiah 31:26
Immediately followed by, ”
Here, the days are coming,” says Adonai, when I will sow the house of Isra’el and the house of Y’hudah with the seed of humans and the seed of animals. At that time, just as I used to watch over them with the intent to uproot, break down, overthrow, destroy and do harm; so then I will watch over them to build and plant,” says Adonai. “When those days come they will no longer say,
‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’
Rather, each will die for his own sin;
every one who eats sour grapes,
his own teeth will be set on edge.
“Here, the days are coming,” says Adonai, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Isra’el and with the house of Y’hudah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers on the day I took them by their hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt; because they, for their part, violated my covenant, even though I, for my part, was a husband to them,” says Adonai. “For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Isra’el after those days,” says Adonai: “I will put my Torah within them and write it on their hearts; I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will any of them teach his fellow community member or his brother, ‘Know Adonai’; for all will know me, from the least of them to the greatest; because I will forgive their wickednesses and remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:27-35
Perhaps verse 26 is referring to more than just Jeremiah’s sleep? Could it be referring to YHWH’s sleep? Could verses 27-35 be referring to the Eighth Day after YHWH wakes from his 7,000 year slumber?
Bible Study Seattle 
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