Jeremiah 3:1 - Forerunner Commentary

Jeremiah 3:1

Israel Is Shameless

1 “They say, ‘If a man divorces his wife,
And she goes from him
And becomes another man’s,
^aMay he return to her again?’
Would not that ^bland be greatly polluted?
But you have ^cplayed the harlot with many lovers;
^dYet return to Me,” says the Lord.

2 “Lift up your eyes to ^athe desolate heights and see:
Where have you not¹ lain with men?
^bBy the road you have sat for them
Like an Arabian in the wilderness;
^cAnd you have polluted the land
With your harlotries and your wickedness.

3 Therefore the ^ashowers have been withheld,
And there has been no latter rain.
You have had a ^bharlot’s forehead;
You refuse to be ashamed.

4 Will you not from this time cry to Me,
‘My Father, You are ^athe guide of ^bmy youth?

5 ^aWill He remain angry forever?
Will He keep it to the end?’
Behold, you have spoken and done evil things,
As you were able.”

A Call to Repentance

6 The Lord said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: “Have you seen what ^abacksliding Israel has done? She has ^bgone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot.

7 ^aAnd I said, after she had done all these things, ‘Return to Me.’ But she did not return. And her treacherous ^bsister Judah saw it.

8 Then I saw that ^afor all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had ^bput her away and given her a certificate of divorce; ^cyet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also.

9 So it came to pass, through her casual harlotry, that she ^adefiled the land and committed adultery with ^bstones and trees.

10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah has not turned to Me ^awith her whole heart, but in pretense,” says the Lord.

11 Then the Lord said to me, ^a“Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

12 Go and proclaim these words toward ^athe north, and say:
‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says the Lord;
‘I will not cause My anger to fall on you.
For I am ^bmerciful,’ says the Lord;
‘I will not remain angry forever.

13 ^aOnly acknowledge your iniquity,
That you have transgressed against the Lord your God,
And have ^bscattered your charms
To ^calien deities ^dunder every green tree,
And you have not obeyed My voice,’ says the Lord.

14 “Return, O backsliding children,” says the Lord; ^a“for I am married to you. I will take you, ^bone from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to ^cZion.

15 And I will give you ^ashepherds according to My heart, who will ^bfeed you with knowledge and understanding.

16 “Then it shall come to pass, when you are multiplied and ^aincreased in the land in those days,” says the Lord, “that they will say no more, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ ^bIt shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it, nor shall it be made anymore.

Verse Comparison: Jeremiah 3:1

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Jeremiah 3:2 >>

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

Amplified® Bible
THAT IS to say, If a man puts away his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man's, will he return to her again? [Of course not!] Would not that land [where such a thing happened] be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot [against Me] with many lovers--yet would you now return to Me? says the Lord [or do you even think to return to Me?]

Contemporary English Version
The LORD said to the people of Israel: If a divorced woman marries, can her first husband ever marry her again? No, because this would pollute the land. But you have more gods than a prostitute has lovers. Why should I take you back?

Darby English Version
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? Would not that land be utterly polluted? But thou hast committed fornication with many lovers; yet return to me, saith Jehovah.

Good News Bible
The LORD says, "If a man divorces his wife, and she leaves him and becomes another man's wife, he cannot take her back again. This would completely defile the land. But, Israel, you have had many lovers, and now you want to return to me!

King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
{God} says, "If a husband divorces his wife And she goes from him And belongs to another man, Will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted? But you are a harlot {with} many lovers; Yet you turn to Me, declares the LORD."

New International Version
"If a man divorces his wife
and she leaves him and marries another man,
should he return to her again?
Would not the land be completely defiled?
But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers—
would you now return to me?"
declares the LORD.

New King James Version
"They say, 'If a man divorces his wife,
And she goes from him
And becomes another man's,
May he return to her again?'
Would not that land be greatly polluted?
But you have played the harlot with many lovers;
Yet return to Me," says the LORD.

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
God says, "If a husband divorces his wife And she goes from him And belongs to another man, Will he still return to her? Will not that land become completely polluted? But you have acted like a harlot with many lovers; Yet you turn to Me," declares the LORD.

Revised Standard Version
"If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him and becomes another man's wife, will he return to her? Would not that land be greatly polluted? You have played the harlot with many lovers; and would you return to me? says the LORD.

Young's Literal Translation
Saying, `Lo, one sendeth away his wife, And she hath gone from him, And she hath been to another man, Doth he turn back unto her again? Greatly defiled is not that land? And thou hast committed whoredom with many lovers, And turn again to Me, an affirmation of Jehovah.

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Jeremiah 3:2 >>

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Israel Is Shameless

A Call to Repentance

A Verse and a Thought,Every Morning

A Verse and a Thought,
Every Morning