Jeremiah 3:18

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 3:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “In 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 gave for an inheritance unto your fathers.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

In 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 gave for an inheritance unto your fathers.
Jeremiah 3:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
18In 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 gave for an inheritance unto your fathers.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, etc.] Which had its accomplishment when some of the ten tribes, scattered among the nations whither the Gospel came, as well as in the land of Judea, being converted under it, joined together in a Gospel church state, and walked together in all the commandments and ordinances of Christ: and it may also denote the agreement of all Christian confessors, as Judah signifies, and of all Israelites indeed, in worship, whether Jews or Gentiles; becoming through Christ members of one body, fellow heirs and partakers of the same grace, promises, and privileges; and which harmony will still be more manifest in the latter day,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Judah . . . Israel . . . together--Two distinct apostasies, that of Israel and that of Judah, were foretold (Jer 3:8, Jer 3:10). The two have never been united since the Babylonish captivity; therefore their joint restoration must be still future (Isa 11:12-13; Eze 37:16-22; Hos 1:11). north-- (Jer 3:12). land . . . given . . . inheritance-- (Amo 9:15).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“With - To (margin). The prophet has just described the return of the ten tribes Jeremiah 3:14, etc. Israel is represented as the first to repent, and Judah must go to her, in order that they may come together back to the holy land, divided no longer into Jews and Israelites, but merged into one people. Out of the land of the north - The objection that the Jews were not carried like the Israelites into the northern provinces of Assyria Jeremiah 3:12, but into Babylonia, misinterprets the whole prophecy, the gist of which is that in case of Israel’s repentance, Judah must humbly seek her out, and be content henceforward to take the inferior place, as having been the more guilty (see Jeremiah…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Judah - The two kingdoms shall become one. Shall come - Of their captivity, a promise of their enjoying again their ancient possession at their last conversion. Jeremiah 3:19”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“3:18 Judah and Israel would be among the people flowing to Jerusalem. The Lord would mercifully bring them from exile and once again settle them in the Promised Land (31:8; Isa 11:13; Ezek 37:16-22; Hos 1:11; Amos 9:15).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“In: Jer 30:3, Jer 50:4, Jer 50:20; Isa 11:11-13; Eze 37:16-22, Eze 39:25-28; Hos 1:11, Hos 11:12; Zac 10:6 with: or, to out: Jer 3:12, Jer 23:8, Jer 31:8; Amo 9:15 given: etc. or, caused your fathers to possess Jeremiah 3:19”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“In those days when Jerusalem is glorified by being made the throne of the Lord, Judah along with Israel will come out of the north into the land which the Lord gave to their fathers. As the destruction of Jerusalem and of the temple is foretold implicite in Jer 3:16, so here the expulsion of Judah into exile is assumed as having already taken place, and the return not of Israel, only, but of Judah too is announced, as in Hos 2:2, and more fully in Eze 27:16. We should note the arrangement, the house of Judah with (על, prop. on) the house of Israel; this is as much as to say that Israel is the first to resolve on a return and to arise, and that Judah joins itself to the house of Israel. Judah…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification