Jeremiah 3:19

17 At that time Jerusalem will be called The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations will be gathered in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. They will no longer follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.

18 In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave to your fathers as an inheritance.

Then I said, ‘How I long to make you My sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of all the nations!’ I thought you would call Me ‘Father’ and never turn away from following Me.

20 But as a woman may betray her husband, so you have betrayed Me, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD.

21 A voice is heard on the barren heights, the children of Israel weeping and begging for mercy, because they have perverted their ways and forgotten the LORD their God.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Then I said, ‘How I long to make you My sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of all the nations!’ I thought you would call Me ‘Father’ and never turn away from following Me.
KJV
But 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.
WEB
“But I said, ‘How I desire to put you among the children, and give you a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the armies of the nations!’ and I said, ‘You shall call me “My Father”, and shall not turn away from following me.’
ASV
But I said, How I will put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of the nations! and I said, Ye shall call me My Father, and shall not turn away from following me.
DARBY
And as for me, I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee the pleasant land, the goodly inheritance of the hosts of the nations? And I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from following me.
BLB
and I said, ‘How I would set you among the sons and give to you a pleasant land, the most beautiful heritage of the beauty of the nations!’ And I said, ‘You will call Me My Father, and from Me not turn away.
ÅB
Og jeg, jeg sa: Hvor høyt vil jeg ikke sette deg blant barna og gi deg et lystelig land, den herligste arv iblant folkene! Og jeg sa fremdeles: Dere skal rope til meg: Min far! og ikke vende dere bort fra meg.
OTB
“Jeg sa, ‘Hvor gjerne ville jeg behandle deg som sønner og gi deg et vakkert land, den vakreste arven av noen nasjon.’ Jeg trodde du ville kalle meg ‘Far’ og ikke vende deg bort fra å følge meg.
B1930
Og jeg, jeg sa: Hvor høit vil jeg ikke sette dig blandt barna og gi dig et lystelig land, den herligste arv iblandt folkene! Og jeg sa fremdeles: I skal rope til mig: Min far! og ikke vende eder bort fra mig.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Jeremiah 3:4

    Have you not just called to Me, ‘My Father, You are my friend from youth.

    Read in context
  • Romans 8:15–17

    For you did not receive a spirit of slavery that returns you to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 31:9

    They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.”

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 63:16

    Yet You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.

    Read in context
  • 1 John 3:1–3

    Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 32:39–40

    I will give them one heart and one way, so that they will always fear Me for their own good and for the good of their children after them.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 6:8–9

    Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 64:8

    But now, O LORD, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.

    Read in context