Jeremiah 3:19

“But I said, etc.] Within himself, in the thoughts of his heart, when he took up a resolution concerning their conversion, open adoption, and return to their own land, as a symbol of the eternal inheritance: how shall I put thee among the children? among the children of God, who are so by special adopting grace, which is a high and honourable privilege, greater than to be the sons and daughters of the greatest potentate on earth; who as they are high birth, being born of God, so they are brought up, and fed, and clothed as the children of the King of kings; they have great nearness to and freedom with God their Father; they are heirs with God and joint heirs with Christ, and shall ever remain…”

“The good land covenanted to Abraham is to be restored to his seed. But the question arises, How shall this be done? put . . . among . . . children--the Greek for adoption means, literally, "putting among the sons." the children--that is, My children. "How shall I receive thee back into My family, after thou hast so long forsaken Me for idols?" The answer is, they would acknowledge Him as "Father," and no longer turn away from Him. God assumes the language of one wondering how so desperate apostates could be restored to His family and its privileges (compare Eze 37:3; CALVIN makes it, How the race of Abraham can be propagated again, being as it were dead); yet as His purpose has decreed it…”

“But I - (emphatic). “And I.” The emphasis lies in the abundant goodness of God contrasted with Israel’s waywardness. How ...? - Rather, How ...! i. e., How gloriously! With what honor will I place thee among the children! Goodly ... of the hosts ... - Rather, “a heritage of the chief beauty of nations.” The general sense is, that Israel “possesses the most beautiful territory of any nation.” And I said - This clause is not the answer to a difficulty, as in the King James Version, but completes the description of God’s loving purpose. “I said within myself that I would treat thee as a son, and give thee a glorious inheritance: I also said, that ye would return my love, would call me Father,…”

“Put - Esteem thee as my child, 'till thou give some proof, of thy repentance. Give thee - How shall I put thee into possession of that pleasant land. Of nations - Great hosts and multitudes of nations, or Gentiles, that shall be joined to them in the gospel church. Thou shalt - On this condition, that thou wilt own me, and not return any more to idols. Jeremiah 3:21”

“3:19-20 But: This transitional word emphasizes the contrast between what the Lord wanted and the actual situation. The Lord would love to treat his people as his precious children, but he could not. The covenant marriage between God and his people had been ruptured by the faithless wife. The Lord could not overlook this sin (Isa 48:8).”

“How: Jer 5:7; Hos 11:8 put thee: Jer 3:4, Jer 31:9, Jer 31:20; Joh 1:11-13; Co2 6:17, Co2 6:18; Gal 3:26, Gal 4:5-7; Eph 1:5; Jo1 3:1-3 pleasant land: Heb. land of desire, Jer 12:10; Psa 106:24; Eze 20:6; Dan 8:9, Dan 11:16, Dan 11:41, Dan 11:45 goodly heritage: Heb. heritage of glory, or beauty, Pro 3:35; Pe1 1:3, Pe1 1:4 Thou shalt: Jer 3:4; Isa 63:16, Isa 64:8; Mat 6:8, Mat 6:9; Rom 8:15-17; Gal 4:5 shalt not: Jer 32:39, Jer 32:40; Heb 10:39 from me: Heb. from after me Jeremiah 3:20”

“The return of Israel to its God. - Jer 3:19. "I thought, O how I will put thee among the sons, and give thee a delightful land, a heritage of the chiefest splendour of the nations! and thought, 'My Father,' ye will cry to me, and not turn yourselves away from me. Jer 3:20. truly as a wife faithlessly forsakes her mate, so are ye become faithless towards me, house of Israel, saith Jahveh. Jer 3:21. A voice upon the bare-topped hills is heard, suppliant weeping of the sons of Israel; for that they have made their way crooked, forsaken Jahveh their God. Jer 3:22. 'Return, ye backsliding sons, I will heal your backsliding,' Behold, we come to thee; for Thou Jahveh art our God. Jer 3:23. Truly…”