Jeremiah 3:20

20 However, as a woman may betray her lover,^[a] so you have betrayed Me, house of Israel. [This is] the Lord's declaration.

Jeremiah 3:20 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 3:20

Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband,
&c.] Or, "her friend" ^F9; who loves her, takes care of her, and provides for her, and goes after another man, and cohabits with him; which is a violation of the marriage covenant, and acting a base and treacherous part unto him to whom she is married so have you dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the
Lord;
who was their Father, friend, and husband; who loved them and distinguished them from all other people, by a variety of blessings and privileges; and yet they departed from his commandments and ordinances, and held the traditions of the elders, and taught for doctrines the commandments of men, and rejected the Messiah, and still continue in their disbelief of him, and hatred to him; and therefore it need not be wondered at that he should make any difficulty about their adoption and inheritance; and a marvellous thing it must be to take such persons, and put them openly among his children, and give them a right and meetness for the goodly inheritance.

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FOOTNOTES:

F9 (herm) "ab amico suo", Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator; "a socio suo", Cocceius.

Jeremiah 3:20 In-Context

18 In those days the house of Judah will join with the house of Israel, and they will come together from the land of the north to the land I have given your ancestors to inherit."

19 I thought: How I long to make you [My] sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of all the nations. I thought: You will call Me, my Father, and never turn away from Me.

20 However, as a woman may betray her lover, so you have betrayed Me, house of Israel. [This is] the Lord's declaration.

21 A sound is heard on the barren heights, the children of Israel weeping and begging for mercy, for they have perverted their way; they have forgotten the Lord their God.

22 Return, you faithless children. I will heal your unfaithfulness. "Here we are, coming to You, for You are the Lord our God.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit friend