King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
Complete Jewish Bible:
I saw that even though backsliding Isra'el had committed adultery, so that I had sent her away and given her a divorce document, unfaithful Y'hudah her sister was not moved to fear - instead she too went and prostituted herself.
Berean Standard Bible:
She saw that because faithless Israel had committed adultery, I gave her a certificate of divorce and sent her away. Yet that unfaithful sister Judah had no fear and prostituted herself as well.
American Standard Version:
And I saw, when, for this very cause that backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorcement, yet treacherous Judah her sister feared not; but she also went and played the harlot.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And I saw{H7200}, when for all the causes{H182} whereby backsliding{H4878} Israel{H3478} committed adultery{H5003} I had put her away{H7971}, and given{H5414} her a bill{H5612} of divorce{H3748}; yet her treacherous{H898} sister{H269} Judah{H3063} feared{H3372} not, but went{H3212} and played the harlot{H2181} also.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 24:1
- ¶ When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give [it] in her hand, and send her out of his house.
Hosea 4:15
- Though thou, Israel, play the harlot, [yet] let not Judah offend; and come not ye unto Gilgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven, nor swear, The LORD liveth.
Hosea 4:17
- Ephraim [is] joined to idols: let him alone.
2 Kings 18:9
- ¶ And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which [was] the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, [that] Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.
2 Kings 18:11
- And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor [by] the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:
Isaiah 50:1
- ¶ Thus saith the LORD, Where [is] the bill of your mother's divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors [is it] to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.
Hosea 3:4
- For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and [without] teraphim:
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Jeremiah 3:8
Jeremiah 3:8 is a verse that reflects the themes of apostasy, judgment, and unfaithfulness within the historical context of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The verse is part of the larger narrative of the prophet Jeremiah, who lived during the tumultuous period leading up to the fall of Judah and the Babylonian exile.
In this verse, God, speaking through the prophet Jeremiah, recounts how the northern kingdom of Israel had been unfaithful to Him, engaging in idolatry and spiritual "adultery" by worshiping other gods. As a result of these transgressions, God had "divorced" Israel—a metaphorical expression of the covenant relationship's dissolution—and allowed the Assyrians to conquer and exile them in 722 BCE.
The "treacherous sister Judah" refers to the southern kingdom, which witnessed the downfall of her northern sister. Despite this clear warning, Judah did not learn from Israel's mistakes but continued in her own idolatry and unfaithfulness. The term "played the harlot" is a strong indictment, symbolizing Judah's betrayal of her covenant relationship with God through the adoption of pagan practices and the rejection of God's laws and statutes.
This verse underscores the gravity of covenant unfaithfulness and the consequences that follow. It serves as a sobering reminder of the need for repentance and the perils of ignoring the lessons of history. Jeremiah's message was a call to return to the Lord, but it was largely met with resistance and further rebellion, ultimately leading to Judah's own exile in 586 BCE. The historical context of Jeremiah 3:8 is crucial for understanding the depth of the prophet's anguish and the urgency of his message to a people on the brink of disaster.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7200
There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָאָה
Transliteration: râʼâh
Pronunciation: raw-aw'
Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. - Strong's Number: H182
There are 93 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אוֹדוֹת
Transliteration: ʼôwdôwth
Pronunciation: o-doth'
Description: or (shortened) אֹדוֹת (only thus in the plural); from the same as אוּד; turnings (i.e. occasions); (adverb) on account of; (be-) cause, concerning, sake. - Strong's Number: H4878
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְשׁוּבָה
Transliteration: mᵉshûwbâh
Pronunciation: mesh-oo-baw'
Description: or מְשֻׁבָה; from שׁוּב; apostasy; backsliding, turning away. - Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel. - Strong's Number: H5003
There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָאַף
Transliteration: nâʼaph
Pronunciation: naw-af'
Description: a primitive root; to commit adultery; figuratively, to apostatize; adulterer(-ess), commit(-ing) adultery, woman that breaketh wedlock. - Strong's Number: H7971
There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלַח
Transliteration: shâlach
Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out). - Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H5612
There are 174 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סֵפֶר
Transliteration: çêpher
Pronunciation: say'-fer
Description: or (feminine) סִפְרָה; (Psalm 56:8 (אֲבֵדָה)), from סָפַר; properly, writing (the art or a document); by implication, a book; bill, book, evidence, [idiom] learn(-ed) (-ing), letter, register, scroll. - Strong's Number: H3748
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כְּרִיתוּת
Transliteration: kᵉrîythûwth
Pronunciation: ker-ee-thooth'
Description: from כָּרַת; a cutting (of the matrimonial bond), i.e. divorce; divorce(-ment). - Strong's Number: H898
There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּגַד
Transliteration: bâgad
Pronunciation: baw-gad'
Description: a primitive root; to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage; deal deceitfully (treacherously, unfaithfully), offend, transgress(-or), (depart), treacherous (dealer, -ly, man), unfaithful(-ly, man), [idiom] very. - Strong's Number: H269
There are 301 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָחוֹת
Transliteration: ʼâchôwth
Pronunciation: aw-khoth'
Description: irregular feminine of אָח; a sister (used very widely (like brother), literally and figuratively); (an-) other, sister, together. - Strong's Number: H3063
There are 754 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהוּדָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhûwdâh
Pronunciation: yeh-hoo-daw'
Description: from יָדָה; celebrated; Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory; Judah. - Strong's Number: H3372
There are 305 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָרֵא
Transliteration: yârêʼ
Pronunciation: yaw-ray'
Description: a primitive root; to fear; morally, to revere; caus. to frighten; affright, be (make) afraid, dread(-ful), (put in) fear(-ful, -fully, -ing), (be had in) reverence(-end), [idiom] see, terrible (act, -ness, thing). - Strong's Number: H3212
There are 938 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַךְ
Transliteration: yâlak
Pronunciation: yaw-lak'
Description: a primitive root (compare הָלַךְ); to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses); [idiom] again, away, bear, bring, carry (away), come (away), depart, flow, [phrase] follow(-ing), get (away, hence, him), (cause to, made) go (away, -ing, -ne, one's way, out), grow, lead (forth), let down, march, prosper, [phrase] pursue, cause to run, spread, take away (-journey), vanish, (cause to) walk(-ing), wax, [idiom] be weak. - Strong's Number: H2181
There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָנָה
Transliteration: zânâh
Pronunciation: zaw-naw'
Description: a primitive root (highly-fed and therefore wanton); to commit adultery (usually of the female, and less often of simple fornication, rarely of involuntary ravishment); figuratively, to commit idolatry (the Jewish people being regarded as the spouse of Jehovah); (cause to) commit fornication, [idiom] continually, [idiom] great, (be an, play the) harlot, (cause to be, play the) whore, (commit, fall to) whoredom, (cause to) go a-whoring, whorish.