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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Jeremiah 3:20 But as a woman may betray her husband, so you have betrayed Me, O house of Israel," declares the LORD.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/3-20.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/24_Jer_03_20.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Jeremiah 3:20 - Invitation to Repentance" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="But as a woman may betray her husband, so you have betrayed Me, O house of Israel, declares the LORD." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/jeremiah/3-20.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/jeremiah/3-20.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/jeremiah/">Jeremiah</a> > <a href="/jeremiah/3.htm">Chapter 3</a> > Verse 20</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad20.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/jeremiah/3-19.htm" title="Jeremiah 3:19">◄</a> Jeremiah 3:20 <a href="/jeremiah/3-21.htm" title="Jeremiah 3:21">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/3.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/jeremiah/3.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, so you, Israel, have been unfaithful to me,&#8221 declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/jeremiah/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But you have been unfaithful to me, you people of Israel! You have been like a faithless wife who leaves her husband. I, the LORD, have spoken.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/jeremiah/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Surely, as a treacherous wife leaves her husband, so have you been treacherous to me, O house of Israel, declares the LORD.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />But as a woman may betray her husband, so you have betrayed Me, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/jeremiah/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Surely <i>as</i> a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/jeremiah/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Surely, <i>as</i> a wife treacherously departs from her husband, So have you dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel,” says the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/jeremiah/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“However, <i>as</i> a woman treacherously leaves her lover, So you have dealt treacherously with Me, House of Israel,” declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/jeremiah/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Surely, as a woman treacherously departs from her lover, So you have dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel,&#8221 declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/jeremiah/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Surely, as a woman treacherously departs from her lover, So you have dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel,” declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/jeremiah/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Surely, as a woman treacherously departs from her lover, So you have dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel,” declares Yahweh.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/jeremiah/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Surely, as a wife treacherously (unfaithfully) leaves her husband, So you have dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel,” says the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/jeremiah/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />However, as a woman may betray her lover, so you have betrayed me, house of Israel. This is the LORD’s declaration.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/jeremiah/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />However, as a woman may betray her lover, so you have betrayed Me, house of Israel. This is the LORD&#8217s declaration. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/jeremiah/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith Jehovah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/jeremiah/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />But instead, you are like a wife who broke her wedding vows. You have been unfaithful to me. I, the LORD, have spoken. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/jeremiah/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/jeremiah/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />But like a wife who betrays her husband, so you, nation of Israel, betrayed me," declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/jeremiah/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />But like an unfaithful wife, you have not been faithful to me. I, the LORD, have spoken." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/jeremiah/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Instead, like an unfaithful wife leaves her husband, so you have been unfaithful to me, house of Israel," declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/jeremiah/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />But as a woman may betray her husband, so you have betrayed Me, O house of Israel,? declares the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/jeremiah/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But, you have been unfaithful to me, nation of Israel, like an unfaithful wife who has left her husband," says the LORD. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/jeremiah/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />"Surely as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, so you have dealt treacherously with me, house of Israel," says the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/jeremiah/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/jeremiah/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“Surely as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, so you have dealt treacherously with me, house of Israel,” says Yahweh. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/jeremiah/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />But a woman has deceived her friend, "" So you have dealt treacherously with Me, "" O house of Israel,” "" A declaration of YHWH.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/jeremiah/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> But -- a woman hath deceived her friend, So ye have dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, an affirmation of Jehovah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/jeremiah/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Surely a wife acting faithlessly by her friend, so ye acted faithlessly against me, O house of Israel, says Jehovah.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/jeremiah/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />But as a woman that despiseth her lover, so hath the house of Israel despised me, saith the Lord. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/jeremiah/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />But, in the same way that a woman spurns her lover, so also has the house of Israel spurned me, says the Lord.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/jeremiah/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But like a woman faithless to her lover, thus have you been faithless to me, house of Israel—oracle of the LORD. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/jeremiah/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Instead, as a faithless wife leaves her husband, so you have been faithless to me, O house of Israel, says the LORD.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/jeremiah/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Surely as a wife lies about her lover, so has the house of Israel lied against me, says the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/jeremiah/3.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Truly, as a wife tells lies with her companion, in this way the children of Israel have lied to me, says LORD JEHOVAH<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/jeremiah/3.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, So have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, Saith the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/jeremiah/3.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />But as a wife acts treacherously against her husband, so has the house of Israel dealt treacherously against me, saith the Lord.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/jeremiah/3-20.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5k55c51ZGhs?start=902" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/jeremiah/3.htm">Invitation to Repentance</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">19</span>Then I said, ‘How I long to make you My sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of all the nations!’ I thought you would call Me ‘Father’ and never turn away from following Me. <span class="reftext">20</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/403.htm" title="403: ’ā·ḵên (Adv) -- Surely. From kuwn; firmly; figuratively, surely; also But.">But</a> <a href="/hebrew/802.htm" title="802: ’iš·šāh (N-fs) -- Woman, wife, female. Feminine of 'iysh or 'enowsh; irregular plural, nashiym; a woman.">as a woman</a> <a href="/hebrew/898.htm" title="898: bā·ḡə·ḏāh (V-Qal-Perf-3fs) -- To act or deal treacherously. A primitive root; to cover; figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage.">may betray</a> <a href="/hebrew/7453.htm" title="7453: mê·rê·‘āh (Prep-m:: N-msc:: 3fs) -- Friend, companion, fellow. Or reya2; from ra'ah; an associate.">her husband,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3651.htm" title="3651: kên (Adv) -- So, thus. From kuwn; properly, set upright; hence just; but usually rightly or so.">so</a> <a href="/hebrew/898.htm" title="898: bə·ḡaḏ·tem (V-Qal-Perf-2mp) -- To act or deal treacherously. A primitive root; to cover; figuratively, to act covertly; by implication, to pillage.">you have betrayed</a> <a href="/hebrew/bî (Prep:: 1cs) -- ">Me,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1004.htm" title="1004: bêṯ (N-msc) -- A house. Probably from banah abbreviated; a house.">O house</a> <a href="/hebrew/3478.htm" title="3478: yiś·rā·’êl (N-proper-ms) -- From sarah and 'el; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also of his posterity.">of Israel,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/5002.htm" title="5002: nə·’um- (N-msc) -- Utterance. From na'am; an oracle.">declares</a> <a href="/hebrew/3068.htm" title="3068: Yah·weh (N-proper-ms) -- The proper name of the God of Israel. From hayah; self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God.">the LORD.</a> </span><span class="reftext">21</span>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.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/2-2.htm">Hosea 2:2-5</a></span><br />Rebuke your mother, rebuke her, for she is not My wife, and I am not her husband. Let her remove the adultery from her face and the unfaithfulness from between her breasts. / Otherwise, I will strip her naked and expose her like the day of her birth. I will make her like a desert and turn her into a parched land, and I will let her die of thirst. / I will have no compassion on her children, because they are the children of adultery. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/16-32.htm">Ezekiel 16:32</a></span><br />You adulterous wife! You receive strangers instead of your own husband!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/3-1.htm">Hosea 3:1</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to me, “Go show love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love to offer raisin cakes to idols.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/54-5.htm">Isaiah 54:5-8</a></span><br />For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth. / For the LORD has called you back, like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit, like the rejected wife of one’s youth,” says your God. / “For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will bring you back. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/23-37.htm">Ezekiel 23:37</a></span><br />For they have committed adultery, and blood is on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols. They have even sacrificed their children, whom they bore to Me, in the fire as food for their idols.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/9-1.htm">Hosea 9:1</a></span><br />Do not rejoice, O Israel, with exultation like the nations, for you have played the harlot against your God; you have made love for hire on every threshing floor.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/6-9.htm">Ezekiel 6:9</a></span><br />Then in the nations to which they have been carried captive, your survivors will remember Me—how I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts that turned away from Me, and by their eyes that lusted after idols. So they will loathe themselves for the evil they have done and for all their abominations.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/1-21.htm">Isaiah 1:21</a></span><br />See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness resided within her, but now only murderers!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/11-7.htm">Hosea 11:7</a></span><br />My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/16-15.htm">Ezekiel 16:15</a></span><br />But because of your fame, you trusted in your beauty and played the harlot. You lavished your favors on everyone who passed by, and your beauty was theirs for the asking.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/12-39.htm">Matthew 12:39</a></span><br />Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/4-4.htm">James 4:4</a></span><br />You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/17-1.htm">Revelation 17:1-2</a></span><br />Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits on many waters. / The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/11-2.htm">2 Corinthians 11:2-3</a></span><br />I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. For I promised you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. / I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/16-4.htm">Matthew 16:4</a></span><br />A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Then He left them and went away.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Surely as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, so have you dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, said the LORD.</p><p class="hdg">husband.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/hosea/3-1.htm">Hosea 3:1</a></b></br> Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of <i>her</i> friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.</p><p class="hdg">so have</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/3-1.htm">Jeremiah 3:1,2,8-10</a></b></br> They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/5-11.htm">Jeremiah 5:11</a></b></br> For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/48-8.htm">Isaiah 48:8</a></b></br> Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time <i>that</i> thine ear was not opened: for I knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from the womb.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/jeremiah/3-14.htm">Affirmation</a> <a href="/isaiah/34-16.htm">Companion</a> <a href="/isaiah/33-1.htm">Dealt</a> <a href="/isaiah/44-20.htm">Deceived</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-16.htm">Declares</a> <a href="/isaiah/59-15.htm">Departeth</a> <a href="/isaiah/59-15.htm">Departs</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-14.htm">Faithless</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-11.htm">False.</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-4.htm">Friend</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-18.htm">House</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-14.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-18.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/isaiah/41-8.htm">Lover</a> <a href="/jeremiah/2-35.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/isaiah/48-8.htm">Treacherously</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-11.htm">Unfaithful</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-1.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/jeremiah/4-1.htm">Affirmation</a> <a href="/malachi/2-14.htm">Companion</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-11.htm">Dealt</a> <a href="/jeremiah/4-10.htm">Deceived</a> <a href="/jeremiah/4-1.htm">Declares</a> <a href="/jeremiah/6-4.htm">Departeth</a> <a href="/jeremiah/17-5.htm">Departs</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-22.htm">Faithless</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-2.htm">False.</a> <a href="/jeremiah/6-21.htm">Friend</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-7.htm">House</a> <a href="/jeremiah/6-11.htm">Husband</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-21.htm">Israel</a> <a href="/matthew/11-19.htm">Lover</a> <a href="/jeremiah/3-23.htm">Surely</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-11.htm">Treacherously</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-11.htm">Unfaithful</a> <a href="/jeremiah/5-8.htm">Wife</a><div class="vheading2">Jeremiah 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/3-1.htm">God's great mercy to Judah the polluted land</a></span><br><span class="reftext">6. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/3-6.htm">Judah is worse than Israel</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/3-12.htm">The promises of the gospel to the penitent</a></span><br><span class="reftext">20. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/jeremiah/3-20.htm">Israel reproved, and called by God, makes a solemn confession of their sins</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jeremiah/3.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/jeremiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/jeremiah/3.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>But as a woman may betray her husband</b><br>This phrase draws on the metaphor of marriage, a common biblical theme to describe the covenant relationship between God and His people. In ancient Israel, marriage was a sacred covenant, and infidelity was seen as a grave betrayal. This imagery highlights the seriousness of Israel's unfaithfulness to God. The use of marriage as a metaphor for the relationship between God and Israel is also seen in Hosea, where the prophet's own marriage serves as a symbol of Israel's unfaithfulness.<p><b>so you have betrayed Me</b><br>The betrayal here refers to Israel's idolatry and turning away from God to worship other deities. This spiritual adultery is a recurring theme in the prophetic books, where Israel's pursuit of foreign gods is likened to a wife's infidelity. The historical context includes Israel's alliances with surrounding nations and their gods, which often led to syncretism and the dilution of pure worship of Yahweh. This betrayal is not just a breach of religious practice but a violation of the covenant relationship established at Sinai.<p><b>O house of Israel,”</b><br>The "house of Israel" refers to the northern kingdom, which had separated from Judah after the reign of Solomon. This division led to distinct political and religious developments, with the northern kingdom often falling into idolatry more quickly due to its separation from the temple in Jerusalem. The prophets frequently addressed the "house of Israel" to call them back to faithfulness. This phrase underscores the collective responsibility of the nation, not just individual transgressions.<p><b>declares the LORD.</b><br>This declaration emphasizes the authority and sovereignty of God. The use of "declares the LORD" is a prophetic formula that authenticates the message as coming directly from God. It serves as a reminder of the divine origin of the rebuke and the seriousness with which it should be taken. The prophetic voice is a conduit for God's communication, and this phrase assures the audience that the message is not merely human opinion but divine truth.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_lord.htm">The LORD (Yahweh)</a></b><br>The covenant-keeping God of Israel, who is portrayed as a faithful husband to His people.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/h/house_of_israel.htm">House of Israel</a></b><br>The collective term for the people of Israel, representing the northern kingdom, who have turned away from God.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jeremiah.htm">Jeremiah</a></b><br>The prophet through whom God delivers His message of judgment and hope to Israel.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/m/marriage_metaphor.htm">Marriage Metaphor</a></b><br>The imagery used to describe the covenant relationship between God and Israel, likening it to a marriage.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/b/betrayal.htm">Betrayal</a></b><br>The act of unfaithfulness by Israel, akin to adultery in a marriage, symbolizing their idolatry and turning away from God.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_spiritual_adultery.htm">Understanding Spiritual Adultery</a></b><br>Just as marital unfaithfulness breaks a sacred bond, spiritual adultery severs our relationship with God. We must guard against idolatry and worldliness that lead us away from Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_faithfulness_of_god.htm">The Faithfulness of God</a></b><br>Despite Israel's betrayal, God remains faithful. His covenant love is steadfast, offering hope and restoration to those who return to Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_call_to_repentance.htm">The Call to Repentance</a></b><br>Like Israel, we are called to recognize our unfaithfulness and return to God with sincere repentance, trusting in His mercy and grace.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_covenant.htm">The Importance of Covenant</a></b><br>Our relationship with God is a covenant, much like a marriage. We are called to be faithful, honoring our commitment to Him above all else.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/living_as_the_bride_of_christ.htm">Living as the Bride of Christ</a></b><br>As believers, we are the bride of Christ. We must live in purity and devotion, preparing for the ultimate union with our Savior.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_jeremiah_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 3</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_we_defend_and_uphold_our_faith.htm">What does the Bible say about good and evil?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_are_god's_promises.htm">What are God's promises?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_profaning_the_covenant_in_malachi.htm">What does profaning the covenant mean in Malachi 2:10?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_god_renew_israel's_covenant.htm">How can God renew a covenant with Israel in Jeremiah 3:1-8 despite Deuteronomy 24:1-4 forbidding reunions after divorce?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/jeremiah/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(20) <span class= "bld">Surely as a wife . . .</span>--In the midst of the bright vision of the future there comes unbidden the thought of the dark present: the faithless wife is not yet restored to her true friend and husband. Her guilt must be again pressed home upon her, so as to lead her to repentance.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/jeremiah/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 20.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Surely</span>. The word acquires an adversative sense from the context, as in <a href="/isaiah/53-4.htm">Isaiah 53:4</a>, and is virtually equivalent to "but surely." <span class="cmt_word">From her husband</span>; literally, <span class="accented">from her friend</span> or <span class="accented">companion</span>. The choice of the word seems to indicate the inner hollowness of the married life. The woman only sees in her husband the companion, behind whoso back she can follow her own inclinations. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/jeremiah/3-20.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">But</span><br /><span class="heb">אָכֵ֛ן</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḵên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_403.htm">Strong's 403: </a> </span><span class="str2">Firmly, surely, but</span><br /><br /><span class="word">as a woman</span><br /><span class="heb">אִשָּׁ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(’iš·šāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_802.htm">Strong's 802: </a> </span><span class="str2">Woman, wife, female</span><br /><br /><span class="word">may betray</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּגְדָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(bā·ḡə·ḏāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_898.htm">Strong's 898: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cover, to act covertly, to pillage</span><br /><br /><span class="word">her husband,</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵרֵעָ֑הּ</span> <span class="translit">(mê·rê·‘āh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7453.htm">Strong's 7453: </a> </span><span class="str2">Friend, companion, fellow</span><br /><br /><span class="word">so</span><br /><span class="heb">כֵּ֣ן</span> <span class="translit">(kên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3651.htm">Strong's 3651: </a> </span><span class="str2">So -- thus</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you have betrayed Me,</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּגַדְתֶּ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(bə·ḡaḏ·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_898.htm">Strong's 898: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cover, to act covertly, to pillage</span><br /><br /><span class="word">O house</span><br /><span class="heb">בֵּ֥ית</span> <span class="translit">(bêṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1004.htm">Strong's 1004: </a> </span><span class="str2">A house</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Israel,”</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל</span> <span class="translit">(yiś·rā·’êl)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3478.htm">Strong's 3478: </a> </span><span class="str2">Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc</span><br /><br /><span class="word">declares</span><br /><span class="heb">נְאֻם־</span> <span class="translit">(nə·’um-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5002.htm">Strong's 5002: </a> </span><span class="str2">An oracle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the LORD.</span><br /><span class="heb">יְהוָֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(Yah·weh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3068.htm">Strong's 3068: </a> </span><span class="str2">LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/jeremiah/3-20.htm">Jeremiah 3:20 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/jeremiah/3-20.htm">Jeremiah 3:20 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/jeremiah/3-20.htm">Jeremiah 3:20 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/jeremiah/3-20.htm">Jeremiah 3:20 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/jeremiah/3-20.htm">Jeremiah 3:20 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/jeremiah/3-20.htm">Jeremiah 3:20 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/jeremiah/3-20.htm">Jeremiah 3:20 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/jeremiah/3-20.htm">Jeremiah 3:20 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/jeremiah/3-20.htm">Jeremiah 3:20 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/jeremiah/3-20.htm">Jeremiah 3:20 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/jeremiah/3-20.htm">OT Prophets: Jeremiah 3:20 Surely as a wife treacherously departs (Jer.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/jeremiah/3-19.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Jeremiah 3:19"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 3:19" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/jeremiah/3-21.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Jeremiah 3:21"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Jeremiah 3:21" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>