Focused Passage

Jeremiah 31:18-20

Everlasting Love, Restored Joy, and the New Covenant

The chapter moves from covenant restoration of all Israel, to joyful return, to Rachel's comfort and Ephraim's repentance, to Judah's restoration, to the New Covenant promise, and finally to the permanence of Israel and rebuilt Jerusalem.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

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.’

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.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 18

Cross-references

Psalms 119:67 Classic cross-references Job 5:17 Classic cross-references Isaiah 1:19 Classic cross-references Matthew 5:3 Classic cross-references Mark 4:12 Classic cross-references

Original words

I have surely heard שָׁמ֣וֹעַ H8085 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Ephraim’s אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ H669 Noun - proper - masculine singular moaning מִתְנוֹדֵ֔ד H5110 Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular You disciplined me severely יִסַּרְתַּ֙נִי֙ H3256 Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular . . . וָֽאִוָּסֵ֔ר H3256 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular like an untrained לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle . . . לֻמָּ֑ד H3925 Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person masculine singular calf כְּעֵ֖גֶל H5695 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular Restore me הֲשִׁיבֵ֣נִי H7725 Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular that I may return וְאָשׁ֔וּבָה H7725 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular for כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction You [are] אַתָּ֖ה H859 Pronoun - second person masculine singular the LORD יְהוָ֥ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular my God אֱלֹהָֽי׃ H430 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular

BSB notes

That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verse 20

Verse 19

Cross-references

Isaiah 54:4 Classic cross-references Isaiah 66:2 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 36:31 Classic cross-references Jeremiah 3:25 Classic cross-references Ezekiel 21:12 Classic cross-references

Original words

כִּֽי־ כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction After אַחֲרֵ֤י H310 Preposition I returned שׁוּבִי֙ H7725 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular I repented נִחַ֔מְתִּי H5162 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular and after וְאַֽחֲרֵי֙ H310 Conjunctive waw | Preposition I was instructed הִוָּ֣דְעִ֔י H3045 Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular I struck [my thigh] סָפַ֖קְתִּי H5606 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular . . . עַל־ H5921 Preposition in grief יָרֵ֑ךְ H3409 Noun - feminine singular I was ashamed בֹּ֚שְׁתִּי H954 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular and וְגַם־ H1571 Conjunction humiliated נִכְלַ֔מְתִּי H3637 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular because כִּ֥י H3588 Conjunction I bore נָשָׂ֖אתִי H5375 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular the disgrace חֶרְפַּ֥ת H2781 Noun - feminine singular construct of my youth נְעוּרָֽי׃ H5271 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular

Verse 20

Cross-references

Psalms 103:13 Classic cross-references Isaiah 49:15 Classic cross-references Ephesians 5:1 Classic cross-references Hosea 11:8 Classic cross-references 1 Kings 3:26 Classic cross-references

Original words

Is not Ephraim אֶפְרַ֗יִם H669 Noun - proper - masculine singular . . . אִ֚ם H518 Conjunction a precious יַקִּ֨יר H3357 Adjective - masculine singular son הֲבֵן֩ H1121 Article | Noun - masculine singular to Me לִ֜י Preposition | first person common singular a delightful שַׁעֲשֻׁעִ֔ים H8191 Noun - masculine plural . . . כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction child יֶ֣לֶד H3206 Noun - masculine singular construct Though I often מִדֵּ֤י H1767 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct speak דַבְּרִי֙ H1696 Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | first person common singular against him בּ֔וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular I still ע֑וֹד H5750 Adverb remember him זָכֹ֥ר H2142 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . אֶזְכְּרֶ֖נּוּ H2142 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular Therefore עַל־ H5921 Preposition . . . כֵּ֗ן H3651 Adverb My heart מֵעַי֙ H4578 Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular yearns for him הָמ֤וּ H1993 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural I have great compassion for him רַחֵ֥ם H7355 Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute . . . אֲ‍ֽרַחֲמֶ֖נּוּ H7355 Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular declares נְאֻם־ H5002 Noun - masculine singular construct the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ס H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

Hebrew My bowels yearn for him

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