Jeremiah 3:1-3

Wages of Apostasy

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If^(a) a man divorces his wife
and she leaves him to marry another,
can he ever return to her?^(A)
Wouldn’t such a land^(b) become totally defiled?
But you!
You have played the prostitute with many partners^(B)—
can you return to Me?^(C)
This is the Lord’s declaration.

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Look to the barren heights^(D) and see.
Where have you not been immoral?
You sat waiting for them beside the highways^(E)
like a nomad in the desert.
You have defiled the land
with your prostitution and wickedness.^(F)

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This is why the showers haven’t come^(G)—
why there has been no spring rain.
You have the brazen look^(H) of a prostitute^(c)
and refuse to be ashamed.^(I)

Footnotes:

a. Jeremiah 3:1: One Hb ms, LXX, Syr; other Hb mss read Saying: If

b. Jeremiah 3:1: LXX reads woman

c. Jeremiah 3:3: Lit have a prostitute’s forehead

Cross references:

A. Jeremiah 3:1: Deuteronomy 24:1-4

B. Jeremiah 3:1: Ezekiel 16:26; Ezekiel 16:28

C. Jeremiah 3:1: Hosea 2:7

D. Jeremiah 3:2: Deuteronomy 12:2; Ezekiel 16:52

E. Jeremiah 3:2: Genesis 38:14; Proverbs 7:10-12; Ezekiel 16:25

F. Jeremiah 3:2: Numbers 14:33

G. Jeremiah 3:3: Zechariah 14:7

H. Jeremiah 3:3: Ezekiel 3:7-8

I. Jeremiah 3:3: Jeremiah 6:15; Jeremiah 8:12