Jeremiah 31:20 Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him," declares the LORD.

<< Jeremiah 31:20 >>

New International Version (©1984)
Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight? Though I often speak against him, I still remember him. Therefore my heart yearns for him; I have great compassion for him," declares the LORD.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a delightful child? Indeed, as often as I have spoken against him, I certainly still remember him; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him," declares the LORD.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant child? Even though I have often spoken against him, I still think fondly of him. That is why my heart longs for him, and I will certainly have compassion on him," declares the LORD.

King James Bible
Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

American King James Version
Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spoke against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy on him, said the LORD.

American Standard Version
Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a darling child? for as often as I speak against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my heart yearneth for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith Jehovah.

Bible in Basic English
Is Ephraim my dear son? is he the child of my delight? for whenever I say things against him, I still keep him in my memory: so my heart is troubled for him; I will certainly have mercy on him, says the Lord.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Surely Ephraim is an honourable son to me, surely he is a tender child: for since I spoke of him, I will still remember him. Therefore are my bowels troubled for him: pitying I will pity him, saith the Lord.

Darby Bible Translation
Is Ephraim a dear son unto me? is he a child of delights? For whilst I have been speaking against him, I do constantly remember him still. Therefore my bowels are troubled for him: I will certainly have mercy upon him, saith Jehovah.

English Revised Version
Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for as often as I speak against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

Webster's Bible Translation
Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spoke against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

World English Bible
Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a darling child? for as often as I speak against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says Yahweh.

Young's Literal Translation
A precious son is Ephraim to Me? A child of delights? For since My speaking against him, I do thoroughly remember him still, Therefore have My bowels been moved for him, I do greatly love him, An affirmation of Jehovah.

Geneva Study Bible

Is Ephraim {a} my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spoke against him, I do earnestly {b} remember him still: therefore my heart is troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

(a) As though he would say no for by his iniquity he did what lay in him to cast me off.

Wesley's Notes

31:20 For since - From the time I spake against him by my threatenings, I remember him with the affection and compassion of a father.

King James Translators' Notes

are...: Heb. sound

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

20. Is Ephraim my dear son? &c.-The question implies that a negative answer was to be expected. Who would have thought that one so undutiful to His heavenly Father as Ephraim had been should still be regarded by God as a "pleasant child?" Certainly he was not so in respect to his sin. But by virtue of God's "everlasting love" (Jer 31:3) on Ephraim's being "turned" to God, he was immediately welcomed as God's "dear son." This verse sets forth God's readiness to welcome the penitent (Jer 31:18, 19), anticipating his return with prevenient grace and love. Compare Lu 15:20: "When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion," &c.

spake against-threatened him for his idolatry.

remember-with favor and concern, as in Ge 8:1; 30:22.

bowels . troubled for him-(De 32:36; Isa 63:15; Ho 11:8)-namely, with the yearnings of compassionate love. The "bowels" include the region of the heart, the seat of the affections.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

31:18-20 Ephraim (the ten tribes) is weeping for sin. He is angry at himself for his sin, and folly, and frowardness. He finds he cannot, by his own power, keep himself close with God, much less bring himself back when he is revolted. Therefore he prays, Turn thou me, and I shall be turned. His will was bowed to the will of God. When the teaching of God's Spirit went with the corrections of his providence, then the work was done. This is our comfort in affliction, that the Lord thinks upon us. God has mercy in store, rich mercy, sure mercy, suitable mercy, for all who seek him in sincerity.

Genesis 43:30 Joseph hurried out for he was deeply stirred over his brother, and he sought a place to weep; and he entered his chamber and wept there.

Judges 10:16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD; and He could bear the misery of Israel no longer.

Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 57:18 "I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners,

Isaiah 63:15 Look down from heaven and see from Your holy and glorious habitation; Where are Your zeal and Your mighty deeds? The stirrings of Your heart and Your compassion are restrained toward me.

Hosea 11:8 How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I surrender you, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned over within Me, All My compassions are kindled.

Hosea 14:4 I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from them.

Micah 7:18 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. (NASB ©1995)

Child Compassion Darling Dear Declares Delight Earnestly Ephraim Heart Mercy Often Remember Says Speak Surely Though Yearns

Bowels Child Darling Dear Declares Delight Delightful Delights Earnestly Ephraim E'phraim Great Heart Indeed Memory Mercy Often Pleasant Remember Speak Speaking Surely Troubled Whenever Whilst Yearns

Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

Is Ephraim. 32:9 3:19 Ps 103:13 Pr 3:12 Lu 15:24,32

for. De 32:36 Jud 10:16 Isa 57:16-18 La 3:32,32 Ho 11:8,9

my bowels. Ge 43:30 1Ki 3:26 So 5:4 Php 1:8

are troubled. Heb. sound. 48:36 Isa 16:11 63:15

I will. Isa 55:7 57:18 Ho 14:4 Mic 7:18,19

Bible Gateway: Jeremiah Chapter 31 Verse 20 NIV ESV NKJV NLT KJV Message Amplified

Alphabetical: a against as certainly child compassion dear declares delight delightful Ephraim for great have he heart him I in Indeed Is LORD mercy my not often on remember son speak spoken still surely the Therefore Though whom will yearns

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

OT Prophets: Jeremiah 31:20 Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he (Jer.) Christian Bible Study Resources, Dictionary, Concordance and Search Tools

Jeremiah 31:20 Bible Software
Jeremiah 31:20 Biblia Paralela
Jeremiah 31:20 Chinese Bible
Jeremiah 31:20 French Bible
Jeremiah 31:20 German Bible
Jeremiah 31:20 Danish Bible
Jeremiah 31:20 Swedish Bible
Jeremiah 31:20 Norwegian Bible
Jeremiah 31:20 Multilingual Bible

Online Bible