Jeremiah 31:20

KJV

[Is] Ephraim my dear son? [is he] a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

KJV (with Strong's)

Is Ephraim {H669} my dear {H3357} son {H1121}? is he a pleasant {H8191} child {H3206}? for since {H1767} I spake {H1696} against him, I do earnestly {H2142} remember {H2142} him still: therefore my bowels {H4578} are troubled {H1993} for him; I will surely {H7355} have mercy {H7355} upon him, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}.

Complete Jewish Bible

"Isn't Efrayim my very dear son, a child who delights me so? I speak about him all the time, I can't help but recall him to mind. In sum, I deeply yearn for him; I will surely show him favor," says ADONAI.

Berean Standard Bible

Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the LORD.

American Standard Version

Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a darling child? for as often as I speak against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my heart yearneth for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith Jehovah.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 31:20 profoundly reveals God's deep, parental compassion and enduring affection for Ephraim, representing the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Despite their historical rebellion and the subsequent divine judgment, the Lord declares an overwhelming, visceral remembrance of His people. This tender declaration, embedded within prophecies of restoration, unveils God's heart of mercy, demonstrating that His discipline is not an act of abandonment but a painful yet loving expression of His desire for reconciliation and the ultimate outpouring of His steadfast grace.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 31:20 is strategically placed within the "Book of Comfort" (Jeremiah 30-33), a pivotal section of Jeremiah's prophecy that dramatically shifts from pronouncements of judgment to vibrant promises of future restoration for both the Northern Kingdom (Israel/Ephraim) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah). Preceding this verse, the prophet details God's unwavering intention to rebuild and replant Israel, drawing them back to their land with weeping and supplication, emphasizing His eternal love (as seen in [Jeremiah 31:1-9](/jeremiah/31-1-9 "Jeremiah 31:1-9 - God's Promise to Restore Israel")). The immediate preceding verses, particularly [Jeremiah 31:18-19](/jeremiah/31-18-19 "Jeremiah 31:18-19 - Ephraim's Repentance and God's Response"), depict Ephraim's genuine repentance and lament, paving the way for God's tender, emotional response in verse 20. This verse serves as the divine emotional anchor for the broader promises of a new covenant and a renewed relationship, highlighting the deep, personal motivation behind God's redemptive plan for His people.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Ephraim was the most prominent and influential tribe of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, often used as a metonym for the entire nation after its split from Judah following Solomon's reign. By Jeremiah's time (late 7th to early 6th century BCE), the Northern Kingdom had been decisively conquered by Assyria in 722 BCE, and its people exiled and dispersed (a historical event detailed in [2 Kings 17](/2_kings/17 "2 Kings 17 - The Fall of Israel")). Thus, God's declaration "since I spake against him" refers to the long history of divine prophetic warnings and the subsequent judgment enacted through the Assyrian conquest, which was a direct consequence of Israel's persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. The cultural understanding of "bowels" (Hebrew: *mêʻeh*) as the literal and figurative seat of deep emotion—particularly compassion, pity, and tender affection—is crucial for grasping the verse's profound impact. This anthropomorphic language would have resonated deeply with an ancient audience, conveying a visceral, gut-wrenching feeling akin to a parent's anguish over a beloved, wayward child.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes central to Jeremiah's prophecy and broader biblical theology. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Compassion and Parental Love**. God's rhetorical questions about Ephraim being His "dear son" and "pleasant child" are not expressions of doubt but of profound, yearning affection, portraying God as a loving, heartbroken parent whose "bowels are troubled" by His child's suffering and separation. This leads directly to the theme of **Unwavering Remembrance and Covenant Faithfulness**; despite having "spoken against" Ephraim through judgment, God declares, "I do earnestly remember him still," underscoring His enduring commitment to His chosen people, even in their unfaithfulness and dispersion. Finally, the verse culminates in the theme of **Mercy and Restoration**, promising, "I will surely have mercy upon him," which is the ultimate expression of God's character and the driving force behind the promised new covenant described later in [Jeremiah 31:31-34](/jeremiah/31-31-34 "Jeremiah 31:31-34 - The New Covenant"). This promise of mercy is the divine response to Ephraim's repentance, signifying God's readiness to restore a broken relationship.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Ephraim (Hebrew, _ʼEphrayim'_):** From a root meaning "double fruit," Ephraim was a son of Joseph and later the name of the most dominant tribe in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. In this context, "Ephraim" serves as a symbolic and metonymic representation of the entire Northern Kingdom, which had long since been exiled by Assyria. God's addressing Ephraim directly underscores a personal, familial relationship, despite the nation's apostasy and subsequent judgment. It highlights God's enduring recognition of His covenant people, even in their dispersed and seemingly forgotten state.
* **remember (Hebrew, _zâkar'_):** This word signifies far more than mere cognitive recall; it implies active, intentional recollection that leads to decisive action. When God "remembers," it means He is profoundly mindful of His covenant, His promises, and His relationship, and this remembrance compels Him to act on behalf of the one remembered. The doubling of the verb ("do earnestly remember him still") intensifies this meaning, suggesting a deep, persistent, and active mindfulness that transcends any past judgment or separation, leading to an irresistible urge to restore.
* **bowels (Hebrew, _mêʻeh'_):** Literally referring to the intestines or inner parts of the body, this term is used figuratively in ancient Hebrew thought as the seat of deep, visceral emotions, particularly profound compassion, pity, and tender affection. When God declares, "my bowels are troubled for him," it conveys an anthropomorphic expression of profound, gut-wrenching emotion—a deep longing, sorrow, and fervent love that moves Him to an irresistible urge to show mercy. It is a powerful image of divine empathy and parental anguish, revealing a God who is deeply affected by the suffering of His people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child?":** These are profound rhetorical questions, not indicative of doubt, but rather of God's deep, unchanging love and tender regard. They express a yearning affection, affirming God's intimate, parental relationship with Ephraim despite their rebellion. The imagery of a "dear son" and "pleasant child" vividly portrays God's relationship with Israel as that of a loving, concerned parent whose heart is deeply invested in His offspring.
* **"for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still:":** This clause reveals the profound tension between God's justice and His enduring mercy. "Spake against him" refers to the divine pronouncements of judgment and the subsequent exile due to Israel's idolatry and disobedience. Yet, even in the midst of or after this severe judgment, God's remembrance of Ephraim is unwavering and intensely active ("earnestly remember him still"). This highlights God's covenant faithfulness and His inherent inability to forget His chosen people, even when they have forgotten Him.
* **"therefore my bowels are troubled for him;":** This is the emotional core of the verse, expressing the profound depth of God's feeling. "Bowels" (as detailed in Key Word Analysis) signifies deep, visceral compassion and pity. God's "troubled" state indicates a profound, internal anguish and longing for Ephraim, akin to a parent's heartache over a wayward child. This powerful anthropomorphism reveals the depth of God's emotional investment and His sorrow over their separation, driving Him to action.
* **"I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.":** This is the definitive divine declaration and the culmination of God's internal struggle and profound love. The "therefore" links God's troubled heart directly to His promise of action. The doubling of the verb "have mercy" ("surely have mercy") emphasizes the certainty, intensity, and unwavering nature of this promise. It underscores that God's ultimate desire is not condemnation but reconciliation and restoration, driven by His inherent character of love and boundless mercy.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 31:20 is exceptionally rich with literary devices that amplify its emotional and theological impact, conveying the depth of God's heart. The verse opens with **Rhetorical Questions** ("Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child?"), which are not posed to elicit information but to affirm God's deep, unwavering affection and parental bond with Ephraim. This immediately establishes a powerful **Metaphor** of God as a loving parent and Israel as His beloved child, emphasizing the intimate, familial nature of their relationship. The phrase "my bowels are troubled for him" is a vivid and poignant example of **Anthropomorphism**, attributing human internal organs and their associated visceral emotions (profound compassion, anguish, longing) to God. This device makes God's profound emotional state relatable and underscores the depth of His pity and yearning for His people. Furthermore, the repetition of the root for "remember" and "have mercy" ("I do earnestly remember him still," "I will surely have mercy upon him") employs **Intensification** or **Emphasis**, highlighting the certainty, persistence, and fervent nature of God's resolve to act mercifully.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 31:20 stands as a profound theological statement on the very character of God, revealing His enduring compassion and steadfast love even in the face of human rebellion and divine judgment. It unequivocally underscores that God's discipline is not an act of abandonment or a sign of revoked love, but rather a painful yet necessary expression of His parental love, designed to bring about repentance and ultimate restoration. The "troubled bowels" of the Lord vividly portray a God who suffers with His people, whose heart aches for their return, and whose ultimate inclination is toward boundless mercy rather than condemnation. This verse serves as a powerful testament to God's covenant faithfulness, demonstrating that His promises and His love are irrevocable, even when His people stray. It assures us that God's remembrance of His own is active, intentional, and always leads to redemptive action.

* [Hosea 11:8](/hosea/11-8 "Hosea 11:8 - God's Reluctance to Destroy Israel")
* [Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22-23 "Lamentations 3:22-23 - The Lord's Mercies Never Cease")
* [Isaiah 49:15](/isaiah/49-15 "Isaiah 49:15 - A Mother's Unforgettable Love")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 31:20 offers immense comfort and profound insight into the very heart of God, providing a powerful antidote to any misconception that God's discipline signifies His withdrawal of love. It reminds us that even when we experience the consequences of our choices, or when God, in His sovereign wisdom, allows difficult circumstances to enter our lives, His underlying love and compassion remain fiercely intact. This verse calls us to trust implicitly in God's enduring mercy, even when our circumstances feel like judgment or abandonment. It profoundly encourages those who feel far from God, perhaps due to past failings, a sense of unworthiness, or the weight of their own sin, to remember that God's heart yearns for their return. His promise of mercy is steadfast and sure, a divine gravitational pull towards reconciliation. Just as God earnestly remembered Ephraim, He remembers all His children, longing for their genuine repentance and ready to extend His boundless grace, inviting us into a renewed and intimate relationship with Him, marked by His unwavering love.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the imagery of God's "troubled bowels" deepen your understanding of divine compassion and empathy?**
* **In what ways have you experienced God's discipline in your life, and how can this verse help you understand it as an act of love rather than rejection?**
* **If you currently feel like "Ephraim"—having strayed, experienced the consequences of your actions, or feel distant from God—what specific hope does this verse offer you today?**
* **How does God's "earnest remembrance" of Ephraim encourage you about His faithfulness to His promises in your own life, even when you feel forgotten?**

### FAQ
**What does "Ephraim" signify in this verse?**

Answer: In Jeremiah 31:20, "Ephraim" serves as a symbolic and metonymic representation of the entire Northern Kingdom of Israel. Ephraim was the most prominent and influential tribe in the north, and its name often stood for the whole nation after its split from Judah following Solomon's reign. By Jeremiah's time, the Northern Kingdom had been decisively conquered and its people exiled by Assyria centuries earlier (as recounted in [2 Kings 17:6](/2_kings/17-6 "2 Kings 17:6 - Assyrian Captivity of Israel")). Therefore, God's tender words to "Ephraim" signify His enduring love and concern for all the dispersed tribes of Israel, promising their future restoration and demonstrating that His covenant promises extend beyond immediate judgment.

**What does "my bowels are troubled for him" mean in a theological sense?**

Answer: The phrase "my bowels are troubled for him" is a powerful anthropomorphism, attributing human internal organs and their associated emotions to God. In ancient Hebrew thought, the "bowels" (Hebrew: *mêʻeh*) were considered the literal and figurative seat of deep, visceral emotions, especially profound compassion, pity, and tender affection. Theologically, this means that God's love for Ephraim (and by extension, for His people) is not merely an intellectual decision or a detached decree, but a deep, gut-wrenching, and intensely emotional longing. It conveys a profound sense of divine anguish and sorrow over their separation and suffering, which compels Him to act in mercy and bring about their restoration, much like a parent's overwhelming empathy for a suffering child. This reveals a God who is deeply relational, emotionally invested in His creation, and whose very being is inclined towards mercy and restoration.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 31:20, with its profound portrayal of God's visceral compassion and unwavering mercy for a wayward people, finds its ultimate and most glorious fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The Lord's "troubled bowels" for Ephraim foreshadow the very heart of God made manifest in the Incarnation, where God Himself, in the person of Jesus, entered into human suffering and sin to redeem His beloved. Jesus, the true "dear son" and "pleasant child" of God, perfectly embodies this divine compassion, weeping over Jerusalem ([Luke 19:41-44](/luke/19-41-44 "Luke 19:41-44 - Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem")) and demonstrating boundless mercy to sinners, the sick, and the outcast. His parables, such as the Prodigal Son ([Luke 15:11-32](/luke/15-11-32 "Luke 15:11-32 - The Parable of the Prodigal Son")), perfectly illustrate the Father's yearning heart for His lost children, eager to embrace them upon their return. The "sure mercy" promised to Ephraim is extended to all humanity through Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross, establishing the New Covenant foretold in [Jeremiah 31:31](/jeremiah/31-31 "Jeremiah 31:31 - The New Covenant"), where sins are remembered no more and a new, intimate relationship with God is forged through His blood ([Hebrews 8:8-12](/hebrews/8-8-12 "Hebrews 8:8-12 - The Superiority of the New Covenant")). In Christ, God's longing for reconciliation is fully realized, and His mercy, once promised to a specific nation, is now offered to everyone who believes, making them His "dear sons" and "pleasant children" by adoption through the Spirit ([Galatians 4:4-7](/galatians/4-4-7 "Galatians 4:4-7 - Adoption as Sons")).

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 55:7

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Micah 7:18

Who [is] a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth [in] mercy.

Micah 7:19

He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Lamentations 3:31

For the Lord will not cast off for ever:

Lamentations 3:32

But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

Isaiah 63:15

¶ Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where [is] thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?

Psalms 103:13

Like as a father pitieth [his] children, [so] the LORD pitieth them that fear him.