Jeremiah 31:18
New International Version
“I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me like an unruly calf, and I have been disciplined. Restore me, and I will return, because you are the LORD my God.

New Living Translation
I have heard Israel saying, ‘You disciplined me severely, like a calf that needs training for the yoke. Turn me again to you and restore me, for you alone are the LORD my God.

English Standard Version
I have heard Ephraim grieving, ‘You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like an untrained calf; bring me back that I may be restored, for you are the LORD my God.

Berean Standard Bible
I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.

King James Bible
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.

New King James Version
“I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained bull; Restore me, and I will return, For You are the LORD my God.

New American Standard Bible
“I have certainly heard Ephraim grieving, ‘You have disciplined me, and I was corrected, Like an untrained calf; Bring me back that I may be restored, For You are the LORD my God.

NASB 1995
“I have surely heard Ephraim grieving, ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained calf; Bring me back that I may be restored, For You are the LORD my God.

NASB 1977
“I have surely heard Ephraim grieving, ‘Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained calf; Bring me back that I may be restored, For Thou art the LORD my God.

Legacy Standard Bible
I have surely heard Ephraim grieving, ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained calf; Cause me to return that I may return, For You are Yahweh my God.

Amplified Bible
“I have surely heard Ephraim (Israel) moaning and grieving, ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like a bull unaccustomed to the yoke or an untrained calf; Bring me back that I may be restored, For You are the LORD my God.

Christian Standard Bible
I have surely heard Ephraim moaning, “You disciplined me, and I have been disciplined like an untrained calf. Take me back, so that I can return, for you, LORD, are my God.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
I have heard Ephraim moaning, “You disciplined me, and I have been disciplined like an untrained calf. Restore me, and I will return, for you, LORD, are my God.

American Standard Version
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art Jehovah my God.

Contemporary English Version
The people of Israel moan and say to me, "We were like wild bulls, but you, LORD, broke us, and we learned to obey. You are our God--please let us come home.

English Revised Version
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I have certainly heard Ephraim mourn and say, 'You disciplined me, and I was disciplined. I was like a young, untrained calf. Turn me, and I will be turned, because you are the LORD my God.

Good News Translation
"I hear the people of Israel say in grief, 'LORD, we were like an untamed animal, but you taught us to obey. Bring us back; we are ready to return to you, the LORD our God.

International Standard Version
"I've certainly heard Ephraim shuddering with grief as they said, 'You have disciplined me, and I'm disciplined like an untrained calf. Restore me, and let me return, for you are the LORD my God.

Majority Standard Bible
I have surely heard Ephraim?s moaning: ?You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.

NET Bible
I have indeed heard the people of Israel say mournfully, 'We were like a calf untrained to the yoke. You disciplined us and we learned from it. Let us come back to you and we will do so, for you are the LORD our God.

New Heart English Bible
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, 'You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as an untrained calf: turn me, and I shall be turned; for you are the LORD my God.

Webster's Bible Translation
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.

World English Bible
“I have surely heard Ephraim grieving thus, ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as an untrained calf. Turn me, and I will be turned, for you are Yahweh my God.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself, "" You have disciplined me, "" And I am disciplined, as a heifer [that is] not taught, "" Turn me back, and I turn back, "" For You [are] my God YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself, 'Thou hast chastised me, And I am chastised, as a heifer not taught, Turn me back, and I turn back, For thou art Jehovah my God.

Smith's Literal Translation
Hearing, I heard Ephraim being thrust away: Thou didst correct me, and I shall be corrected as a calf not being taught: turn me back and I shall be turned back, for thou Jehovah my God.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Hearing I heard Ephraim when he went into captivity: thou hast chastised me, and I was instructed, as a young bullock unaccustomed to the yoke. Convert me, and I shall be converted, for thou art the Lord my God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Listening, I heard Ephraim going into captivity: ‘You have chastised me, and I was instructed, like a young untamed bull. Convert me, and I shall be converted. For you are the Lord my God.

New American Bible
Indeed, I heard Ephraim rocking in grief: You chastised me, and I was chastised; I was like an untamed calf. Bring me back, let me come back, for you are the LORD, my God.

New Revised Standard Version
Indeed I heard Ephraim pleading: “You disciplined me, and I took the discipline; I was like a calf untrained. Bring me back, let me come back, for you are the LORD my God.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning and saying, O LORD, thou hast chastised me, and I was chastened; I had become like a bullock which cannot be subdued; bring me back, and I will repent; for thou art the LORD my God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Hearing, I have heard Aphreim who howled, and you said: LORD JEHOVAH has punished me and I was punished. I have been like a calf that is untamed. Return me, and I shall return, because you are LORD JEHOVAH my God!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: 'Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, As a calf untrained; Turn thou me, and I shall be turned, For Thou art the LORD my God.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I have heard the sound of Ephraim lamenting, and saying, Thou hast chastened me, and I was chastened; I as a calf was not willingly taught: turn thou me, and I shall turn; for thou art the Lord my God.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Mourning Turned to Joy
17So there is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children will return to their own land. 18I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God. 19After I returned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’…

Cross References
Hosea 11:8-9
How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred! / I will not execute the full fury of My anger; I will not destroy Ephraim again. For I am God and not man—the Holy One among you—and I will not come in wrath.

Lamentations 5:21
Restore us to Yourself, O LORD, so we may return; renew our days as of old,

Isaiah 63:16
Yet You are our Father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O LORD, are our Father; our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.

Psalm 80:3
Restore us, O God, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.

Psalm 80:19
Restore us, O LORD God of Hosts; cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.

Isaiah 30:15
For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “By repentance and rest you would be saved; your strength would lie in quiet confidence—but you were not willing.”

Ezekiel 36:26-27
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. / And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances.

Luke 15:17-20
Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food, but here I am, starving to death! / I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. / I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ ...

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.”

Psalm 119:67
Before I was afflicted, I went astray; but now I keep Your word.

Psalm 119:71
It was good for me to be afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.

Isaiah 57:18
I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,

Acts 3:19
Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,

2 Corinthians 7:9-10
yet now I rejoice, not because you were made sorrowful, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you felt the sorrow that God had intended, and so were not harmed in any way by us. / Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

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?


Treasury of Scripture

I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn you me, and I shall be turned; for you are the LORD my God.

surely.

Job 33:27,28
He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; …

Psalm 102:19,20
For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; …

Isaiah 57:15-18
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones…

Ephraim.

Jeremiah 31:6,9
For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God…

Jeremiah 3:21,22
A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God…

Jeremiah 50:4,5
In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God…

thou hast.

Jeremiah 2:30
In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.

Jeremiah 5:3
O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.

Job 5:17
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

as a.

Psalm 32:9
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

Proverbs 26:3
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.

Proverbs 29:1
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

turn.

Jeremiah 17:14
Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

Psalm 80:3,7,19
Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved…

Psalm 85:4
Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.

Jump to Previous
Bemoaning Bullock Calf Chastised Cow Disciplined Ears Ephraim E'phraim Ephraim's Grief Grieving Heard Heifer Indeed Moaning Restore Restored Surely Taught Thou Training Turn Turned Undergone Unruly Untrained Unused Words Yoke Young
Jump to Next
Bemoaning Bullock Calf Chastised Cow Disciplined Ears Ephraim E'phraim Ephraim's Grief Grieving Heard Heifer Indeed Moaning Restore Restored Surely Taught Thou Training Turn Turned Undergone Unruly Untrained Unused Words Yoke Young
Jeremiah 31
1. The restoration of Israel.
10. The publication thereof.
15. Rahel mourning is comforted.
18. Ephraim repenting is brought home again.
22. Christ is promised.
27. His care over the church.
31. His new covenant.
35. The stability,
38. and amplitude of the church.














I have surely heard
The phrase emphasizes God's attentiveness and responsiveness to the cries of His people. The Hebrew root "שָׁמַע" (shama) conveys not just hearing, but an active listening that leads to understanding and action. This reflects God's intimate involvement with His people, assuring them that their prayers and cries do not fall on deaf ears. It is a reminder of the covenant relationship where God is always attentive to the needs and repentance of His people.

Ephraim’s moaning
Ephraim represents the northern kingdom of Israel, often used as a synecdoche for the entire nation. The term "moaning" suggests a deep, heartfelt lamentation, indicative of genuine repentance and sorrow for sin. Historically, Ephraim had been wayward, often turning to idolatry, but here we see a turning point, a recognition of their need for God. This moaning is a precursor to restoration, showing that God’s discipline leads to a contrite heart.

You disciplined me
The Hebrew root "יָסַר" (yasar) means to chasten or correct, akin to a father disciplining a child. This discipline is not punitive but corrective, aimed at bringing about repentance and restoration. It reflects God's love and desire for His people to return to righteousness. In the broader biblical context, discipline is seen as a sign of God’s love (Hebrews 12:6), intended to guide His people back to the right path.

and I was disciplined
This phrase acknowledges the effectiveness of God’s discipline. The repetition underscores the acceptance of God’s corrective measures. It is a recognition that the discipline was deserved and necessary for spiritual growth. This acceptance is crucial for genuine repentance and transformation, highlighting the humility required to submit to God’s will.

like an untrained calf
The imagery of an untrained calf suggests stubbornness and a lack of direction. In ancient agrarian societies, a calf needed training to be useful for work. Similarly, Israel needed God’s guidance to fulfill their purpose. This metaphor illustrates the need for divine intervention to transform waywardness into obedience. It is a call to submit to God’s training, allowing Him to mold and guide His people.

Restore me, that I may return
The plea for restoration is central to the theme of repentance and redemption. The Hebrew root "שׁוּב" (shuv) means to return or turn back, indicating a desire to return to a right relationship with God. This reflects the biblical theme of repentance, where turning away from sin leads to restoration. It is a hopeful request, trusting in God’s mercy and willingness to forgive and renew.

for You are the LORD my God
This declaration reaffirms the covenant relationship between God and His people. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) emphasizes God’s eternal, unchanging nature and His faithfulness to His promises. By acknowledging God as "my God," Ephraim personalizes the relationship, indicating a return to exclusive worship and allegiance. This is a profound statement of faith and commitment, recognizing God’s sovereignty and grace.

(18) 1 have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself.--The prophet's thoughts still dwell upon the exiles of the northern kingdom. They have been longer under the sharp discipline of suffering. By this time, he thinks, they must have learnt repentance. He hears--or Jehovah, speaking through him. hears--the moaning of remorse; and in that work, thought of as already accomplished, he finds a new ground for his hope for Judah. Ephraim at last owned that he had deserved the chastisement of the yoke that had been laid on him.

As a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke.--The comparison is the nearest approach in the Old Testament to the Greek proverb about "kicking against the pricks" (Acts 9:5; Acts 26:14). In Hosea 10:11 ("Ephraim is as an heifer that is taught "), which may well have been in Jeremiah's thoughts, we have a like comparison under a somewhat different aspect. The cry which is heard from the lips of the penitent, "Turn thou me . . . ," is, as it were, echoed from Jeremiah 3:7; Jeremiah 3:12; Jeremiah 3:14, and is reproduced in Lamentations 5:21. . . .

Verses 18, 19. - The ground of this hope, viz. that Ephraim will humble himself with deep contrition. Verse 18. - As a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke; literally, as an untaught calf (comp. Hosea 10:11). Turn thou me, etc. Jeremiah has a peculiarly deep view of conversion. Isaiah (Isaiah 1:16-20) simply calls upon his hearers to change their course of life; Jeremiah represents penitent Ephraim as beseeching God so to prepare him that he may indeed "turn."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
I have surely
שָׁמ֣וֹעַ (šā·mō·w·a‘)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

heard
שָׁמַ֗עְתִּי (šā·ma‘·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

Ephraim’s
אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ (’ep̄·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 669: Ephraim -- a son of Joseph, also his descendants and their territory

moaning:
מִתְנוֹדֵ֔ד (miṯ·nō·w·ḏêḏ)
Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5110: To nod, waver, to wander, flee, disappear, to console, deplore, taunt

‘You disciplined me severely,
יִסַּרְתַּ֙נִי֙ (yis·sar·ta·nî)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 3256: To discipline, chasten, admonish

like an untrained
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

calf.
כְּעֵ֖גֶל (kə·‘ê·ḡel)
Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5695: A, calf, one nearly grown

Restore me,
הֲשִׁיבֵ֣נִי (hă·šî·ḇê·nî)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

and I will return,
וְאָשׁ֔וּבָה (wə·’ā·šū·ḇāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

for
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

You [are]
אַתָּ֖ה (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

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

my God.
אֱלֹהָֽי׃ (’ĕ·lō·hāy)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 31:18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself (Jer.)
Jeremiah 31:17
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