What Does Jeremiah 31:9 Mean in the King James?
They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The word for “supplications” grows from the root for favor, so the plea itself is held inside the language of gracious reception.
THE MEANING
The verse speaks now to a grieving person: tears and pleading can accompany being led toward life-giving water on a passable path. The father-child image grounds this movement in belonging rather than performance.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that tears or pleading make you too weak or too far from belonging to be guided.
THE ROOT
תַּחֲנוּנִים
tachanunim
GROWS FROM
חנן
ḥ-n-n
To show favor or be gracious; a plea seeks that favor.
“Supplications” carries the sense of asking for favor within its root. The plea is not separate from gracious reception: the verse joins it directly to being led.
ALSO GROWS
ḥen: Favor
חֵן
This noun shares the root and shows the gracious regard sought in a supplication.
ḥannun: Gracious, showing favor
חַנּוּן
This describes the quality of the one who receives the plea and leads the people onward.
יָשָׁר
yashar
GROWS FROM
ישר
y-sh-r
To be straight, level, or upright.
The way is described as straight and level, and the next words say they do not stumble on it. The promise holds together a path made passable and movement without collapse.
ALSO GROWS
mishor: A level place or plain
מִישׁוֹר
This branch makes the root’s sense of even ground concrete: the route is level enough to travel.
yosher: Uprightness, straightness
יֹשֶׁר
This branch carries the same image of what is aligned and not crooked.
THE PATTERN
Grief and need do not stop divine leading; the way toward provision is made passable through belonging.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.THE THREAD
For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.Jeremiah’s “supplications” (תַּחֲנוּנִים, tachanunim) and Isaiah’s “be very gracious” (חָנוֹן יָחְנְךָ, ḥānōn yaḥənkā) grow from חנן (ḥ-n-n), the root of favor. Isaiah makes the link audible: the cry is met with favor, just as here the supplicant is led toward water and a steady path.
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