Jer 3:19 | NETfull | STEP | “I thought to myself, ‘Oh what a joy it would be for me to treat you like a son! What a joy it would be for me to give you a pleasant land, the most beautiful piece of property there is in all the world!’ I thought you would call me, ‘Father’ and would never cease being loyal to me.

Jeremiah 3:19

19 “I thought to myself, ^{▼▼ Heb “I, myself, said.” See note on “I thought that she might come back to me” in 3:7.}
‘Oh what a joy it would be for me to treat you like a son! ^{▼▼ Heb “How I would place you among the sons.” Israel appears to be addressed here contextually as the Lord’s wife (see the next verse). The pronouns of address in the first two lines are second feminine singular as are the readings of the two verbs preferred by the Masoretes (the Qere readings) in the third and fourth lines. The verbs that are written in the text in the third and fourth lines (the Kethib readings) are second masculine plural as is the verb describing Israel’s treachery in the next verse.} ^{▼▼ The imagery here appears to be that of treating the wife as an equal heir with the sons and of giving her the best piece of property.}
What a joy it would be for me to give ^{▼▼ The words “What a joy it would be for me to” are not in the Hebrew text but are implied in the parallel structure.} you a pleasant land,
the most beautiful piece of property there is in all the world!’ ^{▼▼ Heb “the most beautiful heritage among the nations.”}
I thought you would call me, ‘Father’ ^{▼▼ Heb “my father.”}
and would never cease being loyal to me. ^{▼▼ Heb “turn back from [following] after me.”}