Jeremiah 3 22

Jeremiah 3:22 kjv

Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.

Jeremiah 3:22 nkjv

"Return, you backsliding children, And I will heal your backslidings." "Indeed we do come to You, For You are the LORD our God.

Jeremiah 3:22 niv

"Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding." "Yes, we will come to you, for you are the LORD our God.

Jeremiah 3:22 esv

"Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your faithlessness." "Behold, we come to you, for you are the LORD our God.

Jeremiah 3:22 nlt

"My wayward children," says the LORD,
"come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts."
"Yes, we're coming," the people reply,
"for you are the LORD our God.

Jeremiah 3 verses

Jeremiah 3 22 Meaning

Jeremiah 3:22 presents a poignant call from God to the unfaithful people of Israel (referred to as "backsliding children" or "faithless people") to return to Him, coupled with a divine promise to heal their spiritual malady of backsliding. The verse then immediately transitions to the people's repentant response, affirming their intention to come to the LORD because they recognize Him as their one true God. It encapsulates divine grace, a call to repentance, and a faithful human response.

Jeremiah 3 22 Context

Jeremiah chapter 3 opens with a severe indictment of Israel and Judah for their spiritual adultery and blatant unfaithfulness to the covenant with God. God expresses His grief over their prostitution with idols and foreign powers, contrasting their behavior with a hypothetical situation of a man divorcing his unfaithful wife and her not returning. Yet, despite their egregious sin, God repeatedly calls them to "return" to Him (Jer 3:1, 3:7, 3:12, 3:14, 3:22). This chapter emphasizes God's enduring love, sorrow, and merciful call for repentance even when faced with extreme rebellion. Verse 22 comes at a pivotal point where God’s compassionate plea finally evokes a heartfelt, if anticipated, response of confession and commitment from the people, foreshadowing a future restoration where the people truly acknowledge God. Historically, Jeremiah preached during a time of immense political instability and moral decay in Judah, shortly before the Babylonian exile. The northern kingdom of Israel had already fallen due to its idolatry and unfaithfulness. Judah was rapidly following in their footsteps. Jeremiah’s message directly addressed these societal and spiritual issues, urging a return to covenant loyalty to avoid similar destruction.

Jeremiah 3 22 Word analysis

• Return (שׁוּבוּ - shuvu):
  • Root is shuv, meaning "to turn back, return, restore."
  • This is an imperative plural verb, a direct command to the people.
  • Theological significance: In biblical terms, shuv is often synonymous with repentance, involving a fundamental change of direction in life—turning away from sin and back towards God. It implies both outward action and inward contrition.
  • It underlines God's persistent initiative, always providing an avenue for reconciliation.
• Faithless people / Backsliding children (שׁוֹבָבִים - shovavim):
  • Literally "turners away" or "backsliders," derived from the same root shuv, but here in a participial form indicating a characteristic state of continually turning away from God.
  • This term vividly portrays their persistent and willful disloyalty despite the covenant. It is a state of spiritual wandering and apostasy.
  • The use of "children" (implied in some translations and often associated with this root when used of Israel) emphasizes their familial relationship to God, making their unfaithfulness all the more poignant and tragic, like rebellious children against a loving parent.
• I will cure you (אֶרְפָּה - erpa'):
  • From the root rapa', meaning "to heal, cure, repair, restore."
  • Signifies God's sovereign power to restore spiritual health. Backsliding is depicted as a sickness, a brokenness that only divine intervention can fix.
  • It highlights God's grace—He doesn't just forgive; He actively restores and makes whole.
• of your backsliding (מְשֻׁבוֹתֵיכֶם - meshuvoteychem):
  • Derived from the same root shuv, plural form referring to "turnings away" or "backslidings."
  • This specifies the exact ailment God promises to heal: their deep-seated propensity to abandon Him.
  • This indicates the profound extent of their spiritual illness and the completeness of God's promised restoration.
• "Yes, we will come to you, for you are the LORD our God." (הִנֵּנוּ אָתָנוּ לָךְ כִּי אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ - Hinenu atanu lakh ki attah YHWH Eloheinu):
  • "Yes, we will come to you": (הִנֵּנוּ אָתָנוּ לָךְ) A direct, responsive declaration of intent. "Here we are, we have come to you." It's an affirmation and an act of surrender, suggesting a real turning back in heart and action.
  • "For you are the LORD our God": (כִּי אַתָּה יהוה אֱלֹהֵינוּ) A confession of faith, acknowledging God's unique identity (YHWH, the covenant name) and His rightful claim as Elohim (God) to be worshipped and obeyed by them. This is the cornerstone of the covenant. It implies understanding that only He can heal their spiritual sickness and guide them. This confession reflects a shift from acknowledging idols to affirming the true God.

Jeremiah 3 22 Bonus section

This verse beautifully captures the heart of biblical covenant theology—God's persistent pursuit of His people and their expected, though often delayed, return. It anticipates the ultimate and complete turning of God's people in the future, as promised in the New Covenant (Jer 31:31-34), where the law will be written on their hearts, leading to genuine and lasting faithfulness. The dialogue format (God speaks, then people respond) reinforces the relational aspect of faith. God does not demand a response from a distance but invites and engages, patiently waiting for their turn. This spiritual healing (רפאָה - rapha') offered by God is comprehensive, touching not just the symptoms but the core spiritual condition of the people.

Jeremiah 3 22 Commentary

Jeremiah 3:22 is a dynamic interplay between divine invitation and human (idealized) response, encapsulated within a divine promise. God's compassionate nature is on full display as He, the offended party, initiates the call for "backsliding children" to "return." His offer is not merely forgiveness but deep, holistic spiritual healing from their persistent unfaithfulness. He promises to cure the very source of their straying. This divine initiative underscores the gracious nature of God, who reaches out to the rebellious. The people's projected response, "Yes, we will come to you, for you are the LORD our God," is the quintessential confession of repentance. It acknowledges God's unique sovereignty, rejects past idolatry, and commits to covenant loyalty. This exchange portrays the essence of true conversion: a divine summons met with sincere recognition of God's authority and a volitional turn towards Him for restoration, a testament to God's patient love enduring against repeated rebellion. It offers hope that even the most unfaithful can find their way back through sincere repentance and God's powerful grace.