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Jeremiah 3:8

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 3:8 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And I saw, when, for this very cause that backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorcement, yet treacherous Judah her sister feared not; but she also went and played the harlot.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And I saw, when, for this very cause that backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorcement, yet treacherous Judah her sister feared not; but she also went and played the harlot.
Jeremiah 3:8 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5Will he retain [his anger] for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and hast done evil things, and hast had thy way.
6Moreover Jehovah said 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.
7And I said after she had done all these things, She will return unto me; but she returned not: and her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
8And I saw, when, for this very cause that backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a bill of divorcement, yet treacherous Judah her sister feared not; but she also went and played the harlot.
9And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that the land was polluted, and she committed adultery with stones and with stocks.
10And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not returned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith Jehovah.
11And Jehovah said unto me, Backsliding Israel hath showed herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.
← Jeremiah 3:7Jeremiah 3:9 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And I saw, when for all the causes, whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery, etc.] Not only Judah saw, but God, who sees all things, saw the idolatry of the ten tribes which apostatized from him, and all the springs, causes, reasons, and occasions of it, and its consequences; and also the treachery, hardness, and idolatry of Judah: I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; as men did, when they put away their wives, as they might lawfully do in case of adultery; and here being that which answered to it, spiritual adultery or idolatry, the Lord, who was married to this people, put them away from him, and caused them to be carried captive out of their own land into another,…”
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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
“I saw that, though (whereas) it was for this very reason (namely), because backsliding (apostate) Israel had committed adultery I had put her away (Kg2 17:6, Kg2 17:18), and given her a bill of divorce, yet Judah, &c. (Eze 23:11, &c.). bill of divorce--literally, "a writing of cuttings off." The plural implies the completeness of the severance. The use of this metaphor here, as in the former discourse (Jer 3:1), implies a close connection between the discourses. The epithets are characteristic; Israel "apostate" (as the Hebrew for "backsliding" is better rendered); Judah, not as yet utterly apostate, but treacherous or faithless. also--herself also, like Israel.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Rather, “And I saw” that because apostate “Israel” had “committed adultery, I had put her away, and given her” the writing of her divorcement, “yet” false “Judah her sister feared not.”...The expression, “For all the causes whereby,” is probably the actual formula with which writings of divorcement commenced. return to 'Top of Page'”
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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
“Given a bill - Delivered her up into the hands of the Assyrian, where God took from her the title of being his church, Kg2 17:5-6. Jeremiah 3:10”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“3:8 divorced: See 2 Kgs 17:23.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“when for: Jer 3:1; Kg2 17:6-18, Kg2 18:9-11; Eze 23:9; Hos 2:2, Hos 2:3, Hos 3:4, Hos 4:15-17, Hos 9:15-17 and given her: Deu 24:1; Isa 50:1 feared not: Kg2 17:19; Eze 23:11-21; Hos 4:15 Jeremiah 3:9”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 3 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification