Jeremiah 3 5

Jeremiah 3:5 kjv

Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.

Jeremiah 3:5 nkjv

Will He remain angry forever? Will He keep it to the end?' Behold, you have spoken and done evil things, As you were able."

Jeremiah 3:5 niv

will you always be angry? Will your wrath continue forever?' This is how you talk, but you do all the evil you can."

Jeremiah 3:5 esv

will he be angry forever, will he be indignant to the end?' Behold, you have spoken, but you have done all the evil that you could."

Jeremiah 3:5 nlt

Surely you won't be angry forever!
Surely you can forget about it!'
So you talk,
but you keep on doing all the evil you can."

Jeremiah 3 verses

Jeremiah 3 5 Meaning

The verse addresses Israel, which, despite having a relationship with God, has become unfaithful like a wife committing adultery. God, though grieved and angry, indicates that this covenant betrayal has reached a critical point where further pronouncements of judgment will be made.

Jeremiah 3 5 Context

Jeremiah 3 is set in the context of increasing religious syncretism and political alliances that violated the covenant God made with Israel. The northern kingdom of Israel had already fallen to Assyria. Judah, the southern kingdom, though seemingly more stable, was deeply involved in spiritual harlotry by adopting pagan practices and seeking alliances with foreign powers like Egypt, rather than relying solely on God. Jeremiah's prophecy in this chapter addresses Judah, comparing their betrayal of God to the actions of a promiscuous wife. The immediate preceding verses (3:1-4) have already established this theme, and this verse (3:5) reflects God's perspective on their continued defiance and his awareness of their actions.

Jeremiah 3 5 Word Analysis

• "And if she had but given heed to me,"

  • "And" (וְ - wə): Conjunction, connecting this hypothetical to what preceded.
  • "if" (אִם - im): Introduces a conditional clause.
  • "she" (הִיא - hi’): Refers to Israel, personified as female.
  • "had given heed" (שָׁמְעָה - shamə‘â): From שָׁמַע (shama'), meaning to hear, listen, obey. The past tense suggests a missed opportunity. The root implies attentive listening and subsequent obedience. This is the critical failure – the refusal to obey God's voice.
  • "to me" (אֵלַי - ’êlay): Direct object, referring to God.

• "Behold,"

  • "Behold" (הִנֵּה - hinneh): Interjection to draw attention. Emphasizes what follows is significant and real. It presents a truth that should be evident or is about to be revealed.

• "he is with us.'"

  • "he" (אִתָּנוּ - ’ittânû): This is a crucial pronoun, possibly referring to God (Yahweh) or the beloved/husband in the context of the marital analogy. The context strongly suggests "he" refers to God, implying that obedience would have resulted in God’s continuous presence and protection.
  • "is with us" (אִתָּנוּ - ’ittânû): Possessive/locative preposition (’et) followed by the first-person plural suffix ('anû), meaning "with us." It signifies companionship, presence, protection, and favor. If Israel had been obedient, God's presence would have been a sure blessing.

• Word Group Analysis:

  • The phrase "given heed to me" highlights the essence of the covenant relationship: a responsive obedience stemming from listening to God's word.
  • The "Behold, he is with us" presents the ultimate reward of obedience—God’s dwelling presence and its resultant blessings and security, contrasted with the present reality of judgment.

Jeremiah 3 5 Bonus Section

The imagery of a wife returning to her first husband is a common theme in prophetic literature, emphasizing the exclusivity required in covenant relationships. Jeremiah uses this marital metaphor to illustrate the spiritual adultery of Judah with foreign gods and nations. The verse implies that Israel is missing out on the fundamental blessing of God's immanence – the privilege of having God dwelling among them and being their secure protection. This loss is directly attributable to their turning away from His commands, a foundational principle echoed throughout Scripture regarding God's relationship with His people. The absence of "he is with us" is a direct consequence of spiritual rebellion.

Jeremiah 3 5 Commentary

This verse expresses a lament from God's perspective. Israel’s continuous unfaithfulness has rendered obsolete the conditional promise of His presence and favor. If they had simply obeyed, they would have experienced His intimate dwelling among them, leading to blessings and security. Instead, their persistent disobedience has brought forth judgment. This is not an endorsement of their hypothetical obedience but a stark revelation of what was lost through their apostasy. It underscores that God’s presence is conditional upon faithfulness to the covenant. The sorrow is palpable: God's desire was to dwell with them, but their choices prevented this fellowship from being a continuous reality.