The Faithless Wife

Jeremiah 3

Using the image of a wife who has left her husband for other lovers, the Lord describes how Israel and Judah have gone after false gods on every high hill, yet he calls them to turn back and promises to give them shepherds after his own heart and gather them from every land to Jerusalem. The chapter ends with the people confessing that they and their fathers have sinned and not heeded the Lord's voice.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonIF a man divorce his wife and she depart from him and marry another, can she return again to him? Would not such a wife be altogether polluted? Yet thou hast played the harlot with many shepherds and hast returned to Me, saith the Lord.

BrentonIf a man put away his wife, and she depart from him, and become another man's, shall she return to him any more at all? shall not that woman be utterly defiled? yet thou hast gone a-whoring with many shepherds, and hast returned to me, saith the Lord.

GreekἘὰν ἐξαποστείλῃ ἀνὴρ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀπέλθῃ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ, καὶ γένηται ἀνδρὶ ἑτέρῳ, μὴ ἀνακάμπτουσα ἀνακάμψει πρὸς αὐτὸν ἔτι; οὐ μιαινομένη μιανθήσεται ἡ γυνὴ ἐκείνη; καὶ σὺ ἐξεπόρνευσας ἐν ποιμέσι πολλοῖς, καὶ ἀνέκαμπτες πρὸς μὲ, λέγει Κύριος.

KJVThey 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.

JPS. . . saying: If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, may he return unto her again? Will not that land be greatly polluted? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; and wouldest thou yet return to Me? Saith the LORD.

ThomsonRaise thine eyes, look forward and take a view! where is there a place in which thou hast not prostituted thyself? In the highways thou hast sat for them like a deserted daw, and polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wicked acts,

BrentonLift up thine eyes to look straight forward, and see where thou hast not been utterly defiled. Thou hast sat for them by the wayside as a deserted crow, and hast defiled the land with thy fornications and thy wickedness.

GreekἎρον τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου εἰς εὐθεῖαν, καὶ ἴδε, ποῦ οὐχὶ ἐξεφύρθης· ἐπὶ ταῖς ὁδοῖς ἐκάθισας αὐτοῖς ὡσεὶ κορώνη ἐρημουμένη, καὶ ἐμίανας τὴν γῆν ἐν ταῖς πορνείαις σου καὶ ἐν ταῖς κακίαις σου,

KJVLift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.

JPSLift up thine eyes unto the high hills, and see: Where hast thou not been lain with? By the ways hast thou sat for them, as an Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy harlotries and with thy wickedness.

Thomsonand retained many shepherds for a stumbling block to thyself: yet with the face of a harlot and behaving indecently before them all,

BrentonAnd thou didst retain many shepherds for a stumbling-block to thyself: thou hadst a whore's face, thou didst become shameless toward all.

Greekκαὶ ἔσχες ποιμένας πολλοὺς εἰς πρόσκομμα σεαυτῇ· ὄψις πόρνης ἐγένετό σου, ἀπηναισχύντησας πρὸς πάντας.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonhast thou not returned home and called Me Father and the guide of thy youth?

BrentonHast thou not called me as it were a home, and the father and guide of thy virgin-time?

GreekΟὐχ ὡς οἶκόν με ἐκαλέσας, καὶ πατέρα καὶ ἀρχηγὸν τῆς παρθενίας σου;

KJVWilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?

JPS—

ThomsonWill anger continue forever? Shall it be kept up to the last? Behold thou hast spoken and done these evil things: yet thou hast prevailed.

BrentonWill God's anger continue for ever, or be preserved to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done these bad things, and hadst power to do them.

GreekΜὴ διαμενεῖ εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα, ἢ φυλαχθήσεται εἰς νῖκος; ἰδοὺ ἐλάλησας, καὶ ἐποίησας τὰ πονηρὰ ταῦτα, καὶ ἠδυνάσθης.

KJVWill he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest.

JPSWill He bear grudge for ever? Will He keep it to the end?’ Behold, thou hast spoken, but hast done evil things, and hast had thy way.

ThomsonAgain the Lord said to me in the days of Josias the king, Hast thou seen what the house of Israel have done to Me? They have gone up upon every high mountain and under every shady tree and have there committed whoredom—

BrentonAnd the Lord said to me in the days of Josias the king, Hast thou seen what things the house of Israel has done to me? they have gone on every high mountain, and under every shady tree, and have committed fornication there.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μὲ ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις Ἰωσείου τοῦ βασιλέως, εἶδες ἃ ἐποίησέ μοι ἡ κατοικία τοῦ Ἰσραήλ; ἐπορεύθησαν ἐπὶ πᾶν ὄρος ὑψηλὸν, καὶ ὑποκάτω παντὸς ξύλου ἀλσώδους, καὶ ἐπόρνευσαν ἐκεῖ.

KJVThe LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.

JPSAnd the LORD said unto me in the days of Josiah the king: ‘Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel did? she went up upon every high mountain and under every leafy tree, and there played the harlot.

Thomsonand after she had committed all these acts of whoredom I said, Return to Me; but she returned not. And the treacherous Juda saw this treachery;

BrentonAnd I said after she had committed all these acts of fornication, Turn again to me. Yet she returned not. And faithless Juda saw her faithlessness.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπα, μετὰ τὸ πορνεῦσαι αὐτὴν ταῦτα πάντα, πρὸς μὲ ἀνάστρεψον· καὶ οὐκ ἀνέστρεψε· καὶ εἶδε τὴν ἀσυνθεσίαν αὐτῆς ἡ ἀσύνθετος Ἰούδα.

KJVAnd I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.

JPSAnd I said: After she hath done all these things, she will return unto me; but she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.

Thomsonand I saw that when for all the whoredoms which Israel had committed and in which she had been caught, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorce in her hands, the treacherous Juda was not terrified, but went and committed the like herself.

BrentonAnd I saw that (for all the sins of which she was convicted, wherein the house of Israel committed adultery, and I put her away, and gave into her hands a bill of divorcement,) yet faithless Juda feared not, but went and herself also committed fornication.

GreekΚαὶ εἶδον, ὅτι περὶ πάντων ὧν κατελήφθη ἐν οἷς ἐμοιχᾶτο ἡ κατοικία Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ἐξαπέστειλα αὐτὴν, καὶ ἔδωκα αὐτῇ βιβλίον ἀποστασίου εἰς τὰς χεῖρας αὐτῆς· καὶ οὐκ ἐφοβήθη ἡ ἀσύνθετος Ἰούδα, καὶ ἐπορεύθη, καὶ ἐπόρνευσε καὶ αὐτὴ,

KJVAnd 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 Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

JPSAnd I saw, when, forasmuch as backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorcement, that yet treacherous Judah her sister feared not; but she also went and played the harlot;

ThomsonIndeed the other’s fornication was as nothing; she committed adultery with stocks and stones,

BrentonAnd her fornication was nothing accounted of; and she committed adultery with wood and stone.

Greekκαι ἐγένετο εἰς οὐθὲν ἡ πορνεία αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐμοίχευσε τὸ ξύλον καὶ τὸν λίθον.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomsonand for all this the treacherous Juda turned not to Me with her whole heart but only feignedly.

BrentonAnd for all these things faithless Juda turned not to me with all her heart, but falsely.

GreekΚαὶ ἐν πᾶσι τούτοις οὐκ ἐπεστράφη πρὸς μὲ ἡ ἀσύνθετος Ἰούδα ἐξ ὅλης τῆς καρδίας αὐτῆς, ἀλλʼ ἐπὶ ψεύδει.

KJVAnd yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD.

JPS—

ThomsonThen the Lord said to me: Israel hath justified herself more than the treacherous Juda.

BrentonAnd the Lord said to me, Israel has justified himself more than faithless Juda.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μὲ, ἐδικαίωσε τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ Ἰσραὴλ ἀπὸ τῆς ἀσυνθέτου Ἰούδα.

KJVAnd the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.

JPSeven the LORD said unto me—backsliding Israel hath proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

ThomsonGo and proclaim these words to the north and thou shalt say, Return to Me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord, and I will not set My face against you. For I am merciful, saith the Lord and will not be angry with you forever.

BrentonGo and read these words toward the north, and thou shalt say, Return to me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not set my face against you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not be angry with you for ever.

GreekΠορεύου καὶ ἀνάγνωθι τοὺς λόγους τούτους πρὸς Βοῤῥᾶν, καὶ ἐρεῖς, ἐπιστράφηθι πρὸς μὲ ἡ κατοικία τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ, λέγει Κύριος· καὶ μὴ στηριῶ τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς, ὅτι ἐλεήμων ἐγώ εἰμι, λέγει Κύριος, καὶ οὐ μηνιῶ ὑμῖν εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.

KJVGo and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.

JPSGo, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: Return, thou backsliding Israel, Saith the LORD; I will not frown upon you; For I am merciful, saith the LORD, I will not bear grudge for ever.

ThomsonNevertheless acknowledge thine iniquity—that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and opened thy ways for strangers under every shady tree; and hast not hearkened to My voice, saith the Lord.

BrentonNevertheless, know thine iniquity, that thou hast sinned against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to strangers under every shady tree, but thou didst not hearken to my voice, saith the Lord.

GreekΠλὴν, γνῶθι τὴν ἀδικίαν σου, ὅτι εἰς Κύριον τὸν Θεόν σου ἠσέβησας, καὶ διέχεας τὰς ὁδούς σου εἰς ἀλλοτρίους ὑποκάτω παντὸς ξύλου ἀλσώδους, τῆς δὲ φωνῆς μου οὐχ ὑπήκουσας, λέγει Κύριος.

KJVOnly acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.

JPSOnly acknowledge thine iniquity, That thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, And hast scattered thy ways to the strangers Under every leafy tree, And ye have not hearkened to My voice, Saith the LORD.

ThomsonReturn, O apostate children, saith the Lord: for I will exercise dominion over you, and take one of a city and two of a family and bring you to Sion:

BrentonTurn, ye children that have revolted, saith the Lord; for I will rule over you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you in to Sion:

GreekἘπιστράφητε υἱοὶ ἀφεστηκότες, λέγει Κύριος, διότι ἐγὼ κατακυριεύσω ὑμῶν, καὶ λήψομαι ὑμᾶς ἕνα ἐκ πόλεως καὶ δύο ἐκ πατριᾶς, καὶ εἰσάξω ὑμᾶς εἰς Σιὼν,

KJVTurn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; 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 Zion:

JPSReturn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am a lord unto you, and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion;

Thomsonand I will give you pastors according to Mine own heart, and they shall tend and feed you with knowledge.

Brentonand I will give you shepherds after my heart, and they shall certainly tend you with knowledge.

Greekκαὶ δώσω ὑμῖν ποιμένας κατὰ τὴν καρδίαν μου, καὶ ποιμανοῦσιν ὑμᾶς ποιμαίνοντες μετʼ ἐπιστήμης.

KJVAnd I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

JPSand I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

ThomsonAnd when you are multiplied and increased in the land, saith the Lord,—in those days they shall no more say, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Holy Israel.’ It shall no more come to mind nor be named; nor shall it be covered nor made any more.

BrentonAnd it shall come to pass that when ye are multiplied and increased upon the land, saith the Lord, in those days they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the Holy One of Israel: it shall not come to mind; it shall not be named; neither shall it be visited; nor shall this be done any more.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐὰν πληθυνθῆτε, καὶ αὐξηθῆτε ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, λέγει Κύριος, ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις οὐκ ἐροῦσιν ἔτι, κιβωτὸς διαθήκης ἁγίου Ἰσραὴλ, οὐκ ἀναβήσεται ἐπὶ καρδίαν, οὐκ ὀνομασθήσεται, οὐδὲ ἐπισκεφθήσεται, καὶ οὐ ποιηθήσεται ἔτι.

KJVAnd it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.

JPSAnd it shall come to pass, when ye are multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more: The ark of the covenant of the LORD; neither shall it come to mind; neither shall they make mention of it; neither shall they miss it; neither shall it be made any more.

ThomsonIn those days and at that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered to it. And they shall no more follow the desires of their own wicked heart.

BrentonIn those days and at that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered to it: and they shall not walk any more after the imaginations of their evil heart.

GreekἘν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις καὶ ἐν τῷ καιρῷ ἐκείνῳ καλέσουσι τὴν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, Θρόνον Κυρίου· καὶ συναχθήσονται πάντα τὰ ἔθνη εἰς αὐτὴν, καὶ οὐ πορεύσονται ἔτι ὀπίσω τῶν ἐνθυμημάτων τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν τῆς πονηρᾶς.

KJVAt that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart.

JPSAt that time they shall call Jerusalem The throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem; neither shall they walk any more after the stubbornness of their evil heart.

ThomsonIn those days the house of Juda shall unite with the house of Israel, and they shall come together from the land of the north and from all those countries, to the land which I put in possession of their fathers.

BrentonIn those days the house of Juda shall come together to the house of Israel, and they shall come, together, from the land of the north, and from all the countries, to the land, which I caused their fathers to inherit.

GreekἘν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις συνελεύσονται ὁ οἶκος Ἰούδα ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ ἥξουσιν ἐπιτοαυτὸ ἀπὸ γῆς Βοῤῥᾶ, καὶ ἀπὸ πασῶν τῶν χωρῶν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν, ἣν κατεκληρονόμησα τοὺς πατέρας αὐτῶν.

KJVIn those days the house of Judah 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.

JPSIn those days the house of Judah 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.’

Thomson(p)* (Whereupon I said, so be it, O Lord.) (J) Because I am to rank thee among children and give thee a choice land—the heritage of God the Supreme Ruler of nations; therefore I said, Call Me Father, and, From Me you shall not turn away.

BrentonAnd I said, So be it, Lord, for thou saidst, I will set thee among children, and will give thee a choice land, the inheritance of the Almighty God of the Gentiles: and I said, Ye shall call me Father; and ye shall not turn away from me.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγὼ εἶπα, γένοιτο Κύριε· ὅτι τάξω σε εἰς τέκνα, καὶ δώσω σοι γῆν ἐκλεκτὴν, κληρονομίαν Θεοῦ παντοκράτορος ἐθνῶν· καὶ εἶπα, πατέρα καλέσετέ με, καὶ ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ οὐκ ἀποστραφήσεσθε.

KJVBut I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.

JPSBut I said: ‘How would I put thee among the sons, And give thee a pleasant land, The goodliest heritage of the nations! ’ And I said: ‘Thou shalt call Me, My father; And shalt not turn away from following Me.’

ThomsonBut as a wife dealeth treacherously with her husband, so the house of Israel dealt treacherously with Me, saith the Lord.

BrentonBut as a wife acts treacherously against her husband, so has the house of Israel dealt treacherously against me, saith the Lord.

GreekΠλὴν ὡς ἀθετεῖ γυνὴ εἰς τὸν συνόντα αὐτῇ, οὕτως ἠθέτησεν εἰς ἐμὲ ὁ οἶκος Ἰσραὴλ, λέγει Κύριος.

KJVSurely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.

JPSSurely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, So have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, Saith the LORD.

ThomsonA $ound from thellips was heard, of the wailing and supplication of the children of Israel; because they had transgressed in their ways-had forgotten God their Holy One.

BrentonA voice from the lips was heard, even of weeping and supplication of the children of Israel: for they have dealt unrighteously in their ways, they have forgotten God their Holy One.

GreekΦωνὴ ἐκ χειλέων ἠκούσθη κλαυθμοῦ καὶ δεήσεως υἱῶν Ἰσραὴλ, ὅτι ἠδίκησαν ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτῶν, ἐπελάθοντο Θεοῦ ἁγίου αὐτῶν.

KJVA 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 the LORD their God.

JPSHark! upon the high hills is heard The suppliant weeping of the children of Israel; For that they have perverted their way, They have forgotten the LORD their God.

ThomsonReturn, return, O children, and I will heal your bruises. (c) Behold we will be Thy servants for Thou art the Lord our God.

BrentonTurn, ye children that are given to turning, and I will heal your bruises. Behold, we will be thy servants; for thou art the Lord our God.

GreekἘπιστράφητε υἱοὶ ἐπιστρέφοντες, καὶ ἰάσομαι τὰ συντρίμματα ὑμῶν. Ἰδοὺ δοῦλοι ἡμεῖς ἐσόμεθά σοι· ὅτι σὺ Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν εἶ.

KJVReturn, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God.

JPSReturn, ye backsliding children, I will heal your backslidings.— ‘Here we are, we are come unto Thee; For Thou art the LORD our God.

ThomsonFalse indeed have been the hills and the strength of the mountains, but from the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.

BrentonTruly the hills and the strength of the mountains were a lying refuge: but by the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.

GreekὌντως εἰς ψεῦδος ἦσαν οἱ βουνοὶ, καὶ ἡ δύναμις τῶν ὀρέων, πλὴν διὰ Κυρίου Θεοῦ ἡμῶν ἡ σωτηρία τοῦ Ἰσραήλ.

KJVTruly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel.

JPSTruly vain have proved the hills, The uproar on the mountains; Truly in the LORD our God Is the salvation of Israel.

ThomsonThis shame consumed the labours of our fathers from our youth-their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

BrentonBut shame has consumed the labours of our fathers from our youth; their sheep and their calves, and their sons and their daughters.

GreekἩ δὲ αἰσχύνη κατηνάλωσε τοὺς μόχθους τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν, ἀπὸ νεότητος ἡμῶν, τὰ πρόβατα αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς μόσχους αὐτῶν καὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς θυγατέρας αὐτῶν.

KJVFor shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their daughters.

JPSBut the shameful thing hath devoured The labour of our fathers from our youth; Their flocks and their herds, Their sons and their daughters.

ThomsonWe lay down in our shame and our dishonour covered us; because we sinned against our God-both we and our fathers from our youth to this day; and hearkened not to the voice of the Lord our God.

BrentonWe have lain down in our shame, and our disgrace has covered us: because we and our fathers have sinned before our God, from our youth until this day; and we have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord our God.

GreekἘκοιμήθημεν ἐν τῇ αἰσχύνῃ ἡμῶν, καὶ ἐπεκάλυψεν ἡμᾶς ἡ ἀτιμία ἡμῶν, διότι ἔναντι τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν ἡμάρτομεν ἡμεῖς, καὶ οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν, ἀπὸ νεότητος ἡμῶν ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης· καὶ οὐχ ὑπηκούσαμεν τῆς φωνῆς Κυρίου τοῦ Θεοῦ ἡμῶν.

KJVWe lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.

JPSLet us lie down in our shame, And let our confusion cover us; For we have sinned against the LORD our God, We and our fathers, From our youth even unto this day; And we have not hearkened To the voice of the LORD our God.’