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

9Indifferent to her prostitution, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees. 10Yet in spite of all this, her treacherous sister Judah didn’t return to me with all her heart — only in pretense.” This is the Lord’s declaration. The Lord announced to me, “Unfaithful Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. 12Go, proclaim these words to the north, and say, ‘Return, unfaithful Israel. This is the Lord’s declaration. I will not look on you with anger, for I am unfailing in my love. This is the Lord’s declaration. I will not be angry forever. 13Only acknowledge your guilt — you have rebelled against the Lord your God. You have scattered your favors to strangers under every green tree and have not obeyed me. This is the Lord’s declaration.

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 3:8I observed that it was because unfaithful Israel had committed adultery that I had sent her away and had given her a certificate of divorce. Nevertheless, her treacherous sister Judah was not afraid but also went and prostituted herself.
• Hosea 4:16For Israel is as obstinate as a stubborn cow. Can the Lord now shepherd them like a lamb in an open meadow?
• Hosea 11:7My people are bent on turning from me. Though they call to him on high, he will not exalt them at all.
• Ezekiel 16:47Didn’t you walk in their ways and do their detestable practices? It was only a short time before all your ways were more corrupt than theirs.
• Ezekiel 23:11“Now her sister Oholibah saw this, but she was even more depraved in her lust than Oholah, and made her promiscuous acts worse than those 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