Jeremiah 3:19

But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.

But I said {H559}, How shall I put {H7896} thee among the children {H1121}, and give {H5414} thee a pleasant {H2532} land {H776}, a goodly {H6643} heritage {H5159} of the hosts {H6635} of nations {H1471}? and I said {H559}, Thou shalt call {H7121} me, My father {H1}; and shalt not turn away {H7725} from me {H310}.

"'"I thought that I would like to put you among the sons [with inheritance rights] and give you a pleasant land, the best heritage of all the nations. I thought that you would call me 'My father' and never stop following me.

Then I said, ‘How I long to make you My sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of all the nations!’ I thought you would call Me ‘Father’ and never turn away from following Me.

But I said, How I will put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of the nations! and I said, Ye shall call me My Father, and shall not turn away from following me.

Jeremiah 3:19 captures a poignant moment where God expresses both His lament over Israel's unfaithfulness and His profound desire for their restoration. Despite their spiritual adultery, God longs to bring His people back into a covenant relationship of intimacy and blessing, conditional on their genuine repentance and steadfast devotion.

Context

This verse is situated within a section of Jeremiah where God confronts Judah's persistent idolatry and unfaithfulness, comparing it to a promiscuous wife (Jeremiah 3:1-5). The northern kingdom of Israel (often referred to as 'backsliding Israel' in this chapter) had already been exiled for similar sins. God, through Jeremiah, calls both Judah and Israel to return to Him, offering forgiveness and restoration if they repent. Verse 19 specifically reveals God's heart: His initial question expresses the difficulty of restoring such a rebellious people to a place of honor and inheritance, yet He immediately provides the pathway—a renewed, intimate Father-child relationship.

Key Themes

  • God's Gracious Desire for Restoration: Even in the face of deep rebellion, God expresses a longing to "put thee among the children" and give them "a pleasant land, a goodly heritage." This highlights God's enduring love and His desire to restore His people to their rightful place of blessing and inheritance, symbolized by the promised land given to Israel.
  • The Condition of Intimacy and Dependence: The solution to God's dilemma is profound: "Thou shalt call me, My father." This is not merely a title but an invitation to a deep, personal, and dependent relationship. It signifies adoption, trust, and a complete turning away from idols to embrace God as the ultimate authority and source of life.
  • A Call to Enduring Faithfulness: The accompanying command, "and shalt not turn away from me," emphasizes the necessity of sustained loyalty and obedience. It's a call to genuine repentance that leads to consistent faithfulness, contrasting sharply with Israel's historical pattern of spiritual wandering. This echoes the call for Israel to return to the Lord with all their heart.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "father," 'ab (אָב), conveys not only paternity but also authority, provision, and deep intimacy. When God says, "Thou shalt call me, My father," it implies a shift from a formal, distant relationship to one of profound trust and dependence, akin to a child's reliance on a loving parent. The term "heritage" (nachalah, נַחֲלָה) refers to an inherited possession, often specifically the land of Canaan, emphasizing its significance as a divine gift and a symbol of covenant blessing.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 3:19 offers timeless truths for believers today. It reminds us that no matter how far we may have strayed, God's heart is always inclined towards restoration and reconciliation. The pathway back to Him is through humble repentance and by embracing Him as our Heavenly Father. This verse beautifully foreshadows the New Testament concept of spiritual adoption, where through Christ, believers are given the right to cry, "Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15). It challenges us to live in consistent faithfulness, not turning away from the God who desires such a close and loving relationship with us, and to cherish the spiritual inheritance we have in Him.

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.

  • Jeremiah 3:4

    Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou [art] the guide of my youth?

  • Jeremiah 31:9

    They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim [is] my firstborn.

  • Isaiah 63:16

    Doubtless thou [art] our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, [art] our father, our redeemer; thy name [is] from everlasting.

  • 1 John 3:1

    ¶ Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

  • 1 John 3:3

    And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

  • Jeremiah 32:39

    And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:

  • Jeremiah 32:40

    And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

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