Jeremiah 31:20
Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.
Study Note
Study Note
'Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.' This divine soliloquy is among the most tender passages in the Hebrew prophets, depicting God as a parent whose love persists and even intensifies through discipline and distance. The phrase 'bowels are troubled' (hamu me'ay) expresses visceral, gut-level longing — the same root used of compassion in 1 Kings 3:26. Jesus's Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) where the father 'saw him... and had compassion, and ran' reflects this exact divine emotional posture.
Other Translations
Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a darling child? for as often as I speak against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my heart yearneth for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith Jehovah.
A precious son is Ephraim to Me? A child of delights? For since My speaking against him, I do thoroughly remember him still, Therefore have My bowels been moved for him, I do greatly love him, An affirmation of Jehovah.
Is Ephraim my dear son? is he the child of my delight? for whenever I say things against him, I still keep him in my memory: so my heart is troubled for him; I will certainly have mercy on him, says the Lord.
Cross References
Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal …
I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and …
For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, …
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and …
Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kir–haresh.
Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of …
They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the …
But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage …
My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.
And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for …