Jeremiah 3 7

Jeremiah 3:7 kjv

And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.

Jeremiah 3:7 nkjv

And I said, after she had done all these things, 'Return to Me.' But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.

Jeremiah 3:7 niv

I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it.

Jeremiah 3:7 esv

And I thought, 'After she has done all this she will return to me,' but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it.

Jeremiah 3:7 nlt

I thought, 'After she has done all this, she will return to me.' But she did not return, and her faithless sister Judah saw this.

Jeremiah 3 verses

Jeremiah 3 7 Meaning

Jeremiah 3:7 details God's lament over the northern kingdom of Israel's (referred to as "backsliding Israel") unrepentant apostasy, despite divine calls to return. Critically, it then highlights the even more grievous spiritual state of the southern kingdom of Judah. Judah, as Israel's "treacherous sister," witnessed Israel's widespread idolatry and eventual judgment (exile by Assyria), yet failed to learn from these clear consequences, perpetuating her own unfaithfulness. The verse underscores God's persistent grace in calling for repentance, met by the people's stubborn refusal, especially Judah's greater culpability for ignoring the lessons of history.

Jeremiah 3 7 Context

Jeremiah chapter 3 opens with a powerful legal analogy likening Israel's departure from God to an unfaithful wife returning to her first husband after whoredom, something forbidden by law (Deut 24:1-4). Despite Israel's extensive spiritual adultery and persistent rebellion against the Lord, God consistently calls her to "Return." Verse 7 falls within this framework, focusing specifically on the northern kingdom of Israel's refusal to heed these calls even after being divorced and exiled by God (referred to in verse 8). The critical point established in this verse is that Judah, the southern kingdom, witnessed all of Israel's sin, the repeated warnings from prophets, and the subsequent devastating judgment of exile at the hands of the Assyrians. This historical observation forms the basis for Jeremiah's accusation that Judah, having seen such a stark example of divine wrath against apostasy, has even less excuse for her own unrepentant treachery. The period of Jeremiah's ministry was characterized by deep spiritual decay in Judah, oscillating between brief reforms (under King Josiah) and profound idolatry (under kings Manasseh, Jehoiakim).

Jeremiah 3 7 Word analysis

• And I said (וָאֹמַר - va'omar): This emphasizes God's direct, personal, and verbal intervention. It conveys the divine initiative in communication, a clear expression of the Lord's thoughts and intentions concerning Israel's spiritual state.
• after she had done all these things (אַחֲרֵי עֲשׂוֹתָהּ אֶת־כָּל־אֵלֶּה - 'aḥărei 'ăśôtah 'et-kol-'ēlleh): "She" refers to backsliding Israel (as mentioned in verse 6). "All these things" refers to the pervasive and public acts of spiritual harlotry – the idolatry practiced on high hills and under green trees (Jer 3:6). This phrase highlights the cumulative nature and completeness of Israel's sin, leaving no room for ambiguity about her transgression.
• Turn back to Me (שׁוּבִי אֵלַי - shûvî 'ēlāy): From the Hebrew root שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to turn," "to return," "to repent." It's a fundamental concept in the Old Testament, denoting a complete change of direction, a spiritual transformation from sin back to God. The imperative form "turn" (שׁוּבִי) is a direct, urgent call from a merciful God, and "to Me" (אֵלַי) stresses the personal relationship and covenant bond.
• But she did not turn back (וְלֹא שָׁבָה - wə-lō' šāḇāh): This is a stark declaration of Israel's obstinacy and refusal to respond to God's compassionate plea. It emphasizes the human agency in rejecting divine grace, revealing the extent of their spiritual hardness and confirming the inevitability of their judgment (foretold in Jer 3:8-9).
• And her treacherous sister Judah saw it (וַתֵּרֶא בּוֹגְדָה אֲחוֹתָהּ יְהוּדָה - wattere' bōḡədâ 'ăḥōṯāh Yəhûḏāh):
  • And... saw it (וַתֵּרֶא - wattere'): Judah was an eyewitness to Israel's apostasy and the divine consequences, particularly the Assyrian exile of the northern kingdom (2 Ki 17). This "seeing" implies knowledge, observation, and therefore, accountability.
  • her treacherous sister (בּוֹגְדָה אֲחוֹתָהּ - bōḡədâ 'aḥôtāh): The term "sister" highlights their shared lineage, covenant, and historical experience, emphasizing the tragic nature of their separation and Judah's betrayal. The critical word here is "treacherous" (בּוֹגְדָה - bōgədhâ). This adjective, often translated as faithless, unfaithful, or perfidious, indicates a profound and deliberate betrayal of a covenant or trust. It is a stronger condemnation than simply "backsliding." Judah's treachery is marked by her calculated disobedience and lack of genuine repentance despite observing Israel's fate. It signifies a deeper, more culpable form of apostasy.

Words-group analysis:

• "And I said... Turn back to Me; But she did not turn back.": This encapsulates God's consistent initiative for reconciliation met with Israel's equally consistent rejection. It highlights the divine longsuffering and the depth of human stubbornness.
• "after she had done all these things... But she did not turn back. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.": This progression builds a powerful legal and moral argument. Israel's extensive sin is established. Her rejection of repentance is confirmed. Then, Judah's complicity is revealed – not merely in paralleling Israel's sin, but in committing it knowingly after witnessing the tragic outcome of Israel's unfaithfulness, thereby exacerbating her own guilt and earning the label "treacherous." This forms a pivotal moment for Judah's condemnation.

Jeremiah 3 7 Bonus section

The repeated motif of "harlotry" and "treachery" applied to both Israel and Judah is a severe condemnation of their breach of the covenant. Just as harlotry is a profound betrayal of marital fidelity, so their idolatry was a direct betrayal of their exclusive relationship with Yahweh. Judah's designation as "treacherous" implies an act of deliberate, calculated unfaithfulness, as one who betrays a trust rather than merely slipping into sin. It emphasizes a conscious defiance of the lessons from divine judgment. This verse illustrates a principle echoed throughout scripture: greater knowledge brings greater responsibility. Judah knew God's covenant, witnessed His power, saw the fall of Israel, yet still strayed, solidifying her path toward eventual Babylonian exile.

Jeremiah 3 7 Commentary

Jeremiah 3:7 serves as a poignant pivot in Jeremiah's message, establishing Judah's heightened culpability. God's compassionate call for Israel to "turn back" (שׁוּב - shuv), implying true repentance, was steadfastly refused. However, the greater tragedy lies with Judah, who, as "treacherous sister," observed Israel's complete slide into idolatry and consequent severe judgment—the scattering and loss of their land—yet remained unchanged. This makes Judah's sin not merely a transgression but an arrogant, willful rejection of God's revealed justice and grace. They learned nothing from their sibling's calamity, choosing a path of conscious betrayal against their covenant Lord. This demonstrated a deeper moral depravity and hardened heart, positioning Judah in a more dire spiritual state than even "backsliding Israel" (as Jer 3:11 explicitly states).