Has God Divorced Israel?

Replacement theology claims God divorced Israel and permanently replaced her with the “Church.” From a Messianic Jewish perspective, the unified witness of the Tanakh and the Brit Hadashah denies this. God’s ברית עולם (“everlasting covenant,” berit olam) endures; the multi-national body of Messiah is grafted into Israel’s qahal/ekklesia—not a replacement but a continuation of God’s plan.

I. The Eternal Covenant with Israel

God binds Himself to the patriarchs and their seed with a covenant described as ברית עולם. The permanence rests on God’s oath, not Israel’s perfection.

“I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your seed after you.” JPS, Genesis 17:7

“He is ever mindful of His covenant, the promise He gave for a thousand generations, that He made with Abraham, swore to Isaac, and confirmed in a decree for Jacob, for Israel, as an everlasting covenant.” JPS, Psalm 105:8–10

“If his sons forsake My Teaching… I will punish their transgression with the rod… but I will not break off My steadfast love from him or be false to My faithfulness.” JPS, Psalm 89:31–34 [30–33]

II. The “Divorce” Language in Jeremiah Is Disciplinary, Not Final

Jeremiah uses marital imagery to indict idolatry, yet God immediately calls Israel to שוב (“return”), revealing restorative intent rather than permanent rejection.

“I noted: Because rebel Israel had committed adultery, I cast her off and handed her a bill of divorce…” JPS, Jeremiah 3:8

“Return, O rebel Israel—declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am compassionate… Only acknowledge your guilt.” JPS, Jeremiah 3:12–13

“Return, O rebellious children—declares the LORD—for I am your master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a clan, and bring you to Zion.” JPS, Jeremiah 3:14

III. Prophets of Restoration and Renewed Marriage

The prophets promise renewed betrothal—language of covenant repair and permanence.

“I will betroth you to Me forever; I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in compassion.” JPS, Hosea 2:21 [19]

“You shall no more be termed ‘Forsaken’… but you shall be called ‘My Delight Is in Her’… for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be espoused.” JPS, Isaiah 62:4

“Thus said the LORD: As surely as I have established My covenant with day and night… so I will never reject the offspring of Jacob.” JPS, Jeremiah 33:25–26 (cf. 31:35–36)

IV. The New Covenant Is Made with Israel and Judah

The Brit Hadashah is promised explicitly to the houses of Israel and Judah; the apostolic writings quote it as such. This is covenant renewal with Israel, not a transfer to a different people.

“See, a time is coming—declares the LORD—when I will make a new covenant with the House of Israel and the House of Judah.” JPS, Jeremiah 31:31

“He finds fault with them when he says: ‘The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah…’” NRSV, Hebrews 8:8–12 (quoting Jer 31)

“I will make with them an everlasting covenant (ברית עולם)… I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all My heart and all My soul.” JPS, Jeremiah 32:40–41

V. Yeshua’s Mission: To Restore, Not Replace, Israel

Yeshua affirms the Torah and focuses His mission on Israel’s lost sheep, while anticipating national restoration in God’s timing.

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” NRSV, Matthew 5:17

“I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” NRSV, Matthew 15:24

“Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.” NRSV, Acts 1:6–7

VI. Paul on Israel’s Irrevocable Calling

Paul (Rav Shaul) categorically rejects the idea that God has rejected Israel and uses the olive tree to describe Gentile inclusion without displacement. The result is one redeemed קהל/ekklesia rooted in Israel’s promises.

“I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite… God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew.” NRSV, Romans 11:1–2

“If the root is holy, then the branches also are holy… do not boast over the branches… remember that it is not you that support the root, but the root that supports you.” NRSV, Romans 11:16–18

“A hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved…” NRSV, Romans 11:25–26

“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” NRSV, Romans 11:29

VII. The “Church” as the Continuity of Israel’s Assembly

The biblical “assembly” (קהל / קהילה, qahal/kehila; Gk. ekklesia) precedes the New Testament and describes God’s gathered people from Sinai onward. In Messiah, Gentiles join Israel’s commonwealth—not replace it.

“The LORD gave me the two tablets of stone written with the finger of God; on them were all the words that the LORD had spoken to you at the mountain out of the fire on the day of the assembly.” JPS, Deuteronomy 9:10

“Remember that you were at that time… strangers to the covenants of promise… But now in Christ Jesus you… have been brought near… He has made both groups one and has broken down the dividing wall.” NRSV, Ephesians 2:12–14, 19

“There will be one flock, one shepherd.” NRSV, John 10:16

VIII. Israel’s Future: Central in God’s Kingdom

Prophets and apostles foresee Israel’s national turning and Jerusalem’s centrality among the nations.

“I will pour out on the House of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication; they shall look to Me because of the one they have pierced; they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only son.” JPS, Zechariah 12:10

“And he will come to Zion as Redeemer, to those in Jacob who turn from transgression.” JPS, Isaiah 59:20

“At that time they shall call Jerusalem ‘The throne of the LORD,’ and all nations shall gather to it.” JPS, Jeremiah 3:17

“It had a great, high wall with twelve gates… and on the gates were inscribed the names of the twelve tribes of the Israelites.” NRSV, Revelation 21:12

IX. Conclusion: One Covenant People, Not a Replacement

The Tanakh and Brit Hadashah speak with one voice: God has not permanently divorced Israel. He disciplines to restore, renews the ברית עולם, and gathers a single flock—Israel with the nations—under Messiah.

“He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.” JPS, Jeremiah 31:10

“I will exult in Jerusalem and delight in her people.” JPS, Isaiah 65:19

Appendix: Additional Texts (for study)

• Land & oath continuity: JPS, Genesis 26:3–5; 28:13–15; Deuteronomy 4:31
• Covenant mercy after exile: JPS, Deuteronomy 30:1–6; Micah 7:18–20 (חסד)
• Remnant within Israel: JPS, Isaiah 10:20–22; NRSV, Romans 9:27
• Priestly calling enduring: JPS, Exodus 19:5–6; NRSV, 1 Peter 2:9 (applied without erasing Israel)
• Grafting image revisited: NRSV, Romans 11:17–24