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Jeremiah 3 (Yirmeyahu) in Hebrew and English

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Tenakh Study · Read Jeremiah in Hebrew and English, one chapter per page. Our Tenakh study meets every Wednesday at 7 pm (Central Time) on Zoom. Text us for the Zoom link.

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Tenakh Study · Jeremiah 3:1–25

Jeremiah, Chapter 3

ירמיהו ג

Yehudah has played the harlot like her backsliding sister Israel and has not returned with her whole heart; Hashem calls backsliding Israel to return, promises pastors after His own heart and a day when Yerushalayim will be called the throne of Hashem, and the people come back confessing their shame.

3:1They 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 you have played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to Me, says Hashem.

אלֵאמֹ֡ר הֵ֣ן יְשַׁלַּ֣ח אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־אִשְׁתּוֹ֩ וְהָלְכָ֨ה מֵאִתּ֜וֹ וְהָיְתָ֣ה לְאִישׁ־אַחֵ֗ר הֲיָשׁ֤וּב אֵלֶ֨יהָ֙ ע֔וֹד הֲל֛וֹא חָנ֥וֹף תֶּחֱנַ֖ף הָאָ֣רֶץ הַהִ֑יא וְאַ֗תְּ זָנִית֙ רֵעִ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים וְשׁ֥וֹב אֵלַ֖י נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

3:2Lift up your eyes unto the high places, and see where you have not been lien with. In the ways have you sat for them, as the Aravi (Arabian) in the wilderness; and you have polluted the land with your whoredoms and with your wickedness.

בשְׂאִֽי־עֵינַ֨יִךְ עַל־שְׁפָיִ֜ם וּרְאִ֗י אֵיפֹה֙ לֹ֣א שֻׁכַּ֔בְתְּ (כתיב שגלת) עַל־דְּרָכִים֙ יָשַׁ֣בְתְּ לָהֶ֔ם כַּעֲרָבִ֖י בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר וַתַּחֲנִ֣יפִי אֶ֔רֶץ בִּזְנוּתַ֖יִךְ וּבְרָעָתֵֽךְ׃

3:3Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there has been no latter rain; and you had a whore’s forehead, you refused to be ashamed.

גוַיִּמָּנְע֣וּ רְבִבִ֔ים וּמַלְק֖וֹשׁ ל֣וֹא הָיָ֑ה וּמֵ֨צַח אִשָּׁ֤ה זוֹנָה֙ הָ֣יָה לָ֔ךְ מֵאַ֖נְתְּ הִכָּלֵֽם׃

3:4Will you not from this time cry unto Me, “My father, You are the guide of my youth”?

דהֲל֣וֹא מֵעַ֔תָּה קָרָ֥את (כתיב קראתי) לִ֖י אָבִ֑י אַלּ֥וּף נְעֻרַ֖י אָֽתָּה׃

3:5Will He reserve His anger for ever? will He keep it to the end? Behold, you have spoken and done evil things as you could.

ההֲיִנְטֹ֣ר לְעוֹלָ֔ם אִם־יִשְׁמֹ֖ר לָנֶ֑צַח הִנֵּ֥ה דִבַּ֛רְתְּ (כתיב דברתי) וַתַּעֲשִׂ֥י הָרָע֖וֹת וַתּוּכָֽל׃

Two treacherous sisters

3:6Hashem said also unto me in the days of Yoshiyahu (Josiah) the king, “Have you seen that which backsliding Israel has done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there has played the harlot.

ווַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֵלַ֗י בִּימֵי֙ יֹאשִׁיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ הֲֽרָאִ֔יתָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשְׂתָ֖ה מְשֻׁבָ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הֹלְכָ֨ה הִ֜יא עַל־כָּל־הַ֣ר גָּבֹ֗הַּ וְאֶל־תַּ֛חַת כָּל־עֵ֥ץ רַעֲנָ֖ן וַתִּזְנִי־שָֽׁם׃

3:7And I said after she had done all these things, ‘Turn you unto Me.’ But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Yehudah (Judah) saw it.

זוָאֹמַ֗ר אַחֲרֵ֨י עֲשׂוֹתָ֧הּ אֶת־כָּל־אֵ֛לֶּה אֵלַ֥י תָּשׁ֖וּב וְלֹא־שָׁ֑בָה וַתֵּ֛רֶא (כתיב ותראה) בָּגוֹדָ֥ה אֲחוֹתָ֖הּ יְהוּדָֽה׃

3:8And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Yehudah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

חוָאֵ֗רֶא כִּ֤י עַל־כָּל־אֹדוֹת֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נִֽאֲפָה֙ מְשֻׁבָ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל שִׁלַּחְתִּ֕יהָ וָאֶתֵּ֛ן אֶת־סֵ֥פֶר כְּרִיתֻתֶ֖יהָ אֵלֶ֑יהָ וְלֹ֨א יָֽרְאָ֜ה בֹּֽגֵדָ֤ה יְהוּדָה֙ אֲחוֹתָ֔הּ וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ וַתִּ֥זֶן גַּם־הִֽיא׃

3:9And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.

טוְהָיָה֙ מִקֹּ֣ל זְנוּתָ֔הּ וַתֶּחֱנַ֖ף אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וַתִּנְאַ֥ף אֶת־הָאֶ֖בֶן וְאֶת־הָעֵֽץ׃

3:10And yet for all this her treacherous sister Yehudah has not turned unto Me with her whole heart, but feignedly, says Hashem.”

יוְגַם־בְּכָל־זֹ֗את לֹא־שָׁ֨בָה אֵלַ֜י בָּגוֹדָ֧ה אֲחוֹתָ֛הּ יְהוּדָ֖ה בְּכָל־לִבָּ֑הּ כִּ֥י אִם־בְּשֶׁ֖קֶר נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

Return, backsliding Israel

3:11And Hashem said unto me, “The backsliding Israel has justified herself more than treacherous Yehudah.

יאוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י צִדְּקָ֥ה נַפְשָׁ֖הּ מְשֻׁבָ֣ה יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מִבֹּגֵדָ֖ה יְהוּדָֽה׃

3:12Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, ‘Return, you backsliding Israel, says Hashem; and I will not cause My anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, says Hashem, and I will not keep anger for ever.

יבהָלֹ֡ךְ וְקָֽרָאתָ֩ אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֨ים הָאֵ֜לֶּה צָפ֗וֹנָה וְ֠אָמַרְתָּ שׁ֣וּבָה מְשֻׁבָ֤ה יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה לֽוֹא־אַפִּ֥יל פָּנַ֖י בָּכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־חָסִ֤יד אֲנִי֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה לֹ֥א אֶטּ֖וֹר לְעוֹלָֽם׃

3:13Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against Hashem your God, and have scattered your ways to the strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice, says Hashem.

יגאַ֚ךְ דְּעִ֣י עֲוֺנֵ֔ךְ כִּ֛י בַּיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהַ֖יִךְ פָּשָׁ֑עַתְּ וַתְּפַזְּרִ֨י אֶת־דְּרָכַ֜יִךְ לַזָּרִ֗ים תַּ֚חַת כָּל־עֵ֣ץ רַעֲנָ֔ן וּבְקוֹלִ֥י לֹא־שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהֹוָֽה׃

3:14Turn, O backsliding children, says Hashem; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Tziyon (Zion):

ידשׁ֣וּבוּ בָנִ֤ים שׁוֹבָבִים֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֥י אָנֹכִ֖י בָּעַ֣לְתִּי בָכֶ֑ם וְלָקַחְתִּ֨י אֶתְכֶ֜ם אֶחָ֣ד מֵעִ֗יר וּשְׁנַ֨יִם֙ מִמִּשְׁפָּחָ֔ה וְהֵבֵאתִ֥י אֶתְכֶ֖ם צִיּֽוֹן׃

3:15And I will give you pastors according to My heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

טווְנָתַתִּ֥י לָכֶ֛ם רֹעִ֖ים כְּלִבִּ֑י וְרָע֥וּ אֶתְכֶ֖ם דֵּעָ֥ה וְהַשְׂכֵּֽיל׃

The throne of Hashem

3:16And it shall come to pass, when you be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, says Hashem, they shall say no more, “The ark of the covenant of Hashem”: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.

טזוְהָיָ֡ה כִּ֣י תִרְבּוּ֩ וּפְרִיתֶ֨ם בָּאָ֜רֶץ בַּיָּמִ֤ים הָהֵ֨מָּה֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה לֹא־יֹ֣אמְרוּ ע֗וֹד אֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִית־יְהוָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א יַעֲלֶ֖ה עַל־לֵ֑ב וְלֹ֤א יִזְכְּרוּ־בוֹ֙ וְלֹ֣א יִפְקֹ֔דוּ וְלֹ֥א יֵעָשֶׂ֖ה עֽוֹד׃

3:17At that time they shall call Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) the throne of Hashem; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of Hashem, to Yerushalayim: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.

יזבָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֗יא יִקְרְא֤וּ לִירוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ כִּסֵּ֣א יְהוָ֔ה וְנִקְוּ֨וּ אֵלֶ֧יהָ כָֽל־הַגּוֹיִ֛ם לְשֵׁ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה לִירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם וְלֹא־יֵלְכ֣וּ ע֔וֹד אַחֲרֵ֕י שְׁרִר֖וּת לִבָּ֥ם הָרָֽע׃

3:18In those days the house of Yehudah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.

יחבַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔מָּה יֵלְכ֥וּ בֵית־יְהוּדָ֖ה עַל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְיָבֹ֤אוּ יַחְדָּו֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֔וֹן עַל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִנְחַ֖לְתִּי אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃

3:19But I said, “How shall I put you among the children, and give you a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations?” and I said, “You shall call Me, My father; and shall not turn away from Me.”

יטוְאָנֹכִ֣י אָמַ֗רְתִּי אֵ֚יךְ אֲשִׁיתֵ֣ךְ בַּבָּנִ֔ים וְאֶתֶּן־לָךְ֙ אֶ֣רֶץ חֶמְדָּ֔ה נַחֲלַ֥ת צְבִ֖י צִבְא֣וֹת גּוֹיִ֑ם וָאֹמַ֗ר אָבִי֙ תִּקְרְאִי (כתיב תקראו)־לִ֔י וּמֵאַחֲרַ֖י לֹ֥א תָשֽׁוּבִי (כתיב תשובו)׃

3:20Surely as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, so have you dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, says Hashem.’”

כאָכֵ֛ן בָּגְדָ֥ה אִשָּׁ֖ה מֵרֵעָ֑הּ כֵּ֣ן בְּגַדְתֶּ֥ם בִּ֛י בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃

We come unto You

3:21A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten Hashem their God.

כאק֚וֹל עַל־שְׁפָיִ֣ים נִשְׁמָ֔ע בְּכִ֥י תַחֲנוּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּ֤י הֶעֱוּוּ֙ אֶת־דַּרְכָּ֔ם שָׁכְח֖וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיהֶֽם׃

3:22Return, you backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto You; for You are Hashem our God.

כבשׁ֚וּבוּ בָּנִ֣ים שׁוֹבָבִ֔ים אֶרְפָּ֖ה מְשׁוּבֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם הִנְנוּ֙ אָתָ֣נוּ לָ֔ךְ כִּ֥י אַתָּ֖ה יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃

3:23Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in Hashem our God is the salvation of Israel.

כגאָכֵ֥ן לַשֶּׁ֛קֶר מִגְּבָע֖וֹת הָמ֣וֹן הָרִ֑ים אָכֵן֙ בַּיהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ תְּשׁוּעַ֖ת יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

3:24For shame has devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

כדוְהַבֹּ֗שֶׁת אָֽכְלָ֛ה אֶת־יְגִ֥יעַ אֲבוֹתֵ֖ינוּ מִנְּעוּרֵ֑ינוּ אֶת־צֹאנָם֙ וְאֶת־בְּקָרָ֔ם אֶת־בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם וְאֶת־בְּנוֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

3:25We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covers us: for we have sinned against Hashem our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of Hashem our God.

כהנִשְׁכְּבָ֣ה בְּבָשְׁתֵּ֗נוּ וּֽתְכַסֵּנוּ֮ כְּלִמָּתֵנוּ֒ כִּי֩ לַיהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵ֜ינוּ חָטָ֗אנוּ אֲנַ֨חְנוּ֙ וַאֲבוֹתֵ֔ינוּ מִנְּעוּרֵ֖ינוּ וְעַד־הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וְלֹ֣א שָׁמַ֔עְנוּ בְּק֖וֹל יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃

Sources & method

Hebrew text
The Masoretic text with vowels (nikkud) and cantillation marks (ta’amim), from the Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain) as published by the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (CC BY 4.0). Where the written text (ketiv) differs from the reading (qere), the reading is shown and the written form follows in small type. A paragraph mark (ס or פ) inside a verse is shown in small type.
English translation
The King James Version (public domain), lightly modernized by Benei Avraham: “thee/thou/ye” become “you,” older verb forms are updated (“hath” to “has”), and archaic words are replaced only where the meaning would otherwise be unclear. People and places carry their Hebrew names, with the King James spelling in parentheses the first time on each page (e.g., Yehudah (Judah)). The Divine Name (יהוה, “the LORD” in the KJV) is written “Hashem”; “God” (Elohim) is unchanged, and “law” is “Torah” where the Hebrew is תּוֹרָה.
Verse numbers
Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible. In Jeremiah they differ from most English Bibles, or a verse is divided differently, in chapters 8 and 9; a note under the summary on those pages explains how.
Hebrew font
SBL Hebrew, by the Society of Biblical Literature.