Jeremiah 3:14

“Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord, etc.] All of them were children by national adoption, and some by special grace, and yet “backsliders”, O monstrous ingratitude! “backsliders”, and yet “children”, still the relation continues, O marvellous grace! God’s own children may backslide, and often do; either in heart, when love waxes cold, faith declines, zeal wanting; when they get into a carnal sleepy frame of spirit, and have not that quick sense of sin, and of duty, as heretofore: or in practice, when private prayer is restrained; public worship is neglected; get into bad company, and fall into gross sins; all which is owing to the prevalence of indwelling sin, the force of Satan’s…”

“I am married--literally, "I am Lord," that is, husband to you (so Jer 31:32; compare Hos 2:19-20; Isa 54:5). GESENIUS, following the Septuagint version of Jer 31:32, and Paul's quotation of it (Heb 8:9), translates, "I have rejected you"; so the corresponding Arabic, and the idea of lordship, may pass into that of looking down upon, and so rejecting. But the Septuagint in this passage translates, "I will be Lord over you." And the "for" has much more force in English Version than in that of GESENIUS. The Hebrew hardly admits the rendering though [HENGSTENBERG]. take you one of a city--Though but one or two Israelites were in a (foreign) city, they shall not be forgotten; all shall be…”

“Children ... married - The twofold relationship gives a double certainty of acceptance. As children, they were sure of a father’s love, as a wife they might hope for a revival of past affection from the husband of their youth. One of a city, and two of a family - The family (in Hebrew) is far larger than a city, as it embraces all the descendants of a common ancestor. Thus, the tribe of Judah was divided into only four or five families. However national the apostasy, it does not involve in its guilt the few who are faithful, and the promises are still their rightful possession. To Zion - To the true Church. The fulfillment of the promise began with the return to Palestine after the…”

“I am married - I am in covenant with you, and this covenant notwithstanding all your unfaithfulness, I am ready to renew with you. Family - This word is taken frequently for a country or nation, and this may partly respect the fewness of those that will return. But chiefly it respects God's exact care of them, that being now married to them, there shall not be one in a city, or two in a country or tribe, but he will find them out. Zion - The ten tribes did never return into their own land, therefore this must be understood of a spiritual going up to Zion, when all Israel shall be saved, Rom 11:26. Jeremiah 3:16”

“3:14 Return home: The Lord had spoken to all Israel as a husband to an adulterous wife, but now he refers to Israel as wayward children. The Lord would bring selected exiles back to the Promised Land (31:6, 32; Hos 2:19-20; Rom 11:5). • to the land of Israel: Hebrew to Zion.”

“O backsliding: Jer 2:19 for I am married: Jer 3:1, Jer 3:8, Jer 2:2, Jer 31:32; Isa 54:5; Hos 2:19, Hos 2:20 one of a city: Jer 23:3, Jer 31:8-10; Isa 1:9, Isa 6:13, Isa 10:22, Isa 11:11, Isa 11:12, Isa 17:6, Isa 24:13-15; Eze 34:11-14; Zac 13:7-9; Rom 9:27, Rom 11:4-6 Jeremiah 3:15”