Jeremiah 3 14

Jeremiah 3:14 kjv

Turn, 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:

Jeremiah 3:14 nkjv

"Return, O backsliding children," says the LORD; "for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.

Jeremiah 3:14 niv

"Return, faithless people," declares the LORD, "for I am your husband. I will choose you?one from a town and two from a clan?and bring you to Zion.

Jeremiah 3:14 esv

Return, O faithless children, declares the LORD; for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion.

Jeremiah 3:14 nlt

"Return home, you wayward children,"
says the LORD,
"for I am your master.
I will bring you back to the land of Israel ?
one from this town and two from that family ?
from wherever you are scattered.

Jeremiah 3 verses

Jeremiah 3 14 Meaning

Jeremiah 3:14 is a poignant divine summons for the spiritually unfaithful Israel to repent and return to the LORD. Despite their apostasy, God reaffirms His covenant relationship as their loving "husband," distinguishing Himself from false idols. The verse promises restoration, signifying that God will sovereignly gather a faithful, albeit small, remnant from among the widespread unfaithfulness and bring them back to Zion, the center of worship and His presence. It highlights God's unwavering faithfulness and mercy even in the face of human infidelity.

Jeremiah 3 14 Context

Jeremiah chapter 3 opens with a powerful indictment against Israel (specifically the northern kingdom and, by implication, Judah) for spiritual adultery and persistent unfaithfulness to their covenant with the LORD. The nation has acted like a promiscuous wife, seeking after false gods and violating the sacred marriage bond. Despite Judah witnessing the fall of Israel to Assyria due to similar sins, Judah has remained equally treacherous. This verse, Jeremiah 3:14, comes as an astonishing call amidst judgment and condemnation. It reveals God's tender mercy and His unwavering commitment to His covenant, even while His people are called "faithless." It foreshadows a future restoration for a remnant of His people, offering hope within the harsh reality of their spiritual decline and impending Babylonian judgment.

Jeremiah 3 14 Word analysis

• "Return," (שׁוּבוּ shuvu): This is a powerful imperative verb, a direct command. It signifies "turn back," "repent," or "revert." It demands a change in direction, a moral and spiritual turning away from sin and back towards God. It represents t'shuvah in Hebrew, encompassing regret for past actions and a resolve for a new path. This call emphasizes human responsibility in the repentance process.

• "faithless people," (מְשֻׁובָה בָנִים m'shuvah banim): Literally translated as "backsliding children" or "apostate sons." M'shuvah denotes a state of turning away or apostasy, indicating a deliberate and persistent drifting from the divine covenant. This title is highly significant as it directly contrasts with the desired "return" (shuvu). It underscores the deep spiritual brokenness and betrayal of Israel, labeling them as rebellious heirs.

• "declares the LORD," (נְאֻם יְהוָה n'um Yahweh): This is a standard prophetic formula used to introduce a divine oracle, asserting the authority and divine origin of the message. It stresses that this call is not merely Jeremiah's words but God's own direct address. Yahweh, the covenant name of God, highlights His personal relationship with Israel.

• "for I am your husband." (כִּי אָנֹכִי בַּעַל לָכֶם ki anochi ba'al lakhem): This is a crucial phrase carrying deep polemic and theological weight.

  • "for" (ki): Introduces the reason for the call to return—God's unchanging covenant relationship.
  • "I am" (anochi): An emphatic personal pronoun, "I myself," highlighting God's direct, singular identity.
  • "your husband" (ba'al lakhem): The term ba'al means "owner," "master," or "husband." In ancient Israelite society, a husband was the head of the household, having authority and providing protection. This metaphor portrays the LORD's relationship with Israel as a sacred marriage covenant (Exod 19). By referring to Himself as Ba'al, the LORD simultaneously asserts His rightful authority and faithful headship over Israel while also directly challenging and subverting the worship of the Canaanite false god, Baal, whom Israel frequently apostatized to. It is a powerful declaration that He alone is Israel's true and exclusive master and spouse. The spiritual harlotry of Israel was a breaking of this marriage vow.

• "I will choose you—": This highlights God's sovereign initiative and divine election. Despite their widespread unfaithfulness, God actively purposes to save and restore. It points to God's grace, as their restoration is not earned but initiated by His choice.

• "one from a town and two from a clan—": This precise numerical detail underscores the concept of a "remnant." It signifies that the apostasy is so widespread that only a tiny fraction—a select few out of a large population—will be brought back. This highlights the severity of judgment but also God's faithfulness in preserving a faithful core. It suggests that salvation is specific and personal, not necessarily a mass ingathering. It also sets boundaries on the scope of restoration—not everyone will return, but a chosen few.

• "and bring you to Zion.": This points to the physical and spiritual destination of restoration. Zion (Jerusalem) was the chosen place of God's dwelling, where the Temple stood. Bringing them to Zion signifies restoration to proper worship, renewed communion with God, and return to the land of promise. This also anticipates the ultimate restoration of God's people in the new heavens and new earth, with Zion representing the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb 12:22).

Jeremiah 3 14 Bonus section

• The tension in this verse between God's gracious call to "return" (an imperative for human action) and His sovereign promise "I will choose" and "I will bring" (divine initiative) underscores a vital theological dynamic. God invites, but He also acts definitively.
• The divine identity as "husband" is foundational to understanding God's relationship with His people throughout Scripture. Israel's spiritual harlotry (adultery) makes God a wronged husband, yet His consistent pursuit for reconciliation reveals an unfathomable steadfast love (hesed). This forms the backdrop for later prophetic laments (Ezek 16; Hos 1-3) and New Testament imagery of Christ and the Church (Eph 5).
• The concept of "Zion" in this verse extends beyond merely the physical city of Jerusalem. It encapsulates the theological center of God's covenant activity, His dwelling place, and the site of His universal kingdom to come. This partial restoration prefigures a grander future gathering under Christ's reign.

Jeremiah 3 14 Commentary

Jeremiah 3:14 unveils a profound theological truth about God's character: His persistent faithfulness and overflowing mercy endure despite human infidelity. Despite Israel's flagrant "faithlessness," acting as an adulterous spouse, God's astonishing response is not immediate, complete destruction, but a tender yet firm call to "return." He reasserts His identity as their rightful "husband," using the term Ba'al to both define His unique covenant ownership and to confront the very pagan idolatry Israel engaged in. This powerful declaration serves as both an invitation to repentance and a direct polemic against the false gods, positioning Yahweh as the sole and sovereign "Lord" and "Master."

This verse also introduces the critical concept of the "remnant." The phrase "one from a town and two from a clan" powerfully illustrates the extent of Israel's spiritual decay, indicating that only a very small, divinely chosen group will be restored. This remnant signifies God's preserving grace, ensuring that His covenant promises do not completely fail, even amidst widespread apostasy. Their return "to Zion" speaks of both a physical homecoming and a spiritual restoration to true worship and renewed fellowship with God at the heart of His divine presence. The verse beautifully balances human responsibility to repent with God's sovereign initiative in choosing and bringing His people back. It’s a message of enduring hope and God's unwavering commitment to His covenant, demonstrating His ability to bring restoration from the deepest brokenness.