Jeremiah 31:18

¶ I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus]; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed [to the yoke]: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou [art] the LORD my God.

I have surely {H8085} heard {H8085} Ephraim {H669} bemoaning {H5110} himself thus; Thou hast chastised {H3256} me, and I was chastised {H3256}, as a bullock {H5695} unaccustomed {H3808}{H3925} to the yoke: turn {H7725} thou me, and I shall be turned {H7725}; for thou art the LORD {H3068} my God {H430}.

"I hear Efrayim bemoaning himself: 'You disciplined me, and I took your discipline like a young ox not used to a yoke. Let me return, and I will return, for you are ADONAI, my God.

I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.

I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art Jehovah my God.

Jeremiah 31:18 presents a poignant lament from Ephraim, representing the Northern Kingdom of Israel, acknowledging God's corrective discipline and expressing a profound desire for true repentance and restoration. This verse is situated within Jeremiah's "Book of Consolation" (chapters 30-33), which looks beyond immediate judgment to a future of hope, restoration, and the establishment of a new covenant.

Context

Chapter 31 of Jeremiah is a beautiful prophecy focusing on the future restoration of both Israel (Ephraim) and Judah. While Judah faced impending Babylonian exile, the Northern Kingdom of Israel had already been scattered by Assyria centuries earlier. This passage offers a vision of their return to the land and to God, marked by genuine remorse and divine enablement. The lament of Ephraim here sets the stage for the glorious promise of the new covenant that immediately follows in Jeremiah 31:31-34.

Key Themes

  • Divine Discipline and Repentance: Ephraim acknowledges God's chastisement ("Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised"), recognizing it as a necessary, though painful, part of their spiritual journey. This discipline is not for destruction but for correction and restoration, much like a loving parent corrects a child.
  • Stubbornness and Submission: The vivid metaphor of a "bullock unaccustomed to the yoke" illustrates Israel's historical resistance to God's commands and discipline. Just as a young, untamed ox struggles against the harness, Israel fought against God's will. The lament signifies a breaking of this stubbornness and a readiness to submit.
  • Divine Initiative in Transformation: The plea "turn thou me, and I shall be turned" is central. It reveals a profound theological truth: true repentance and spiritual transformation are not solely human achievements but are ultimately enabled by God's grace. It acknowledges human inability to turn fully without divine intervention. Lamentations 5:21 echoes this sentiment.
  • Covenant Relationship: The declaration "for thou art the LORD my God" signifies a renewed commitment and recognition of God's rightful sovereignty and their covenant relationship with Him. It is a humble acknowledgment of dependence and belonging.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "chastised" (yasar) implies discipline for instruction, training, or correction, rather than mere punishment. It highlights God's pedagogical purpose in allowing suffering. The phrase "turn thou me, and I shall be turned" uses the Hebrew root shuv, which means both "to turn" and "to return." This wordplay beautifully conveys that God's act of turning (drawing, enabling) leads to humanity's turning (repenting, returning).

Practical Application

Jeremiah 31:18 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  1. Embrace God's Discipline: When facing difficulties or consequences for our actions, we should view them as God's loving discipline, intended to refine us and bring us closer to Him, as highlighted in Hebrews 12:6.
  2. Acknowledge Our Need for Grace: Just like the bullock, we often resist God's will. This verse reminds us that genuine repentance and spiritual change are not born of sheer willpower alone, but require God's empowering grace. We pray for God to "turn us."
  3. Hope in Restoration: No matter how far we may have strayed or how stubborn we have been, God is a God of restoration. He hears our lament and desires to bring us back into a right relationship with Him, just as He promised Ephraim.

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 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.

  • Psalms 80:3

    Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

  • Jeremiah 3:21

    A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping [and] supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, [and] they have forgotten the LORD their God.

  • Jeremiah 3:22

    Return, ye backsliding children, [and] I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou [art] the LORD our God.

  • Job 5:17

    ¶ Behold, happy [is] the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

  • Isaiah 9:13

    For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.

  • Jeremiah 50:4

    In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.

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