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Notice that the passage in question lies between two passages cited as having a particular New Testament fulfillment. Jer. 31:15 is quoted by Matthew (2:18) in regard to the murder of the children of Bethlehem after Jesus' birth. Jer. 31:31-34 is quoted in Hebrews as a prophecy fulfilled in the new covenant relationship Christians (the church) have with God through Christ. Also, as Bigfry noted, the allusion in Jer. 31:21 referred to Virgin Israel, a reference to God's people as feminine that occurs many times with variations in the prophets -- his people as feminine to God's masculine. The unfaithful daughter of 31:22 is the Virgin Israel of 21, urged to return. The return though will be a new thing, which is described in the following verses, and is the including those quoted in Hebrews. God's people generally are pictured in conflict with him in the Old Testament, with intervals of faithfulness punctuating frequent episodes of unfaithfulness. The new thing is an affectionate, faithful relationship, God's people doing his will. The treasure is in jars of clay (2 Cor. 4:7). Jerusalem, the church, is free (Gal. 4:26, Heb. 12:22-23) and the kingdom is unshakeable (Heb. 12:28). Our security is in being part of the bride of Christ, the church. She encompasses the saved, and as the body of Christ she encompasses Christ himself in this world, as he works through her. The Jewish Bible (Tanakh) renders the phrase "a woman courts a man" and footnotes it with "Meaning of Heb. uncertain." Other sources (Keil and Delitsch commentary for example) also suggest the idea of encompass here is an affectionate loving relationship, in contrast to the often tempestuous conflicts of God's Sinai covenant relationship with Israel.
The Septuagint (ancient Greek) rendering is rather different in wording, suggesting to me that even the ancient translators had some trouble with the concept. The Septuagint has "How long, O disgraced daughter, will you turn away? For teh Lord has created safety for a new plantation: men shall go about in safety." From which I would still get the new covenant spoken of afterward. Jeremiah 31:22 (English-RSV)
How long will you waver, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing on the earth: a woman protects a man."
and the footnote in the NIV says
22 Or will go about [seeking]; or will protect
and, Israel seems to be the/a refference to his daughter/a woman who is wandering.
NIV 21"Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Take note of the highway, the road that you take. Return, O Virgin Israel, return to your towns.
Just my little tidbytes, but not an answer by any means. In other words, another look.
Jer 31:22
How long will you go here and there, O faithless daughter?
For the LORD has created a new thing in the earth-
A woman will encompass a man.
Looking at the "woman will encompass a man" in particular here. Even in the context of the surrounding text, I can quite figure this one out. Anyone?
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