Jeremiah 3 Study Notes

3:14 God offered his faithless children the chance to return to Zion despite their stubborn refusal to follow the Lord.

3:15 The shepherds mentioned here do not refer to political rulers but to the spiritual leaders or pastors (Jeremiah himself was counted as such in 17:16).

3:16 The future messianic era is signaled by the introductory phrase in those days (see also “in time to come,” 30:24; “the days are coming,” 31:27,31,38; and “after those days,” 31:33). Israel and Judah would multiply and increase in the land in this messianic era. The ark of the covenant, the most central and precious symbol at the heart of Israel’s worship, will not even be remembered then because something more significant will take its place.

Shuv means turn (Jos 19:12), turn back (Ex 14:2), or return (Gn 3:19). Anger subsides or turns away (Gn 27:44-45). Water recedes (Gn 8:3); messages are revoked (Is 45:23), promises abandoned (Ps 132:11). Shuv is change (Lv 13:16), resume (Jos 4:18), reappear (Lv 14:43), or retire (Nm 8:25). “Returning to your heart” is keeping in mind or coming to one’s senses (Dt 4:39; 30:1). Shuv denotes repent (Ps 7:12) or reconsider (Jb 6:29). It accompanies other verbs to show repeated action (Zch 5:1). Causative verbs signify bring (take, drive, let go, pull, put) back (Gn 14:16), restore (Gn 40:13), repay (Gn 50:15), pay (Ex 21:34), or avert (Ezr 10:14). One takes vengeance (Dt 32:43) and stops (Jb 9:12) or rejects (Ps 132:10) another. “Returning words” is answering (Jdg 5:29). Intensive verbs indicate turn back, return, turn around/away (Ezk 38:4; Jr 8:5), lead astray (Is 47:10), restore, and renew (Ps 23:3).

3:17 At that time Jerusalem will be called the Lord’s Throne, replacing the ark of the covenant as the symbol of his presence (Lv 16:2,13; Ps 80:1). The result will be that all the nations will be gathered to Jerusalem, and they will cease to follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.

3:18 The return to Zion is predicted again. But it does not seem to be return from exile. This will be a time when Israel and Judah are reunited as one in the land God had promised to his people.

3:19 The land of promise is called a desirable land, or literally “pleasant land” (Ps 106:24; Zch 7:14). The divine pathos of I thought, “You will call me ‘My Father’ and never turn away from me” is heartbreaking. Having been rejected as Israel’s husband, God was now rejected by the people of Judah as their Father.

3:20 The verb for betray (bagad) can also mean “deal treacherously with.” See Jr 5:11.

3:21-22 The entire nation will be moved to repentance. In response to such genuine confession of their sin, the Lord will heal their apostasy and rebellion.

3:23 The falsehood and commotion of orgiastic religious practices that were carried out on bare hilltops could earn no one salvation, for the salvation of Israel is only in the Lord.

3:24-25 Baal is designated by the derisive term often used for him: the shameful one (Hb bosheth, as found in names like Ish-bosheth, also known as Esh-baal; 2Sm 2:8; 1Ch 8:33).