Jeremiah 3:11
New International Version
The LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah.

New Living Translation
Then the LORD said to me, “Even faithless Israel is less guilty than treacherous Judah!

English Standard Version
And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

Berean Standard Bible
And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than unfaithful Judah.

King James Bible
And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.

New King James Version
Then the LORD said to me, “Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

New American Standard Bible
And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has proved herself to be more righteous than treacherous Judah.

NASB 1995
And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

NASB 1977
And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Yahweh said to me, “Faithless Israel has proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

Amplified Bible
And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has proved herself less guilty than treacherous Judah [a land of renegades].

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD announced to me, “Unfaithful Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD announced to me, “Unfaithful Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

American Standard Version
And Jehovah said unto me, Backsliding Israel hath showed herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

Contemporary English Version
Even the people of Israel were honest enough not to pretend.

English Revised Version
And the LORD said unto me, Backsliding Israel hath shewn herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then the LORD said to me, "Unfaithful Israel was less guilty than treacherous Judah.

Good News Translation
Then the LORD told me that, even though Israel had turned away from him, she had proved to be better than unfaithful Judah.

International Standard Version
Then the LORD told me, "Unfaithful Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

Majority Standard Bible
And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than unfaithful Judah.

NET Bible
Then the LORD said to me, "Under the circumstances, wayward Israel could even be considered less guilty than unfaithful Judah.

New Heart English Bible
The LORD said to me, "Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD said to me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.

World English Bible
Yahweh said to me, “Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH says to me: “Backsliding Israel has justified herself, "" More than treacherous Judah.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah saith unto me: 'Justified herself hath backsliding Israel, More than treacherous Judah.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will say to me, Israel turning away justified her soul above faithless Judah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said to me: The rebellious Israel hath justified her soul, in comparison of the treacherous Juda.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord said to me: “The apostate Israel has justified her own soul by comparing herself to the deceitful Judah.

New American Bible
Then the LORD said to me: Rebel Israel is more just than traitor Judah.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the LORD said to me: Faithless Israel has shown herself less guilty than false Judah.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the LORD said to me, The inhabitant of Israel has justified herself more than her perverse sister Judah.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH said to me: “The inhabitant of Israel has justified herself from her lying sister Yehuda
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
even the LORD said unto me--backsliding Israel hath proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord said to me, Israel has justified himself more than faithless Juda.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Invitation to Repentance
11And the LORD said to me, “Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than unfaithful Judah. 12Go, proclaim this message toward the north: ‘Return, O faithless Israel,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will no longer look on you with anger, for I am merciful,’ declares the LORD. ‘I will not be angry forever.…

Cross References
Hosea 14:1
Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled by your iniquity.

Ezekiel 16:47-52
And you not only walked in their ways and practiced their abominations, but soon you were more depraved than they were. / As surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, your sister Sodom and her daughters never did as you and your daughters have done. / Now this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed, and complacent; they did not help the poor and needy. ...

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

Hosea 6:1
Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds.

Ezekiel 23:11
Her sister Oholibah saw this, yet in her lust and prostitution she was more depraved than her sister.

Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

Hosea 11:7
My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them.

2 Chronicles 30:9
For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and sons will receive mercy in the presence of their captors and will return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful; He will not turn His face away from you if you return to Him.”

Joel 2:13
So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.

Zechariah 1:3
So tell the people that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Return to Me, declares the LORD of Hosts, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Hosts.’

Matthew 11:20-24
Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. / “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. / But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. ...

Luke 15:7
I tell you that in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.

Romans 2:4
Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

Revelation 2:5
Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD said to me, The backsliding Israel has justified herself more than treacherous Judah.

the backsliding

Jeremiah 3:8,22
And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also…

Hosea 4:16
For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the LORD will feed them as a lamb in a large place.

Hosea 11:7
And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt him.

justified

Ezekiel 16:47,51,52
Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways…

Ezekiel 23:11
And when her sister Aholibah saw this, she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she, and in her whoredoms more than her sister in her whoredoms.

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Backsliding Faithless False. Guilty Herself Israel Judah Justified Less Proved Righteous Shewn Showed Shown Treacherous Turning Unfaithful Upright
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Backsliding Faithless False. Guilty Herself Israel Judah Justified Less Proved Righteous Shewn Showed Shown Treacherous Turning Unfaithful Upright
Jeremiah 3
1. God's great mercy to Judah the polluted land
6. Judah is worse than Israel
12. The promises of the gospel to the penitent
20. Israel reproved, and called by God, makes a solemn confession of their sins














And the LORD said to me
This phrase establishes the divine origin of the message. The Hebrew word for "LORD" is "Yahweh," the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. The phrase underscores the authority and authenticity of the prophecy, as it is not Jeremiah's own words but a direct communication from God. This divine communication highlights the intimate relationship between God and His prophets, who serve as His mouthpieces to convey His will to the people.

Faithless Israel
The term "faithless" is translated from the Hebrew word "m'shubah," which implies a turning away or apostasy. Historically, Israel refers to the northern kingdom, which had already fallen to Assyria due to its idolatry and disobedience. Despite their unfaithfulness, God still addresses them, indicating His enduring concern and willingness to forgive. This serves as a reminder of God's grace and the possibility of redemption, even for those who have strayed far from Him.

is more righteous
The comparison here is striking. The Hebrew word "tsaddiq" is used, which generally means "just" or "righteous." In this context, it suggests that despite Israel's apostasy, their actions are deemed less grievous than those of Judah. This is not to say that Israel is righteous in an absolute sense, but rather in a relative sense compared to Judah. It highlights the severity of Judah's sin, as they had the example of Israel's downfall yet continued in their own unfaithfulness.

than unfaithful Judah
"Unfaithful" is translated from the Hebrew word "bagad," which conveys treachery or betrayal. Judah, the southern kingdom, had the temple and the Davidic line, yet they too turned to idolatry and broke their covenant with God. This phrase serves as a sobering warning to Judah, emphasizing that their privileged position did not exempt them from judgment. It also reflects the theme of accountability, as those with greater knowledge and blessing are held to a higher standard.

(11) Hath justified herself.--Literally, hath justified her soul, has put in a better plea in her defence. The renegade was better than the traitress. Even open rebellion was better than hypocrisy, as the publicans and sinners in the Gospel story were better than the Pharisees (Matthew 21:31).

Verse 11. - It is very noteworthy that Jeremiah should have still so warm a feeling for the exiles of the northern kingdom (more than a hundred years after the great catastrophe). Hath justified herself. "To justify" can mean "to show one's self righteous," as well as "to make one's self righteous," just as "to sanctify" can mean, "to show one's self holy" (Isaiah 8:13), as well as "to make one's self holy." In spite of Israel's apostasy, she has shown herself less worthy of punishment than Judah, who has had before her the warning lesson of Israel's example, and who has been guilty of the most hateful of all sins, hypocrisy (comp. ver. 7).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And the LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

said
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to me,
אֵלַ֔י (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“Faithless
מְשֻׁבָ֣ה (mə·šu·ḇāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4878: Turning back, apostasy

Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

has shown herself
נַפְשָׁ֖הּ (nap̄·šāh)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

more righteous
צִדְּקָ֥ה (ṣid·də·qāh)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6663: To be just or righteous

than unfaithful
מִבֹּגֵדָ֖ה (mib·bō·ḡê·ḏāh)
Preposition-m | Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 898: To cover, to act covertly, to pillage

Judah.
יְהוּדָֽה׃ (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 3:11 Yahweh said to me Backsliding Israel has (Jer.)
Jeremiah 3:10
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