Jeremiah 31:39 Meaning: God's Measuring Line Reaches Further
The measuring line will go out further straight onward to the hill Gareb, and will turn toward Goah.
And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.
And the measuring line shall go out further straight onward unto the hill Gareb, and shall turn about unto Goah.
And gone out again hath the measuring line Over-against it, unto the height of Gareb, And it hath compassed to Goah.
And the measuring line shall yet go forth before it unto the hill Gareb, and shall turn toward Goath.
Meaning in one sentence
Jeremiah 31:39 shows God's promise to expand Jerusalem to include the hills Gareb and Goah, places of suffering and uncleanness. A sign of complete restoration.
Context
This verse sits near the end of Jeremiah 31, a chapter famous for the promise of a new covenant written on hearts (verses 31-34). Just before our verse, God swears by the fixed order of sun and moon that Israel will never be cast off. Then He gives a detailed prophecy about Jerusalem being rebuilt, not just within its old walls, but larger. The verse names two specific hills: Gareb and Goah. Commentators note these were outside the old city limits. Gareb means “scabby,” likely a place where lepers lived. Goah means “bellowing” or “toil,” perhaps a steep, hard climb. By including them, God is saying His restored city will embrace even the places people considered unclean or marginal.
Key Words
The Hebrew word for “measuring line” is kav hamidah, a builder’s cord used to mark boundaries. In the prophets, it often signals God taking ownership and laying out His plans. The verb “will go out” (yatsa) suggests movement beyond where things stood before. And the small word “again” (od) carries the force of continuance: this is not a one-time expansion but an ongoing reach. The names themselves are telling. Gareb comes from a root meaning “to scrape” or “to be scabby”, a place for outcasts. Goah may come from a word for “bellowing,” perhaps a place of mourning or labor. God’s measuring line does not stop at the clean and comfortable. It stretches straight on to the hill of the leper and turns toward the place of toil. Every forgotten corner gets included.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read these names in different ways. Some early commentators, following Jewish tradition, identified Gareb as a leper colony and Goah as Golgotha, the hill of the skull, outside the city walls where Jesus was crucified. They saw in this verse a prophecy that Christ’s death would bring even the unclean and the outcast into God’s city. Others read it more literally: a promise that post-exilic Jerusalem would physically expand to include those hills. Calvin admitted the locations are uncertain, but stressed the clear point: the city will be larger than before. Both readings agree on the heart of the matter: God’s restoration does not leave the margins out.
A common misunderstanding
Some readers dismiss this verse as an obscure geographical detail with no spiritual weight. In fact, the names Gareb and Goah are deliberately chosen. They evoke suffering, uncleanness, and hard labor. By naming them, God declares that no place is too low or too ruined for His restoration. This verse is not a footnote, it is the punchline of the new covenant promise.
Living This Out
This week, you might ask yourself: where have I drawn the line on what God can restore? Maybe it is a part of your own heart you have written off as too far gone. Maybe it is a person or a situation that feels permanently outside the circle of hope. The measuring line goes further. It reaches the hill you avoid and turns toward the place that costs you something. You do not have to fix those places yourself. You only need to trust that God’s cord is long enough. Let that hope sit with you the next time you catch yourself thinking something is beyond repair.
Main takeaway: God's restoration always extends further than we expect, reaching even the places we consider unclean or hopeless.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
God told Jeremiah He would build Jerusalem bigger than before. Even the hills where sick people lived would be inside the city. God loves to include everyone.
For ages 9, 12
In Jeremiah’s time, the hills Gareb and Goah were outside the city limits. Gareb might have been where people with leprosy stayed, and Goah was a steep, hard climb. God promised that one day those places would be part of Jerusalem. That shows us God’s restoration is not just for the people who seem clean or strong. Everyone, no matter how far out or broken, is invited into the new city God is building.
Questions People Ask
What does the measuring line represent in Jeremiah 31:39?
The measuring line is a builder’s tool used to mark boundaries. In the prophets, it often symbolizes God taking ownership and carefully planning the restoration. Here it shows God expanding Jerusalem beyond its old limits.
What is the hill Gareb?
Gareb means “scabby” in Hebrew. Many commentators think it was a hill outside Jerusalem where lepers or others with skin diseases were sent, making it a place of uncleanness and exclusion. Its inclusion in the prophecy is significant: God claims even the outcast places.
Where is Goah (Goath)?
Goah (or Goath) is not known with certainty. The name may come from a Hebrew word for “bellowing” or “toil,” suggesting a steep or difficult area. Some identify it with Golgotha, the place of the skull outside the city where Jesus was crucified.
How does Jeremiah 31:39 relate to the new covenant?
This verse is part of the same prophecy as the new covenant promise in Jeremiah 31:31-34. The new covenant is not just spiritual, it has physical effects, including a restored Jerusalem that is larger and holier, incorporating even previously unclean areas.
Is this prophecy about the literal city of Jerusalem or the church?
Christians have read it both ways. Some see it as a literal promise of Jerusalem’s post-exilic expansion, fulfilled in Nehemiah’s rebuilding. Others see it as pointing to the church as the new Jerusalem, where people from every background are brought in. Both views agree that God’s restoration is comprehensive.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study