And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.
Read it in contextIsrael and Judah's Treachery and God's Call to Repentance
Start reading at Jeremiah 3:1 (Jeremiah 3:1 to Jeremiah 3:25).
The discourse on Israel and Judah's unfaithfulness and God's call to repentance begins at the start of the chapter.
3:1They 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.
3:2Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.
3:3Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.
3:4Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?
3:5Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.
3:6The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.
3:7And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
3:8And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
3:9And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.
3:10And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.
3:11And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.
3:12Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.
3:13Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.
3:14Turn, 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:
3:15And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
3:16And 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.
3:17At 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.
3:18In 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.
3:19But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.
3:20Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.
3:21A 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.
3:22Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.
3:23Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.
3:24For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.
3:25We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Jeremiah son of Hilkiah is the prophet behind the book, with Baruch serving as his scribe. The complete collection includes narrative and a historical appendix as well as Jeremiah's dictated words. Biblical references: Jeremiah 1:1; Jeremiah 36:4; Jeremiah 36:32. stated in the text
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Jeremiah 2:1–6:30): Jeremiah addresses Jerusalem, Judah, and the house of Israel concerning covenant unfaithfulness and approaching judgment. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Judah and Jerusalem before and during the Babylonian crisis, exiles in Babylon, and later readers of the preserved prophetic collection. Individual oracles name additional recipients. Biblical references: Jeremiah 2:2; Jeremiah 29:1; Jeremiah 46:1. stated in the text
What
What is the main event or theme? The LORD declares that Judah's turning to Him was not with a whole heart, but feignedly, despite witnessing the consequences of Israel's similar treachery.
What is God revealing? God is revealing His knowledge of Judah's insincere repentance and hypocrisy, contrasting it with Israel's backsliding. He sees beyond outward actions to the true condition of the heart.
What is the literary style? This is a prophetic discourse, using the metaphor of marriage and harlotry to describe the covenant relationship and the unfaithfulness of Israel and Judah. It includes direct speech from the LORD.
When
When was it written? The book of Jeremiah was written approximately c. 626 to 580 B.C.
When does the event take place? The events described in this passage occurred during the days of Josiah the king, which falls within the broader period of c. 626 to 580 B.C.
Where
Where did it happen? The events described concern the lands of Judah and Israel.
Where was the author located? Jeremiah was located in Judah, and later in Egypt.
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Israel and Judah's Treachery and God's Call to Repentance (Jeremiah 3:1 to Jeremiah 3:25).
Start reading at Jeremiah 3:1. The discourse on Israel and Judah's unfaithfulness and God's call to repentance begins at the start of the chapter.
How
How does it fit the broader context? Jeremiah 3:10 concludes the LORD's assessment of Judah's response to Israel's judgment. Israel was 'put away' (divorced) for her idolatry (Jeremiah 3:8), yet Judah, seeing this, did not genuinely repent but only 'feignedly' turned to the LORD. This sets up the LORD's declaration in Jeremiah 3:11 that 'the backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah,' highlighting Judah's deeper hypocrisy. stated in the text
How does it point to Christ? The passage highlights God's desire for a wholehearted relationship with His people, a relationship broken by Israel and Judah's unfaithfulness. God's call for His people to return and His promise of future restoration (Jeremiah 3:14-18) find their ultimate fulfillment in the Messiah. Christ, as the promised Messiah, provides the means for genuine repentance and a new covenant, enabling true devotion to God that Judah lacked. He is the shepherd according to God's heart who gathers His people to Zion (Jeremiah 3:15). interpretation
How do I apply it today? This verse calls believers to examine their hearts and ensure that their repentance and turning to God are genuine and wholehearted, not merely outward or feigned. True faith involves sincere devotion and obedience, not just going through the motions or performing religious acts without a transformed heart. interpretation
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Jeremiah 3
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Jeremiah records words associated with his prophetic ministry and accounts surrounding Judah's fall. The book is not arranged as one continuous dated diary. Read each oracle's audience, occasion, and conditions rather than assigning every promise to every reader. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Oracles and enacted signs expose covenant unfaithfulness and the coming judgment, including the warning about Babylon.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. Oracles and enacted signs expose covenant unfaithfulness and the coming judgment, including the warning about Babylon.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Jeremiah
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Jeremiah records words associated with his prophetic ministry and accounts surrounding Judah's fall. The book is not arranged as one continuous dated diary. Read each oracle's audience, occasion, and conditions rather than assigning every promise to every reader.
Connection to the wholeNarratives and letters contrast competing claims about the LORD's word and address life under Babylonian power, including the exiles' situation.
Connection to the wholeWords of restoration appear amid announced judgment, including the new covenant promise; their wording and named audience must remain visible.
Connection to the wholeThe accounts follow conflicts around the prophetic word, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the choices of survivors, with a word to Baruch.
Connection to the wholeThe historical appendix recounts the disaster and closes with Jehoiachin's release, placing the preceding messages beside their historical aftermath.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.