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Jeremiah 3:14-18

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

14. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 15. And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16. And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit [it]; neither shall [that] be done any more. 17. At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. 18. In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.

Jeremiah 3:14-18 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Jeremiah 3:14

Theological / Devotional

Children. Literally, “sons.” Like the father in Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, God would welcome these sons who were wandering in a far country.

Am married. Heb. ba‘al, “to take possession of a woman as bride or wife,” or, “to rule.” The LXX, adopting the second meaning, renders the clause, “I will rule over you.” Note the mixed metaphors in this verse. First Israel is compared with sons that have wandered away, then to a wife who has departed from her husband (see Jer. 31:32; cf. Isa. 54:5; Hosea 2:19, 20).

One of a city. The prophet contemplated the return of only a few. The truly penitent would constitute but a small remnant. Men would be dealt with as individuals.

Family. Heb. mishpachah, “a clan,” or “a subdivision of a tribe.” “Family” here denotes a major subdivision larger than a city, in fact, one that might include many cities. That two were to be taken from a “family,” whereas only “one” from a city, further supports the idea (see Gen. 10:5; 12:3; cf. 22:18). It should be noted that the word for “city” may denote a unit of any size, from a village to a large city.

By SdaBc