THE SECRET

The question posed:

What does the text at YirmeYahu 31:22 mean, “a woman encompasses a man”?

   The text we find at chapter 31:22 of YirmeYahu is part of the greater surrounding message contained in this amazing area of Scripture.

Jer/YirmeYahu 31:22,23:  “Till when would you turn here and there, O backsliding daughter? For Yahuah has created what is new on earth: a woman encompasses a man!”

Thus said Yahuah of hosts, the Elohim of Yisra’el, ‘Let them once again say this word in the land of Yahuḏah and in its cities, when I turn back their captivity,  ‘Yahuah bless you, O home of righteousness, mountain of set-apartness!’”

   What we are seeing throughout this entire chapter concerns the final process of restoration and redemption of both houses of Yisrael into one, united to Yahusha at His return when He ends the captivity of both Ephraim and Yahudah (the two houses).  The Natsarim are identified by name in verse 6, and the re-gathering is described as the chapter unfolds.  What is particularly fascinating about verse 22 is it hints at “the secret”, which is:  “Mashiach in you” (quoted below from Col. 1:27-29).  Yahusha circumcises our inner beings (our lamp, or heart) with a love for His Torah, so He dwells within us from that time forward  -  thus, a woman (that’s us, His bride Yisrael) truly does “encompass” a Man – our Redeemer Yahusha.  

The terms in the 6^th verse seem to be best identified this way:

Backsliding daughter:  Yisrael

A woman:  Yisrael

A Man:  Mashiach Yahusha

Encompasses:  restored to, embraces, reunited, joined together

   The next verse describes the outcome of this restoration, that being the ending of Yisrael’s captivity among the nations at the return of Yahusha, and the New Yerushalayim is the “home of righteousness”.  

   The “righteousness” would not be possible unless the relationship is restored through the Covenant, and for the renewal of the Covenant it is necessary for the “Man” to be inside the “woman”, living in her heart.  This is the mystery:  Mashiach in us.  Yahusha is the Mediator of the renewed Covenant with Yisrael, as we see explained:

1Ti 2:5  “For there is one Elohim,  and one Mediator between Elohim and men, the Man Messiah Yahusha."

The "secret" is the Spirit of Yahusha dwelling within us, as Shaul has illustrated here:

Col 1:27-29: “. . .  to whom Elohim desired to make known what are the riches of the esteem of this secret among the Gentiles: which is Messiah in you, the expectancy of esteem,

whom we announce, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, in order to present every man perfect in Messiah יהושע, for which I also labor, striving according to the working of Him Who works in me in power.

This agrees with hints we see at Eph. 3:17 & Gal. 4:19, and many other texts.

Please love one another,