English Standard Version
Jeremiah 3:11
11And the Lord said to me, "Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.
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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then the Lord said to me, “Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then the Lord said to me, “Even faithless Israel is less guilty than treacherous Judah!
Context of Jeremiah 3:11
9Because she took her whoredom lightly, she polluted the land, committing adultery with stone and tree. 10Yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to me with her whole heart, but in pretense, declares the Lord." And the Lord said to me, "Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. 12Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, "'Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever. 13Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the Lord your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the Lord.
Read all of Jeremiah 3Jeremiah 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 3:8She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce. Yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but she too went and played the whore.
- Hosea 4:16Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the Lord now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture?
- Hosea 11:7My people are bent on turning away from me, and though they call out to the Most High, he shall not raise them up at all.
- Ezekiel 16:47Not only did you walk in their ways and do according to their abominations; within a very little time you were more corrupt than they in all your ways.
- Ezekiel 23:11"Her sister Oholibah saw this, and she became more corrupt than her sister in her lust and in her whoring, which was worse than that 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
In the dictionaries
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
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