Jer 3:14-18 | NETfull | STEP | “Come back to me, my wayward sons,” says the Lord , “for I am your true master. If you do, I will take one of you from each town and two of you from each family group, and I will bring you back to Zion.

Jeremiah 3:14-18

14 “Come back to me, my wayward sons,” says the Lord, “for I am your true master. ^{▼▼ Or “I am your true husband.”} ^{▼▼ There is a wordplay between the term “true master” and the name of the pagan god Baal. The pronoun “I” is emphatic, creating a contrast between the Lord as Israel’s true master/husband versus Baal as Israel’s illegitimate lover/master. See 2:23–25.} If you do, ^{▼▼ The words, “If you do” are not in the text but are implicit in the connection of the Hebrew verb with the preceding.} I will take one of you from each town and two of you from each family group, and I will bring you back to Zion. 15 I will give you leaders ^{▼▼ Heb “shepherds.”} who will be faithful to me. ^{▼▼ Heb “after/according to my [own] heart.”} They will lead you with knowledge and insight. 16 In those days, your population will greatly increase ^{▼▼ Heb “you will become numerous and fruitful.”} in the land. At that time,” says the Lord, “people will no longer talk about having the ark ^{▼▼ Or “chest.”} that contains the Lord’s covenant with us. ^{▼▼ Heb “the ark of the covenant.” It is called this because it contained the tables of the law which in abbreviated form constituted their covenant obligations to the Lord, cf. Exod 31:18; 32:15; 34:29.} They will not call it to mind, remember it, or miss it. No, that will not be done any more! ^{▼▼ Or “Nor will another one be made”; Heb “one will not do/make [it?] again.”} 17 At that time the city of Jerusalem ^{▼▼ For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; Journey of Paul map 1-F4; Journey of Paul map 2-F4; Journey of Paul map 3-F4; Journey of Paul map 4-F4.} will be called the Lord’s throne. All nations will gather there in Jerusalem to honor the Lord’s name. ^{▼▼ Heb “will gather to the name of the Lord.”} They will no longer follow the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. ^{▼▼ Heb “the stubbornness of their evil hearts.”} 18 At that time ^{▼▼ Heb “In those days.”} the nation of Judah and the nation of Israel will be reunited. ^{▼▼ Heb “the house of Judah will walk together with the house of Israel.”} Together they will come back from a land in the north to the land that I gave to your ancestors as a permanent possession. ” ^{▼▼ Heb “the land that I gave your [fore]fathers as an inheritance.”}