Jeremiah 3:20

Jeremiah 3:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.
• New International Version (NIV)But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you, Israel, have been unfaithful to me,” declares the Lord.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Surely, as a treacherous wife leaves her husband, so have you been treacherous to me, O house of Israel, declares the Lord.'"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, So have you dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel,” says the Lord.

Context of Jeremiah 3:20

18In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers. 19But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me. Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith Yhwh. 21A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten Yhwh their God. 22Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art Yhwh our God.

Jeremiah 3:20 word by word

אָכֵ֛ן בָּגְדָ֥ה אִשָּׁ֖ה מֵרֵעָ֑הּ כֵּ֣ן בְּגַדְתֶּ֥ם בִּ֛י בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃Read the interlinear

• Surelyאָכֵן'âkên · surelyH403
• a wifeאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · woman: wifeH802
• treacherouslyבָּגַדbâgad · to act treacherouslyH898
• departeth from her husbandרֵעַrêa‛ rêya‛ · neighborH7453
• with me, O houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• saithנְאֻםne'ûm · utteranceH5002
• Yhwhיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068

Cross-references for Jeremiah 3:20

• Hosea 3:1Then said Yhwh unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of Yhwh toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.
• Jeremiah 3:1They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith Yhwh.
• Jeremiah 5:11For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith Yhwh.
• Isaiah 48:8Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.
• Ezekiel 16:15But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.
• Hosea 5:7They have dealt treacherously against Yhwh: for they have begotten strange children: now shall the new moon devour them with their portions.
• Hosea 6:7But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me.
• Malachi 2:11Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of Yhwh which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.

Commentaries on Jeremiah 3:20

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Surely as - Rather: “Just as.”Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-20Verses 12-20 See God's readiness to pardon sin, and the blessings reserved for gospel times. These words were proclaimed toward the north; to Israel, the ten tribes, captive in Assyria. They are directed how to return. If we confess our sins, the Lord is faithful and just to forgive them. These promises are fully to come to pass in the bringing back the Jews in after-ages. God will graciously receive those that return to him; and by his grace, he takes…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-20But: this transitional word highlights the difference between what the Lord desired and the real situation. The Lord wanted to treat his people as his precious children, but he could not. The covenant marriage between God and his people was broken by the unfaithful wife. The Lord could not ignore this sin (Isaiah 48:8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Surely--rather, "But." husband--literally, "friend."Read the comment

Topics related to Jeremiah 3:20

• Backsliders
• Church

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Adultery
• Confusion
• Marry
• Reserve
• Solomon, Song of
• Exodus, the Book of
• Habaziniah

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