Jeremiah 31:18 kjv
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.
Jeremiah 31:18 nkjv
"I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: 'You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained bull; Restore me, and I will return, For You are the LORD my God.
Jeremiah 31:18 niv
"I have surely heard Ephraim's moaning: 'You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the LORD my God.
Jeremiah 31:18 esv
I have heard Ephraim grieving, 'You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf; bring me back that I may be restored, for you are the LORD my God.
Jeremiah 31:18 nlt
I have heard Israel saying,
'You disciplined me severely,
like a calf that needs training for the yoke.
Turn me again to you and restore me,
for you alone are the LORD my God.
Jeremiah 31 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 31:9 | They shall come with weeping, and with pleading I will lead them... | Establishes the theme of God leading His people in repentance and blessing. |
| Jer 31:12 | They shall come and sing for joy on the height of Zion... | Connects their repentance to future joy and worship. |
| Jer 31:15 | Thus says the LORD: "A cry is heard in Ramah... | Recalls the sorrow and exile, providing contrast to this promise. |
| Jer 31:20 | Is Ephraim a precious son to Me...? | Highlights God's tender, fatherly feelings toward Ephraim even after chastisement. |
| Jer 3:22 | Return, O backsliding Israel, says the LORD... | An earlier call to repentance and promise of healing. |
| Jer 50:4-5 | "In those days and in that time," says the LORD, "the children of Israel shall come... | A prophecy of the return of Israel from Babylon. |
| Hos 11:1 | "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son." | Echoes God's protective love for Israel from their earliest days. |
| Hos 11:8-9 | "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? ... for I am God, and not a man in your midst, the Holy One in your midst..." | Directly reflects God's conflicted emotions during judgment and His ultimate mercy. |
| Joel 2:13 | So rend your hearts, and not your garments, And turn to the LORD your God... | Emphasizes the internal nature of true repentance. |
| Zech 12:10 | And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they have pierced... | Links repentance and mourning to a divine outpouring of the Spirit. |
| Luke 15:20 | "But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him." | The Parable of the Prodigal Son beautifully illustrates God's eager, compassionate reception of a repentant sinner. |
| 2 Cor 7:10 | For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation... | Explains the nature and fruit of godly sorrow. |
| Rev 1:7 | "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him..." | Relates to future divine appearance and recognition. |
Jeremiah 31 verses
Jeremiah 31 18 Meaning
This verse speaks of God's acknowledgment of Ephraim's (representing the Northern Kingdom of Israel) repentant state after judgment. God is moved by their grief and confession, expressing a desire to have mercy and bring them back. It's a promise of restoration, indicating that despite their past rebellion and the impending punishment, a future of blessing and return to their land awaits them, initiated by God’s heartfelt response to their sorrow.
Jeremiah 31 18 Context
Jeremiah 31 marks a shift from the prophecies of judgment to promises of future restoration for Israel and Judah. The surrounding verses describe the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of Judah due to their sin. However, God’s faithfulness to His covenant remains, and He assures His people that a remnant will be preserved and eventually restored. Chapter 31, in particular, offers a message of hope, detailing a "new covenant" and the re-establishment of Israel in their land. This verse is situated within the section addressing the repentance and restoration of Ephraim (the Northern Kingdom, often used interchangeably with Israel), contrasting their past apostasy with the certainty of God’s ultimate mercy and compassion when they genuinely lament their sins.
Jeremiah 31 18 Word analysis
- "I have surely heard": A strong declaration of God's attentiveness.
- "Ephraim": Represents the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
- "lamenting": Expressing deep grief and sorrow over sin.
- "we have been punished": Acknowledgment of deserved retribution.
- "You have put Your yoke on me": Imagery of submission to God’s authority or burden of judgment.
- "You have heard me": God confirms His reception of their sincere confession.
- "It displeaseth me": God's internal emotion regarding their punishment; He does not delight in it.
- "My affections": The Hebrew word can imply inner parts or womb, indicating deep, tender emotion.
- "I will have mercy on him": A definite promise of gracious favor.
- "I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself": God's perception of Ephraim's sincere sorrow for their waywardness. This is not just external ritual but internal conviction.
- "Ephraim has surely lamented 'You have disciplined me'": The specific acknowledgement of God's hand in their suffering, recognizing it as corrective discipline rather than arbitrary cruelty. This shows a shift from blaming others or circumstances to accepting divine oversight.
- "I have put my yoke on you" implies submission to God’s corrective actions. The phrase "surely learn" (implied by context) would indicate a lesson grasped.
- "Therefore my affections yearn for him" connects God's feelings directly to Ephraim's repentant state. The language conveys a father's deep longing for his child to return, a profound "yearning."
- "Says the LORD" firmly establishes the divine origin and authority of this statement.
Jeremiah 31 18 Bonus section
The sentiment expressed here—God’s internal sorrow over His people’s suffering, even when that suffering is a consequence of their sin—is powerfully illustrated in Hosea 11:8-9 ("How can I give you up, Ephraim? ... I will not execute the fierceness of my anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God, and not man, the Holy One in your midst."). This imagery of God’s conflicting emotions reflects the depth of His love for His covenant people and His fatherly heart that yearns for their return. The New Testament equivalent is the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15), where the father runs to meet his returning son, embracing him with unconditional love.
Jeremiah 31 18 Commentary
This verse is a pivotal moment of divine response to human repentance. God hears not just sounds, but the heart's confession and sorrow. Ephraim's recognition of their punishment as a consequence of God’s action signals genuine contrition. God’s “affections” stirring is not a change in His character but a revealing of His merciful heart that deeply desires the well-being of His erring people. His promised mercy is not based on Ephraim's merit but on God’s own compassionate nature responding to their penitent state. This highlights God's sovereign grace, which both chastises and ultimately restores, always leading towards His redemptive purposes. It underscores that true repentance invites divine mercy and renewed relationship.