Jeremiah 31:18

Repentance Prayer New life and rebirth Humility

¹⁶ This is what the LORD says: “Keep your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for the reward for your work will come, declares the LORD. Then your children will return from the land of the enemy.

¹⁷ So there is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children will return to their own land.

I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.

¹⁹ After I returned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’

²⁰ Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me, a delightful child? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him,” declares the LORD.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.
KJV: I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.
WEB: “I have surely heard Ephraim grieving thus, ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as an untrained calf. Turn me, and I will be turned, for you are the LORD my God.
ASV: I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus], Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf unaccustomed [to the yoke]: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art Jehovah my God.
DARBY: I have indeed heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus]: Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised as a bullock not trained: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art Jehovah my God.
BLB: I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: ‘You disciplined me, and I was disciplined as an untrained heifer; turn me back and I will return, for You [are] YHWH my God.

ÅB: Jeg har hørt Efra'im klage: Du har tuktet meg, ja, jeg ble tuktet som en utemmet kalv; omvend meg du, så blir jeg omvendt, du er jo Herren min Gud.
OTB: "Jeg har sannelig hørt Efraim sørge, 'Du disiplinerte meg som en uregjerlig kalv, og jeg har blitt rettet. Gjenopprett meg, og jeg vil vende tilbake, for du er Herren min Gud.'"
B1930: Jeg har hørt Efra'im klage: Du har tuktet mig, ja, jeg blev tuktet som en utemmet kalv; omvend mig du, så blir jeg omvendt, du er jo Herren min Gud.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

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
Psalms 80:3
Restore us, O God, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.
Read in context
Job 5:17
Blessed indeed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
Read in context
Isaiah 9:13
But the people did not return to Him who struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts.
Read in context
Jeremiah 17:14
Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for You are my praise.
Read in context
Jeremiah 3:21–22
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.
Read in context
Lamentations 5:21
Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, so we may return; renew our days as of old,
Read in context
Hosea 5:15–6:2
Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”
Read in context