Jeremiah 31:20

God's love Mercy and compassion Parents and children Identity and self-worth

¹⁸ 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.’

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.

²¹ “Set up the roadmarks, establish the signposts. Keep the highway in mind, the road you have traveled. Return, O Virgin Israel, return to these cities of yours.

²² How long will you wander, O faithless daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the land— a woman will shelter a man.”

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

Compare

BSB: 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.
KJV: Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.
WEB: Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a darling child? For as often as I speak against him, I still earnestly remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him. I will surely have mercy on him,” says the LORD.
ASV: Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a darling child? for as often as I speak against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my heart yearneth for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith Jehovah.
DARBY: Is Ephraim a dear son unto me? is he a child of delights? For whilst I have been speaking against him, I do constantly remember him still. Therefore my bowels are troubled for him: I will certainly have mercy upon him, saith Jehovah.
BLB: [Is] Ephraim My dear son, or a child of delights? For though I spoke against him, I thoroughly remember him still. Upon thus My bowels yearn for him, I have great compassion for him,” a declaration of YHWH.

ÅB: Er da Efra'im en så dyrebar sønn for meg eller mitt kjæreste barn, siden jeg enda må komme ham i hu, enda jeg så ofte har talt mot ham? Derfor røres mitt hjerte av medynk med ham, jeg må forbarme meg over ham, sier Herren.
OTB: "Er ikke Efraim min kjære sønn, barnet jeg gleder meg over? Selv om jeg ofte taler mot ham, husker jeg ham fortsatt. Derfor lengter mitt hjerte etter ham; jeg vil sannelig ha barmhjertighet med ham," sier Herren.
B1930: Er da Efra'im en så dyrebar sønn for mig eller mitt kjæreste barn, siden jeg ennu må komme ham i hu, enda jeg så ofte har talt mot ham? Derfor røres mitt hjerte av medynk med ham, jeg må forbarme mig over ham, sier Herren.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
Read in context
Micah 7:18–19
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance— who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
Read in context
Lamentations 3:31–32
For the Lord will not cast us off forever.
Read in context
Judges 10:16
So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel.
Read in context
Psalms 103:13
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Read in context
Isaiah 63:15
Look down from heaven and see, from Your holy and glorious habitation. Where are Your zeal and might? Your yearning and compassion for me are restrained.
Read in context
Hosea 14:4
I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them.
Read in context
Luke 15:24
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
Read in context