Jeremiah 3:11

Jeremiah 3:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the Lord said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.
• New International Version (NIV)The Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the Lord said to me, "Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the Lord said to me, “Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

Context of Jeremiah 3:11

9Because of the thoughtlessness of Israel’s prostitution [her immorality mattered little to her], she desecrated the land and committed adultery with [idols of] stones and trees. 10Yet in spite of all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to Me with her whole heart, but rather in [blatant] deception [she merely pretended obedience to King Josiah’s reforms],” declares the Lord. And the Lord said to me, “Faithless Israel has proved herself less guilty than treacherous Judah [a land of renegades]. 12Go and proclaim these words toward the north [where the ten tribes have been taken as captives] and say, ‘Return, faithless Israel,’ says the Lord; ‘I will not look on you in anger. For I am gracious and merciful,’ says the Lord; ‘I will not be angry forever. 13Only understand fully and acknowledge your wickedness and guilt, That you have rebelled (transgressed) against the Lord your God And have scattered your favors among strangers under every green tree, And you have not obeyed My voice,’ says the Lord.

Jeremiah 3:11 word by word

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י צִדְּקָ֥ה נַפְשָׁ֖הּ מְשֻׁבָ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִבֹּגֵדָ֖ה יְהוּדָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto me, The backslidingמְשׁוּבָהmeshûbâh meshûbâh · faithlessnessH4878
• Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• hath justifiedצָדֵקtsâdaq · to justifyH6663
• herselfנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: myselfH5315
• more than treacherousבָּגַדbâgad · to act treacherouslyH898
• Judahיְהוּדָהyehûdâh · JudahH3063

Cross-references for Jeremiah 3:11

• Jeremiah 3:8And I saw [that even though Judah knew] that for all the acts of adultery (idolatry) of faithless Israel, I [the Lord] had sent her away and given her a certificate of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah was not afraid; but she went and was a prostitute also [following after idols].
• Hosea 4:16For Israel is stubborn, Like a stubborn heifer. Can the Lord now pasture them Like a lamb in a large field?
• Hosea 11:7My people are bent on turning from Me; Though the prophets call them to the One on high, None at all exalts Him.
• Ezekiel 16:47Yet you have not merely walked in their ways or behaved in accordance with their pagan practices; but, as if that were too little, you [soon] acted more corruptly in all your ways than they.
• Ezekiel 23:11“Now her sister Oholibah saw this, yet she was more corrupt in her lust than she, and her acts of prostitution were more [wanton] than the immoralities of her sister.

Commentaries on Jeremiah 3:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11Backsliding Israel hath justified herself more - She was less offensive in my eyes, and more excusable, than treacherous Judah. So it is said, Luke 18:14, the humbled publican went down to his house justified rather than the boasting Pharisee. The one was more to be pitied than the other, and more likely to receive the mercy of God.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11Hath justified herself - Judah had had the benefit of the warning given by Israel‘s example. Both abandon Yahweh‘s service for idolatry, but Israel is simply “apostate,” Judah is also false. The verse is important, (1) as accounting for the destruction of Jerusalem so soon after the pious reign of Josiah. Manasseh‘s crimes had defiled the land, but it was by rejecting the reforms of Josiah that the people finally profaned it, and sealed their doom: (2) As…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-11Verses 6-11 If we mark the crimes of those who break off from a religious profession, and the consequences, we see abundant reason to shun evil ways. It is dreadful to be proved more criminal than those who have actually perished in their sins; yet it will be small comfort in everlasting punishment, for them to know that others were viler than they.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-25The Lord asked Israel to repent, return, and reconcile with him (contrast Jeremiah 2:1–3:10). Israel had sinned and faced punishment. Now, the people of Judah sinned even more openly than their northern relatives, ignoring the lesson the Lord taught Israel (Ezekiel 16:51–52). However, it was still not too late to repent and become the blessing to the nations (Jeremiah 4:1–2) that God intended them to be (Genesis 12:3).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. justified herself--has been made to appear almost just (that is, comparatively innocent) by the surpassing guilt of Judah, who adds hypocrisy and treachery to her sin; and who had the example of Israel to warn her, but in vain (compare Eze 16:51; 23:11). more than--in comparison with.Read the comment

Topics related to Jeremiah 3:11

• Backsliders
• Church
• Condescension of God
• Hypocrisy
• Idolatry

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Judah
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Judah, kingdom of Judah
• Judea, Judah
• Adultery
• Confusion
• Marriage
• Marry

Commentaries on Jeremiah 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings