Jeremiah 3:20

KJV

¶ Surely [as] a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.

KJV (with Strong's)

Surely {H403} as a wife {H802} treacherously {H898} departeth from her husband {H7453}, so have ye dealt treacherously {H898} with me, O house {H1004} of Israel {H3478}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But like a faithless woman who betrays her husband, you, house of Isra'el, have betrayed me," says ADONAI.'"

Berean Standard Bible

But as a woman may betray her husband, so you have betrayed Me, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD.

American Standard Version

Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 3:20 encapsulates the Lord's profound lament over the persistent spiritual unfaithfulness of the house of Israel, likening their betrayal to the treacherous departure of a wife from her husband. This verse serves as a poignant summary of God's indictment against His covenant people, highlighting the depth of their disloyalty and the personal pain it inflicted upon their divine Husband, who had faithfully upheld His end of the sacred covenant.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 3 forms a crucial part of God's extended plea for Judah and Israel to return to Him, following a period of severe spiritual apostasy. The preceding verses ([Jeremiah 3:1-11](/jeremiah/3-1-11 "Jeremiah 3:1-11 - Israel's Persistent Harlotry")) establish the metaphor of Israel as an unfaithful wife, guilty of spiritual harlotry by pursuing idolatry on every high hill and under every green tree. God highlights Judah's even greater guilt, having witnessed the Northern Kingdom of Israel's exile due to similar sins. [Jeremiah 3:12-18](/jeremiah/3-12-18 "Jeremiah 3:12-18 - God's Call to Return and Promise of Restoration") offers a glimmer of hope, inviting Israel to return and promising future restoration and unity under a righteous shepherd. Verse 20, however, sharply pivots back to the stark reality of their current treachery, serving as a powerful counterpoint to the invitation for repentance and underscoring the deep-seated nature of their rebellion before the promise of future grace. It sets the stage for the confession of sin that follows in [Jeremiah 3:21-25](/jeremiah/3-21-25 "Jeremiah 3:21-25 - Israel's Confession of Sin").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah prophesied during the tumultuous final decades of the Kingdom of Judah (late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE), leading up to the Babylonian exile. This period was marked by rampant idolatry, social injustice, and political instability, despite efforts at reform by kings like Josiah. The covenant between God and Israel, established at Sinai, was often understood in terms of a marriage contract in the ancient Near East, where a husband provided for and protected his wife, and the wife owed him exclusive loyalty. Israel's turning to foreign gods (Baal, Asherah, Molech) and alliances with pagan nations was seen as a direct violation of this covenant, akin to adultery. The "house of Israel" here refers broadly to the entire covenant people, encompassing both the Northern Kingdom (Israel/Ephraim), which had already been exiled by Assyria (722 BCE), and the Southern Kingdom (Judah), which was following a similar path of spiritual decline.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme is **Covenant Betrayal** and **Spiritual Adultery**. God had entered into a unique, intimate covenant relationship with Israel, often depicted as a marriage, where He was the faithful Husband and Israel His chosen bride (as seen in [Isaiah 54:5](/isaiah/54-5 "Isaiah 54:5 - God as Husband to Israel") and extensively in [Ezekiel 16](/ezekiel/16 "Ezekiel 16 - God's Love and Israel's Unfaithfulness")). Israel's pursuit of other gods was not merely a breach of law but a profound act of infidelity and treachery, deeply wounding the heart of God. This imagery underscores **God's Personal Grief and Lament**, revealing Him not as an aloof deity but as a loving, invested, and deeply pained Husband. Despite the severity of their sin, the broader context of [Jeremiah 3](/jeremiah/3 "Jeremiah 3 - Israel's Unfaithfulness and Call to Repentance") also highlights **Divine Patience and the Call to Repentance**, demonstrating God's enduring love and His desire for His unfaithful bride to return to Him, promising restoration if they would genuinely turn from their wicked ways (cf. [Jeremiah 3:12](/jeremiah/3-12 "Jeremiah 3:12 - God's Call to Return")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **treacherously (Hebrew, _bâgad'_):** This word (H898) is a primitive root meaning "to cover (with a garment); figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage." In moral and relational contexts, it signifies a profound breach of faith, to deal deceitfully, unfaithfully, or to betray a trust. Its repetition in the verse ("treacherously departeth" and "dealt treacherously") emphasizes the deliberate, repeated, and severe nature of Israel's disloyalty, indicating a willful violation of a sacred bond rather than an accidental transgression.
* **wife (Hebrew, _ʼishshâh'_):** This term (H802) refers to a woman; (adulter)ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Specifically in this context, it refers to a wife. Its use here anchors the powerful marital metaphor, highlighting the intimate and covenantal nature of the relationship God had established with Israel. Just as a wife is bound by vows of fidelity to her husband, Israel was bound to exclusive devotion to the LORD.
* **husband (Hebrew, _rêaʻ'_):** This word (H7453) denotes an associate (more or less close); brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover, neighbour, [idiom] (an-)other. By using this term, the text portrays God as the intimate partner, the one to whom Israel was bound in a covenant of love and fidelity. The betrayal is thus not just against a sovereign but against a deeply personal and loving companion.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Surely [as] a wife treacherously departeth from her husband":** This clause introduces a vivid simile, drawing on the well-understood cultural context of marriage and fidelity. The phrase "treacherously departeth" (using the Hebrew _bâgad_) emphasizes a deliberate, deceitful, and faithless act of abandonment. It paints a picture of a wife who, despite her vows and the provision of her husband, willfully breaks the marital bond through infidelity and desertion, causing deep personal pain and societal disgrace.
* **"so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel":** This is the direct application of the simile, indicting the entire nation of Israel. The repetition of "dealt treacherously" underscores that Israel's idolatry and disobedience were not mere errors but a conscious, repeated, and profound betrayal of their covenant relationship with the LORD. They had abandoned their divine Husband for other gods, just as an unfaithful wife abandons her spouse. The phrase "house of Israel" (Hebrew, _bayith Yisrâʼêl'_) signifies the collective identity of God's covenant people, emphasizing that the entire nation, as a corporate entity, had engaged in this widespread and systemic treachery against the LORD.
* **"saith the LORD":** This concluding phrase serves as an authoritative divine declaration. It authenticates the lament as coming directly from God Himself, emphasizing His personal involvement, His deep emotional pain, and His righteous judgment concerning Israel's unfaithfulness. It transforms the simile from a mere analogy into a direct, heartbroken accusation from the divine Bridegroom.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 3:20 is rich in literary devices that amplify its message of divine lament and human betrayal. The most prominent is **Simile**, which explicitly compares Israel's unfaithfulness to "a wife treacherously departeth from her husband." This comparison leverages the profound emotional and social implications of marital infidelity to convey the depth of Israel's spiritual apostasy. Closely related is **Personification**, where God is personified as a betrayed husband, experiencing the pain and grief of His bride's desertion, and Israel is personified as an unfaithful wife. This anthropomorphic portrayal makes God's relationship with His people relatable and His hurt palpable. The device of **Repetition** is powerfully employed with the word "treacherously" (Hebrew _bâgad_), appearing twice in quick succession. This repetition serves to underscore the deliberate, willful, and pervasive nature of Israel's unfaithfulness, emphasizing that their actions were not accidental but a conscious breach of trust and covenant. Finally, the verse functions as a **Lament**, expressing God's deep sorrow and disappointment over His people's actions, conveying a sense of heartbreak rather than mere legalistic accusation.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 3:20 profoundly articulates the covenantal nature of God's relationship with Israel, portraying it as a sacred marriage. This imagery reveals God's character as a faithful, loving, and deeply invested Husband who is grieved by the infidelity of His chosen bride. Israel's "treachery" highlights the gravity of sin against a personal God, demonstrating that disobedience is not just breaking a rule but betraying a relationship. The verse underscores the theme of divine pathos – God's capacity for deep emotion, including sorrow and disappointment, in response to human actions. It also implicitly sets the stage for the necessity of divine intervention and a new covenant, as the old one was repeatedly broken by human unfaithfulness.

* [Hosea 1:2](/hosea/1-2 "Hosea 1:2 - God's Command to Hosea to Marry an Unfaithful Woman")
* [Ezekiel 16:32](/ezekiel/16-32 "Ezekiel 16:32 - Israel's Adultery Worse Than a Harlot")
* [Isaiah 54:5](/isaiah/54-5 "God as Husband to Israel")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 3:20 serves as a stark mirror for believers today, prompting us to examine the nature of our own relationship with God. Just as ancient Israel was prone to spiritual infidelity by pursuing idols, we too can allow other loyalties, desires, or pursuits to subtly displace our primary devotion to the Lord. Whether it's the pursuit of wealth, status, comfort, or even self-righteousness, anything that takes precedence over an exclusive and loving relationship with God can become a form of spiritual treachery. This verse challenges us to consider where our true allegiance lies and to repent of any areas where we have "dealt treacherously" with God. It reminds us that God desires not just outward obedience, but a heart wholly devoted to Him, reflecting the faithfulness He has consistently shown us. Understanding God's grief over our unfaithfulness should motivate us to deeper repentance and a renewed commitment to living lives of integrity and singular devotion to Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, like the "house of Israel," be dealing "treacherously" with God in my daily life, perhaps unknowingly?**
* **What "idols" (whether material, relational, or ideological) might be competing for my ultimate loyalty and affection, diverting my heart from God?**
* **How does understanding God's personal grief over unfaithfulness deepen my understanding of sin and motivate me towards genuine repentance?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate a more faithful and devoted relationship with God, reflecting His steadfast love for me?**

### FAQ
**Why does God use such a strong metaphor as an unfaithful wife for Israel?**

Answer: The marriage metaphor is used throughout the Old Testament (e.g., [Hosea 1-3](/hosea/1 "Hosea 1-3 - Hosea's Marriage as a Parable of Israel's Unfaithfulness"), [Ezekiel 16](/ezekiel/16 "Ezekiel 16 - God's Love and Israel's Unfaithfulness")) because it powerfully conveys the intimate, covenantal, and exclusive nature of God's relationship with Israel. Just as a marriage requires exclusive fidelity and deep trust, God expected Israel's singular devotion. Therefore, their turning to other gods was not just a legal infraction but a profound act of betrayal and infidelity, causing immense pain to the divine "Husband." It emphasizes the personal and emotional dimension of their sin against God.

**Does this verse apply to individual believers today, or only to the nation of Israel?**

Answer: While Jeremiah 3:20 was originally addressed to the corporate "house of Israel," its underlying principles of covenant faithfulness and the gravity of spiritual infidelity are profoundly applicable to individual believers today. Christians are part of the new covenant, where the Church is often depicted as the [Bride of Christ](/ephesians/5-25 "Ephesians 5:25 - Christ's Love for the Church, His Bride"). Therefore, any act or attitude that compromises our singular devotion to Christ—whether it's idolatry of possessions, self, or worldly approval—can be seen as a form of spiritual unfaithfulness. The verse calls us to examine our hearts and ensure our primary loyalty remains with God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 3:20, with its lament over Israel's treachery, finds its ultimate resolution and fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Israel, as God's unfaithful bride, repeatedly broke the old covenant, demonstrating humanity's inherent inability to maintain perfect fidelity. However, Jesus, as the true and faithful Israelite, perfectly embodied covenant faithfulness, living a life of complete obedience to the Father. He is the faithful Bridegroom who does not abandon His unfaithful people but, instead, comes to redeem them. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Christ bore the consequences of humanity's "treachery" and established a new covenant, not based on human performance, but on His perfect faithfulness and grace ([Hebrews 8:6-13](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6-13 - The Superiority of the New Covenant")). In Christ, a new "house of Israel" – the Church – is formed, purified and made holy, awaiting the ultimate consummation of the divine marriage at the [marriage supper of the Lamb](/revelation/19-7 "Revelation 19:7 - The Marriage Supper of the Lamb"). Thus, what was a lament of betrayal in Jeremiah becomes a testament to God's unwavering love and redemptive power, fully realized in the person and work of Jesus, who makes it possible for His people to be truly faithful through His Spirit, transforming unfaithful brides into a [glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle](/ephesians/5-27 "Ephesians 5:27 - Christ's Purpose for His Church").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Isaiah 48:8

Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time [that] thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.

Jeremiah 5:11

For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD.

Hosea 5:7

They have dealt treacherously against the LORD: for they have begotten strange children: now shall a month devour them with their portions.

Jeremiah 3:1

¶ They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 3:2

Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.

Jeremiah 3:8

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.

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.