


Jeremiah 3:7
Bible Versions
And I said after she had done all these [things], Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw [it].
I said that after she had done all these things, she would return to me; but she hasn't returned. Meanwhile, her unfaithful sister Y'hudah has been watching.
I thought that after she had done all these things, she would return to Me. But she did not return, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it.
And I said after she had done all these things, She will return unto me; but she returned not: and her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
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Ezekiel 16:46
And thine elder sister [is] Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, [is] Sodom and her daughters. -
Ezekiel 23:2
Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother: -
Ezekiel 23:4
And the names of them [were] Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus [were] their names; Samaria [is] Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah. -
Hosea 6:1
¶ Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. -
Hosea 6:4
¶ O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness [is] as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. -
2 Kings 17:13
Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, [and by] all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments [and] my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. -
2 Kings 17:14
Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
Jeremiah 3:7 delves into the painful reality of Israel's persistent unfaithfulness and God's compassionate, yet unheeded, call for their return. The prophet describes the Lord's plea to the Northern Kingdom of Israel (referred to as "she" or "backsliding Israel" throughout this chapter) to repent from their extensive idolatry and spiritual harlotry, which had become deeply ingrained in their national life.
Context
This verse is part of a larger prophetic message from Jeremiah, delivered during the late 7th century BC, primarily to the Southern Kingdom of Judah. It looks back at the historical trajectory of Israel, who had already been conquered and exiled by Assyria (around 722 BC) due to their severe and continuous sin against the Lord. Despite God's repeated warnings and His patience, Israel had consistently broken the covenant established at Mount Sinai, engaging in widespread worship of pagan deities like Baal and Asherah. Jeremiah highlights that even after Israel had committed "all these [things]" – a reference to their extreme spiritual infidelity – God still extended an invitation to "Turn thou unto me," demonstrating His profound mercy and desire for reconciliation.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word translated "treacherous" (often rendered "faithless" or "unfaithful" in other translations) is bagad (בָּגַד). This term signifies a deep betrayal, a breach of trust, or acting faithlessly against a covenant partner. When applied to Judah, it emphasizes that their actions were not merely negligent but a deliberate and profound violation of their sacred relationship with God, made worse by their awareness of Israel's fate.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 3:7 offers powerful lessons for believers today. It reminds us of God's incredible patience and His continuous call to turn from our own forms of spiritual compromise or "backsliding."
This verse underscores the call for genuine repentance and the importance of a heart that is truly responsive to the Lord's voice, seeking to honor Him in all areas of life, rather than engaging in spiritual treachery.