Jeremiah 3 4

Jeremiah 3:4 kjv

Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?

Jeremiah 3:4 nkjv

Will you not from this time cry to Me, 'My Father, You are the guide of my youth?

Jeremiah 3:4 niv

Have you not just called to me: 'My Father, my friend from my youth,

Jeremiah 3:4 esv

Have you not just now called to me, 'My father, you are the friend of my youth ?

Jeremiah 3:4 nlt

Yet you say to me,
'Father, you have been my guide since my youth.

Jeremiah 3 verses

Jeremiah 3 4 Meaning

Jeremiah 3:4 poses a rhetorical question from God to Judah, recalling their past (or professed) declaration of dependence: "Have you not just now called to me, 'My Father, you are the close friend and guide of my youth'?" This verse highlights the deep contrast between Judah's earlier, seemingly intimate declarations of allegiance and their later profound spiritual unfaithfulness. It emphasizes God's recollection of their professed relationship as Father and Guide, implicitly condemning their present apostasy by contrasting it with their initial (or at least claimed) devotion from the earliest stages of their existence or spiritual understanding.

Jeremiah 3 4 Context

Jeremiah chapter 3 opens with a powerful indictment of Judah's deep spiritual unfaithfulness, likening it to a wife repeatedly returning to prostitution, making reconciliation impossible by human standards (Jer 3:1). However, despite this strong language, the chapter pivots to God's gracious invitation to repent (Jer 3:12, 22), reflecting His boundless mercy even in the face of persistent rebellion. This particular verse (Jer 3:4) is embedded within a passage (Jer 3:1-5) where God rhetorically confronts Judah about their hypocrisy. He recounts their brazen pursuit of idolatry ("you have played the harlot with many lovers," Jer 3:1-2), and then recalls a seemingly contradictory profession of fidelity—a tender cry to Him as their "Father" and "Guide" of their "youth." This context sets the stage for God's sorrowful complaint over their abandonment of Him, emphasizing the depth of their covenant breach by contrasting their present sin with their proclaimed intimacy in the past. Historically, Judah at this time was deeply entrenched in idolatry, following the practices of their Northern Israelite kin, even as the threat of Babylonian judgment loomed, a direct consequence of their unfaithfulness.

Jeremiah 3 4 Word analysis

• Hast thou not (הֲלוֹא – hălōwʾ): This is a rhetorical question that anticipates an affirmative answer, akin to "Surely you have!" or "Have you not, indeed?" It's used by God not to elicit new information, but to press a known, undeniable truth upon the hearers, making their hypocrisy inescapable. It underscores the divine memory of their past profession.
• cried unto me (קָרָ֨את לִ֜י – qārā’ṯ lî): The Hebrew verb qārā’ implies to call, cry out, or invoke, often in a personal, earnest way, seeking help, communion, or acknowledgement. The preposition lî ("to me") stresses the direct and singular recipient of this call—the LORD alone. This signifies an exclusive relationship claimed by Judah, contrasting sharply with their "many lovers."
• 'My Father (אָבִ֗י – ’āḇî): A possessive term ("my father"), deeply intimate and expressive of a personal relationship, dependence, protection, and love. For Israel, God as Father signifies His role as the author of their national existence, their provider, protector, and covenant initiator. It emphasizes Judah's claim to be His beloved child, which heightened the severity of their unfaithfulness.
• Thou art the guide (אַלּ֤וּף – ’allûf): This word is significant. While often translated "guide," ’allûf has richer connotations, deriving from a root meaning "to learn, to tame." It can refer to a chieftain, a familiar friend, a master, or a close companion, one who teaches or trains. Here, it denotes God as the intimate instructor and trusted leader who showed them the way, like a faithful teacher or devoted spouse/companion (cf. Pr 2:17 where it describes the "companion of her youth" for a spouse). It speaks of a bond based on close knowledge, instruction, and loyal leadership from the very beginning.
• of my youth (נְעוּרַ֫י֙ – nəʿūray): Refers to the period of one's early life, initial development, or formative years. For Israel as a nation, this could refer to their exodus from Egypt and their formative years in the wilderness and the early days of the covenant at Sinai (cf. Jer 2:2). Individually, it denotes the initial stages of a person's religious life or national awakening. It signifies a time perceived as pure, innocent, and devoted, highlighting the stark contrast with their current spiritual state.

Words-group analysis:

• "Hast thou not cried unto me": This phrase serves as God's divine accusation. It is not an inquiry for information but a forceful reminder of Judah's own proclaimed loyalty, making their current hypocrisy undeniable. God brings their past words to the forefront, demonstrating His steadfast remembrance.
• "'My Father, Thou art the guide of my youth'": This entire quoted phrase represents Judah's past confession of exclusive devotion, intimate relationship, and reliance on God from their earliest times. It's a statement of ultimate trust and dependence. The tenderness and deep bond implied by "My Father" combined with the devoted tutelage implied by "Guide of my youth" sharply highlight the magnitude of their subsequent betrayal and turning to other gods. It paints a picture of a covenant established and deeply embraced, only to be forsaken.

Jeremiah 3 4 Bonus section

• This verse provides insight into God's memory: He remembers not only our sins but also our earnest, even if fleeting, expressions of devotion and the times we leaned on Him.
• The profound pathos in God's voice, expressed through this rhetorical question, reveals His deep emotional hurt over His people's unfaithfulness. It speaks of a spurned lover more than a cold judge.
• The phrase "guide of my youth" links to the very foundations of Israel's national identity, which were shaped by God's direct and unwavering guidance, establishing His foundational authority and their intimate dependence.
• The verse sets up the divine expectation that calling God "Father" carries with it the corresponding duties of a child, specifically honor, obedience, and trust. Judah failed to fulfill these.

Jeremiah 3 4 Commentary

Jeremiah 3:4 is a poignant lament from God, confronting Judah with the hypocrisy of their past declarations. It unveils the heart of their apostasy: not just neglecting God, but specifically forsaking a relationship they themselves once, or at least outwardly, cherished and proclaimed. God recalls their tender and intimate address, "'My Father,' and 'Guide of my youth,'" highlighting that they knew Him in these roles. The "guide of my youth" signifies a covenant partner who instructed and led them faithfully from the very beginning of their national journey. Their present idolatry is therefore not an error of ignorance, but a profound act of spiritual adultery and ingratitude. God's rhetorical question is designed to pierce their conscience, holding them accountable for their own words and exposing the chasm between their professed piety and their actual practices. It serves as a foundation for God's continuous call for repentance, revealing that despite their heinous sin, He remembers their "youthful" devotion and yearns for their return to that original intimacy. This verse underscores that a declared relationship must be validated by faithful living.