And I thought, ‘After she has done all this she will return to me,’ but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God expresses a hope, a quiet expectation, that after all Israel's unfaithfulness, they would finally return to Him. The shocking part is that their sister nation, Judah, witnessed this blatant rejection of God's call and still didn't learn from it.
And I thought, ‘After she has done all this she will return to me,’ but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God is speaking through Jeremiah, addressing the sin of "backsliding Israel" (the northern kingdom) which has openly chased after idols on every high place. Despite their terrible spiritual adultery, God expresses a hope that Israel would eventually return to Him. However, they refused, and their sister nation, Judah (the southern kingdom), witnessed this rejection but failed to learn from it.
Even after the most profound betrayals, God still calls us back. But what happens when that call goes unanswered?
Jeremiah 3:7 reveals a God who, despite Israel's deep unfaithfulness – described as playing the harlot on high mountains and under green trees – still held out a hand. The verse states, 'And I said, After she has done all this, she will return to me.' This wasn't a demand, but a spoken hope, a testament to God's incredible patience. He didn't immediately shut the door; He expressed an expectation of return, indicating His persistent desire for relationship even in the face of severe sin. The prophets, like Elijah and Elisha, were God's messengers of this persistent call, urging them to turn back to Him.
When others fall, do we learn, or do we simply fall into the same trap?
The verse starkly contrasts Israel's open betrayal with Judah's behavior: 'but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it.' Judah, though nominally distinct from the ten northern tribes of Israel, is called 'treacherous.' This wasn't just a passive observation; it was a failure to learn. While Israel's open apostasy and subsequent judgment (implied by God's divorce statement in verse 8) were before Judah's eyes, she didn't heed the warning. Instead of turning back to God in repentance, Judah remained faithless, continuing in her own forms of spiritual infidelity. She saw the consequences of sin but felt no urgency to change, demonstrating a dangerous complacency.
Understand the original words
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shuv · Hebrew Verb
The act of turning back to God in repentance and faith; it involves a fundamental change of direction in one's life.
bagad · Hebrew Adjective
Characterized by betrayal and unfaithfulness; often used of those who break their promises or covenant obligations, particularly toward God.
This verse vividly contrasts the fate of the Northern Kingdom (Israel) with the Southern Kingdom (Judah). God had already judged Israel for its persistent idolatry, sending them into exile. Jeremiah prophesies during Josiah's reign, a time of attempted reform, yet highlights that Judah, despite witnessing Israel's downfall, remained deeply unfaithful, setting the stage for its own eventual destruction.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Assyrian Exile
The capital city of the Northern Kingdom of Israel falls to the Assyrian Empire, and the majority of its population is exiled, marking the effective end of the Northern Kingdom.
c. 640-609 BC
Reign of King Josiah
Josiah rules Judah and initiates a significant religious reformation, purging the land of idolatrous practices and attempting to restore pure worship of Yahweh.
c. 627 BC— this verse
Jeremiah Begins Prophesying
Jeremiah receives his call from God and begins his ministry during the reign of Josiah, addressing both the outward reforms and the deep-seated spiritual corruption remaining in Judah.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and deports a portion of the population, including Daniel, to Babylon, signaling the rising power of the Babylonian Empire.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
After a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and more of Judah's elite, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Babylonians destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining population and ending Judah's existence as an independent kingdom.
This passage expresses a similar theme of God's people being inclined to stray and stray away, highlighting a persistent tendency towards unfaithfulness despite God's loving pursuit.
Ezekiel 23:4-11This passage uses a similar allegory of two sisters, Oholah (Samaria) and Oholibah (Jerusalem), to depict their unfaithfulness and God's subsequent judgment, mirroring Jeremiah's portrayal of Israel and Judah.
Jeremiah 8:5-7This passage directly challenges Judah for its persistent unfaithfulness, asking why it continues to turn away despite seeing the consequences that befell its sister, Israel.
Romans 11:20-22This passage discusses the wild olive branch (Gentiles) being grafted into the olive tree (Israel) and warns against arrogance, reminding the reader that just as branches were broken off due to unbelief, they too can be cut off if they do not remain in God's kindness.
pulpitJeremiah 3:7: "And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it."
Verse 7. - And I said after she had done, etc.; rather, and I said, After she hath done all these things, she will return unto me. And her treacherous sister. Observe the distinction between the two sisters. Israel had openly broken the political and religious connection with Jehovah (Hosea 8:4); Judah nominally retained both, but her heart was toward…
clarkeJeremiah 3:7: "And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it."
And I said - By the prophets Elijah, Elisha, Hosea, Amos, etc.; for all these prophesied to that rebellious people, and exhorted them to return to the Lord.
God expresses a hope, a quiet expectation, that after all Israel's unfaithfulness, they would finally return to Him. The shocking part is that their sister nation, Judah, witnessed this blatant rejection of God's call and still didn't learn from it.
God is speaking through Jeremiah, addressing the sin of "backsliding Israel" (the northern kingdom) which has openly chased after idols on every high place. Despite their terrible spiritual adultery, God expresses a hope that Israel would eventually return to Him. However, they refused, and their sister nation, Judah (the southern kingdom), witnessed this rejection but failed to learn from it.
God is speaking through Jeremiah, addressing the sin of "backsliding Israel" (the northern kingdom) which has openly chased after idols on every high place. Despite their terrible spiritual adultery, God expresses a hope that Israel would eventually return to Him. However, they refused, and their sister nation, Judah (the southern kingdom), witnessed this rejection but failed to learn from it.
"And I thought, ‘After she has done all this she will return to me,’ but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it." — God expresses a hope, a quiet expectation, that after all Israel's unfaithfulness, they would finally return to Him. The shocking part is that their sister nation, Judah, witnessed this blatant rej…
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Last reviewed October 2026