Jeremiah 3:10

And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.

And yet for all this her treacherous {H901} sister {H269} Judah {H3063} hath not turned {H7725} unto me with her whole heart {H3820}, but feignedly {H8267}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}.

Yet in spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Y'hudah has not returned to me wholeheartedly; she only makes a pretense of it," said ADONAI.

Yet in spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the LORD.

And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not returned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith Jehovah.

Context

Jeremiah 3:10 falls within a section of Jeremiah's prophecy where the prophet, speaking for the LORD, laments the spiritual condition of both the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. In the preceding verses (Jeremiah 3:6-8), God recounts how "backsliding Israel" (the ten northern tribes) had committed spiritual adultery by worshipping idols and was consequently divorced and sent away into Assyrian captivity. Despite witnessing this severe judgment, Judah, referred to here as "her treacherous sister," failed to learn from Israel's mistakes. This verse specifically highlights Judah's even greater culpability, as her apparent turning to God was not genuine but superficial.

Key Themes

  • Hypocrisy and Insincerity: The primary message of this verse is Judah's profound lack of sincerity. Despite outward displays or temporary reforms, their hearts remained far from God. This "feigned" (or false) turning was a deep offense to the LORD, who desires truth in the inward parts.
  • Divine Disappointment and Grief: The phrase "saith the LORD" underscores the divine perspective and the deep disappointment God felt. He had patiently called His people to repentance, but their response was a superficial show, not a heartfelt return to covenant faithfulness.
  • The Nature of True Repentance: By contrasting Judah's feigned turning with what God truly desires ("with her whole heart"), the verse implicitly defines genuine repentance. It's not merely a cessation of outward sin or a performance of religious rituals, but a complete transformation of one's inner being and affections, as seen in Joel 2:13.
  • Warning from History: Judah's failure to heed the warning of Israel's judgment serves as a powerful cautionary tale. They saw the consequences of unfaithfulness in their "sister" but chose to repeat the same errors, albeit with a deceptive outward appearance.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "but feignedly" translates the Hebrew word bišeqer (בְּשֶׁקֶר), which literally means "in/with a lie" or "falsely." This emphasizes the deceptive nature of Judah's actions. Their repentance was not only incomplete but was built upon a foundation of falsehood. The contrast is stark: God desired a turning "with her whole heart" (bəḵol-libbāh, בְּכָל־לִבָּהּ), signifying complete devotion and sincerity, yet received only a lie.

Cross-References & Internal Links

  • This verse builds on the imagery of unfaithful wives/sisters from Jeremiah 3:8, highlighting Judah's failure to learn from Israel's judgment.
  • The concept of a "whole heart" is paramount throughout scripture when describing genuine faith and obedience. Compare this verse with the call for a new heart in Ezekiel 36:26 and the importance of sincerity in Psalm 51:6.
  • Jesus later condemned similar outward religious performance without inner sincerity in Matthew 15:8, echoing the prophetic call for true heart-repentance.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 3:10 serves as a timeless warning against hypocrisy in faith. It challenges believers today to examine the authenticity of their commitment to God. Do our actions, prayers, and worship stem from a genuine, "whole heart" devotion, or are they merely outward shows performed "feignedly" for appearance or self-interest?

This verse reminds us that God is not fooled by superficial religiosity. He desires a deep, intimate, and sincere relationship rooted in truth. True turning to God involves a complete surrender of the heart, not just a modification of behavior. It encourages us to pursue a faith that is integrated and consistent, both in public and in private, seeking to please God alone.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Hosea 7:14

    And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, [and] they rebel against me.

  • Jeremiah 12:2

    Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou [art] near in their mouth, and far from their reins.

  • Isaiah 10:6

    I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

  • Psalms 18:44

    As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.

  • 2 Chronicles 34:33

    And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that [pertained] to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, [even] to serve the LORD their God. [And] all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.

  • 2 Chronicles 35:18

    And there was no passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet; neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests, and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel that were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

  • Psalms 66:3

    Say unto God, How terrible [art thou in] thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back