Jeremiah 3 12

Jeremiah 3:12 kjv

Go 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.

Jeremiah 3:12 nkjv

Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: 'Return, backsliding Israel,' says the LORD; 'I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful,' says the LORD; 'I will not remain angry forever.

Jeremiah 3:12 niv

Go, proclaim this message toward the north: "?'Return, faithless Israel,' declares the LORD, 'I will frown on you no longer, for I am faithful,' declares the LORD, 'I will not be angry forever.

Jeremiah 3:12 esv

Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, "'Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever.

Jeremiah 3:12 nlt

Therefore, go and give this message to Israel. This is what the LORD says: "O Israel, my faithless people,
come home to me again,
for I am merciful.
I will not be angry with you forever.

Jeremiah 3 verses

Jeremiah 3 12 Meaning

Jeremiah 3:12 is a divine summons to backsliding Israel, specifically the northern kingdom, to return to the Lord. It proclaims God's compassionate nature, assuring them that His anger, provoked by their unfaithfulness, will not last perpetually. The verse highlights the foundational truth of God's character: His mercy and steadfast love (חסד - chesed) triumph over His temporal wrath, offering hope and a path to restoration to those who repent.

Jeremiah 3 12 Context

Jeremiah chapter 3 opens with a powerful indictment against both Israel (the northern kingdom, deported by Assyria) and Judah (the southern kingdom), emphasizing their unfaithfulness as a spiritual adultery against God. God declares that Israel's apostasy led to her divorce and exile (Jer 3:6-8), yet Judah, having witnessed this judgment, still refused to learn and committed even greater spiritual infidelity, demonstrating an intentional and shameless pursuit of idolatry (Jer 3:9-11). It is in this backdrop of profound unfaithfulness that Jeremiah 3:12 appears. This verse marks a shift, initiating a tender appeal to the exiled northern kingdom, "faithless Israel," to return. Despite their history of severe spiritual betrayal, God extends an invitation for repentance and promises not to hold His anger against them indefinitely. This is a message of hope and an invitation to restoration, contrasting starkly with their deserving judgment and highlighting God's enduring chesed (steadfast love).

Jeremiah 3 12 Word analysis

• Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: This is a direct command from God to Jeremiah. The geographical direction "toward the north" specifically refers to the territory of the former northern kingdom of Israel (often called Ephraim), which had been exiled by Assyria (722 BCE). This emphasizes that God's covenant mercy extended even to those who had been severely disciplined and dispersed. It implies God's persistent pursuit of His people, no matter how far they have strayed or been scattered. The phrase also suggests the vastness of God's redemptive intention, looking beyond just Judah to the entire remnant of His people.

• Return, faithless Israel:

  • Return (Shuvah - שׁוּבָה): An imperative verb, meaning "turn back," "repent," "restore." It's a foundational concept in the Hebrew Bible, signifying a turning away from sin and back towards God, both practically and relationally. This is the essence of repentance.
  • Faithless Israel (M'shuvah Yisrael - מְשֻׁבָה יִשְׂרָאֵל): M'shuvah translates as "backsliding," "apostasy," or "faithless one." The pairing creates a striking and poignant address: "Return, you who are constantly turning away." It underscores their chronic infidelity, yet still provides an open invitation. This phrase is almost an oxymoron, highlighting God's initiative in calling a profoundly rebellious people to true repentance. It identifies the recipients directly and frankly by their spiritual condition.

• Declares the LORD: (Ne'um YHWH - נְאֻם יְהוָה): This is a prophetic formula, emphasizing that the preceding and following words are direct utterances from God. It authenticates the message as divine and underscores the authority and certainty of the divine promises and commands. It removes any doubt about the origin of the compassionate plea.

• I will not look on you in anger:

  • Lo appil panai bakhem (לֹא אַפִּיל פָּנַי בָּכֶם): Literally, "I will not cause My face to fall on you." This idiomatic expression signifies the lifting or prevention of divine displeasure, wrath, or punishment. When God's face is turned away or "falls," it implies His judgment or abandonment (e.g., Ps 34:16; 69:17). Here, it is a promise of restoration of His benevolent countenance. This assurance is critical; without it, their return might be deemed futile due to past transgressions. It contrasts sharply with the judgment already enacted upon them.

• For I am merciful, declares the LORD:

  • For I am merciful (Ki Chassid Ani - כִּי חָסִיד אָנִי): Chassid (חָסִיד) relates to chesed (חֶסֶד), which denotes God's covenant loyalty, steadfast love, faithfulness, and enduring mercy. It is not merely pity, but a love that is unwavering and acts according to covenant promises, even when the human party has been unfaithful. God's mercy is rooted in His very being and covenant character. It is the core reason for His willingness to forgive and restore. This serves as the divine basis and guarantee for the previous promise, ensuring that His promise to not look upon them in anger is firmly grounded in His unchanging nature.
  • Declares the LORD (Ne'um YHWH - נְאֻם יְהוָה): Repetition of the prophetic formula here reinforces the divine oath and solemnity of the promise. It underscores the reliability and truthfulness of God's character-based assurance.

Jeremiah 3 12 Bonus section

• The message in Jer 3:12 challenges a common ancient Near Eastern pagan understanding of deities, which were often portrayed as capricious and unforgiving once offended. Jeremiah's God, YHWH, in contrast, is characterized by persistent hesed even towards a covenant-breaking people, highlighting His unique moral nature and commitment to restoration based on His character, not merely their worthiness.
• The phrase "I will not look on you in anger" is a potent anthropomorphism, implying God's disposition toward His people. It signifies the removal of judgment and the restoration of a relationship marked by favor and peace. This concept contrasts sharply with instances where God is depicted as having "turned His face away" due to sin.
• This verse can be understood as a direct divine intervention, as Israel was long exiled and might have believed themselves irredeemable. It offers a renewed divine initiative to mend the broken covenant relationship, foreshadowing broader prophecies of restoration for all Israel.

Jeremiah 3 12 Commentary

Jeremiah 3:12 encapsulates a profound theological truth about God's character: His wrath, though real and righteous, is subordinate to His enduring mercy and covenant steadfastness. The verse serves as an incredibly gracious invitation, spoken directly to "faithless Israel," who, by all accounts, had forfeited their covenant standing through egregious and persistent idolatry, leading to their historical dispersion. Despite this severe infidelity and subsequent judgment, God actively initiates a call for repentance and promises forgiveness. This demonstrates that His justice is tempered by His hesed, preventing His anger from being a permanent state towards a penitent people.

This call reveals a God who is not just distant or punitive but passionately longs for the restoration of His people. The "north" refers not just to a geographic direction but to the location of the exiled Northern Kingdom, symbolizing God's boundless compassion reaching even those most distant and deemed most faithless. The repeated "declares the LORD" emphasizes the divine certainty and authority of this promise, grounding it firmly in God's immutable nature. This foundational principle, that God's mercy overcomes His wrath, echoes throughout Scripture, finding its ultimate fulfillment in Christ's atonement, where divine wrath for sin was poured out on the substitute, opening the door for mercy and reconciliation for all who repent and believe. The verse ultimately paints a picture of hope and underscores the availability of grace for those who truly turn back to God, no matter their past.