Jeremiah 3:12-13
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Notice that the phrase "my anger" is literally "my face" in the original Hebrew. This isn't just about a feeling of anger, but God turning His very countenance away in displeasure, and He promises not to let that happen to returning Israel.
Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, “‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the LORD your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the LORD.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah is sent to proclaim a message of return and mercy, not to the people in Judah, but towards the north, where the exiled ten tribes of Israel are scattered. This call to repentance is offered to them despite their past unfaithfulness, with the assurance that God's anger is not eternal, highlighting His merciful nature. The prophet's message anticipates a future restoration, urging both the exiles and the remaining people of Judah to turn back to God.
Why did God tell Jeremiah to speak 'toward the north' when Israel was already in exile?
The command to 'Go and proclaim these words toward the north' is significant. It's not necessarily about the prophet physically traveling to the northern lands where the exiled Israelites were scattered. Instead, it's a symbolic direction.
God calls His people 'faithless' and 'backsliding' – why then would He offer mercy?
The core of this message is an invitation to return. The Hebrew words used are powerful:
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Does God's anger ever truly end? This verse suggests an incredible hope.
The declaration, 'I will not look on you in anger... I will not be angry forever,' offers a profound glimpse into the nature of God's justice and His ultimate purposes.
It assures us that even when God’s discipline falls, His heart remains turned towards ultimate redemption, not perpetual condemnation.
Understand the original words
shub · Hebrew Verb
A turning back to God in repentance; a change of mind and direction from sin back to a state of obedience and covenant fidelity.
chasid · Hebrew Adjective
Compassionate, gracious, and tenderhearted; describing God's covenant loyalty and His withholding of deserved judgment.
avon · Hebrew Noun
The recognition and admission of sin or wrongdoing against God; essential for restoration and forgiveness.
pasha · Hebrew Verb
Willful resistance to God's authority and commands, representing a breach of the divine-human relationship.
derek · Hebrew Noun
In this context, referring to illicit worship or spiritual adultery, often tied to idolatry where the heart's devotion is given to false gods.
This message of return and mercy is directed 'toward the north,' a poignant reminder of the ten northern tribes already in exile for generations. It highlights God's consistent heart for His people, even those far removed by judgment, and stands in stark contrast to the looming doom still awaiting Judah.
734 BC
Assyrian Conquest of Northern Israel
King Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria invades the northern kingdom of Israel, deporting many of its inhabitants to Assyria. This marks the beginning of the end for the northern kingdom.
722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Exile of Northern Tribes
Shalmaneser V and then Sargon II of Assyria conquer the remaining northern kingdom of Israel, destroying its capital, Samaria. The rest of the Israelite population is exiled to various parts of the Assyrian empire.
c. 627 BC
Jeremiah Begins Prophesying
Jeremiah receives his call to prophesy, ministering during a turbulent period for Judah, with the Assyrian empire weakening and the Babylonian empire rising.
c. 612 BC
Babylonian Empire Rises
The Babylonian Empire, under Nabopolassar, decisively defeats the Assyrian Empire. This shifts the regional power dynamics and sets the stage for further conflict involving Judah.
c. 609 BC— this verse
Prophecy to the Exiled Northern Tribes
Jeremiah is instructed by God to proclaim a message of return and mercy towards the north, where the exiles of the ten northern tribes had been scattered by the Assyrians. This message emphasizes God's enduring mercy despite their past rebellion.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports a group of Judean nobles and skilled workers, including Daniel, to Babylon. This event signifies the growing power of Babylon over Judah.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
The Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar, conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and deport a large portion of the remaining population to Babylon, ending the southern kingdom of Judah as an independent entity.
This passage echoes Jeremiah's call to 'return' with a similar promise of God's gracious reception and healing for a repentant people, highlighting God's readiness to forgive.
Exodus 34:6-7Jeremiah's declaration that 'I am merciful' directly reflects God's self-revelation to Moses, emphasizing His core character of compassion and a desire not to punish forever.
Isaiah 55:6-7This passage offers a parallel invitation to seek the LORD while He may be found and to turn from wicked ways, promising abundant mercy and forgiveness, mirroring the message in Jeremiah.
Ezekiel 18:21-23This prophetic message strongly emphasizes that if the wicked turn from their sins, they will live, and God will not remember their transgressions, reinforcing the conditional nature of God's judgment and mercy proclaimed by Jeremiah.
Luke 15:11-32Jesus' parable of the Prodigal Son beautifully illustrates the 'return' and 'merciful' aspect of God, showing a Father eagerly awaiting and joyfully welcoming a backsliding child, even before they fully complete their return.
gillJeremiah 3:12: "Go 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."
Go and proclaim these words towards the north,.... With his face thitherwards, towards Babylon, which lay north of Judea, and was the metropolis of Assyria, where the ten tribes were carried captive; and though they were dispersed in the cities of Media and…
calvinJeremiah 3:12: "Go 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."
Go 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.
Vade et clama (hoc est,…
Notice that the phrase "my anger" is literally "my face" in the original Hebrew. This isn't just about a feeling of anger, but God turning His very countenance away in displeasure, and He promises not to let that happen to returning Israel.
Jeremiah is sent to proclaim a message of return and mercy, not to the people in Judah, but towards the north, where the exiled ten tribes of Israel are scattered. This call to repentance is offered to them despite their past unfaithfulness, with the assurance that God's anger is not eternal, highlighting His merciful nature. The prophet's message anticipates a future restoration, urging both the exiles and the remaining people of Judah to turn back to God.
Jeremiah is sent to proclaim a message of return and mercy, not to the people in Judah, but towards the north, where the exiled ten tribes of Israel are scattered. This call to repentance is offered to them despite their past unfaithfulness, with the assurance that God's anger is not eternal, highlighting His merciful nature. The prophet's message anticipates a future restoration, urging both the exiles and the remaining people of Judah to turn back to God.
"Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say,
“‘Return, faithless Israel,
declares the LORD.
I will not look on you in anger,
for I am merciful,…" — Notice that the phrase "my anger" is literally "my face" in the original Hebrew. This isn't just about a feeling of anger, but God turning His very countenance away in displeasure, and He promises no…
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Last reviewed October 2026