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Amplified Bible

Jeremiah 31:18

"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.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Afflictions and Adversities;   Bullock;   Chastisement;   Ephraim;   Repentance;   Self-Will;   Sin;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Affliction, Prayer under;   Afflictions Made Beneficial;   Anger of God, the;   Conversion;   Ox, the;   Self-Will and Stubbornness;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Captivity;   Ox;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Repentance;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Joy;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Bullock;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Captivity;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Cattle;   Chasten, Chastisement;   Jeremiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Children (Sons) of God;   Death;   Greek Versions of Ot;   Jeremiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Reproof;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Captivity;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Bullock;   Unaccustomed;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ephraim (1);   Reform;   Regeneration;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Repentance;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for September 27;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I have surely heard Ephraim moaning,“You disciplined me, and I have been disciplinedlike an untrained calf.Take me back, so that I can return,for you, Lord, are my God.
Hebrew Names Version
I have surely heard Efrayim bemoaning himself [thus], You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf unaccustomed [to the yoke]: turn you me, and I shall be turned; for you are the LORD my God.
King James Version
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.
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.
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.
New Century Version
"I have heard Israel moaning: ‘ Lord , you punished me, and I have learned my lesson. I was like a calf that had never been trained. Take me back so that I may come back. You truly are the Lord my God.
World English Bible
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus], You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf unaccustomed [to the yoke]: turn you me, and I shall be turned; for you are Yahweh my God.
Geneva Bible (1587)
I haue heard Ephraim lamenting thus, Thou hast corrected me, and I was chastised as an vntamed calfe: conuert thou me, and I shalbe conuerted: 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.
Berean Standard Bible
I have surely heard Ephraim's moaning: 'You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, and I will return, for You are the LORD 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.
Complete Jewish Bible
Yes, I turned away; but later I repented. When I had been made to understand, I struck my thigh in shame and remorse, bearing the weight of the disgrace acquired when I was young.'
Darby Translation
I have indeed heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus]: Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised as a bullock not trained: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art Jehovah my God.
Easy-to-Read Version
I have heard Ephraim crying: ‘Lord, you punished me, and I learned my lesson. I was like a calf that was never trained. Please stop punishing me, and I will come back to you. You really are the Lord my God.
George Lamsa Translation
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.
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.
Lexham English Bible
Indeed I heard Ephraim pitying themselves, ‘You disciplined me, and I was disciplined, like a calf that is not trained. Bring me back and let me return, for you are Yahweh my God.
Literal Translation
Hearing I have heard Ephraim moaning over himself, saying , You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bull not broken in. Turn me, and I shall be turned; for You are Jehovah my God.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Morouer I herde Ephraim, (that was led awaye captyue) complayne on this maner: O LORDE, thou hast correcte me, and thy chastenynge haue I receaued, as an vntamed calfe. Conuerte thou me, and I shalbe conuerted, for thou art my LORDE 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.
Bible in Basic English
Certainly Ephraim's words of grief have come to my ears, You have given me training and I have undergone it like a young cow unused to the yoke: let me be turned and come back, for you are the Lord my God.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Surely after that I was turned, I repented, and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh; I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.'
King James Version (1611)
I haue surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himselfe thus, Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullocke vnaccustomed to the yoke: turne thou me, and I shall be turned; thou art the Lord my God.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Moreouer, I hearde Ephraim that was led away captiue complayne on this maner: O Lorde thou hast correct me, & thy chastenyng haue I receaued, as an vntamed calfe, conuert thou me and I shalbe conuerted: for thou art my Lorde God.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Come down from thy glory, and sit down in a damp place: Daebon shall be broken, because Moab is destroyed: there has gone up against thee one to ravage thy strong-hold.
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.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
I heringe herde Effraym passinge ouer; thou chastisidist me, and Y am lerned as a yong oon vntemyd; turne thou me, and Y schal be conuertid, for thou art my Lord God.
Update Bible Version
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus], You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf unaccustomed [to the yoke]: turn me, and I shall be turned; for you are Yahweh 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.
New English Translation
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 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 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.
New Life Bible
I have heard Ephraim crying in sorrow, ‘You have punished me, and I was punished, like a calf that has not learned. Bring me back that I may return to my place, for You are the Lord my God.
New Revised Standard
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.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
I have, heard, Ephraim bemoaning himself, Thou hast chastised me and I have been chastised, Like a bullock, not broken in, Suffer me to return that I may return, For thou, art Yahweh my God.
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.
Revised Standard Version
I have heard E'phraim bemoaning, 'Thou hast chastened me, and I was chastened, like an untrained calf; bring me back that I may be restored, for thou art the LORD my God.
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.
THE MESSAGE
"I've heard the contrition of Ephraim. Yes, I've heard it clearly, saying, ‘You trained me well. You broke me, a wild yearling horse, to the saddle. Now put me, trained and obedient, to use. You are my God . After those years of running loose, I repented. After you trained me to obedience, I was ashamed of my past, my wild, unruly past. Humiliated, I beat on my chest. Will I ever live this down?'
New American Standard Bible (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.

Contextual Overview

18"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.19'After I turned away [from You], I repented; After I was instructed, I struck my thigh [in remorse]; I was ashamed and even humiliated Because I carried the disgrace of my youth [as a nation].' 20"Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a darling and beloved child? For as often as I have spoken against him, I certainly still remember him. Therefore My affection is renewed and My heart longs for him; I will surely have mercy on him," says the LORD. 21"Place for yourself road signs [toward Canaan], Make for yourself guideposts; Turn your thought and attention to the highway, To the way by which you went [into exile]. Retrace your steps, O virgin of Israel, Return to these your cities. 22"How long will you hesitate [to return], O you faithless and renegade daughter? For the LORD has created a new thing in the land [of Israel]: A woman will encompass (tenderly love) a man." 23Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, "Once more they will speak these words in the land of Judah (the Southern Kingdom) and in her cities when I restore their fortunes and release them from exile, 'The LORD bless you, O habitation of justice and righteousness, O holy mountain!' 24"And [the people of] Judah and all its cities will live there together—the farmer and they who wander about with flocks. 25"For I [fully] satisfy the weary soul, and I replenish every languishing and sorrowful person." 26At this I (Jeremiah) awoke and looked, and my [trancelike] sleep was sweet [in the assurance it gave] to me.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

surely: Job 33:27, Job 33:28, Psalms 102:19, Psalms 102:20, Isaiah 57:15-18, Hosea 5:15, Hosea 6:1, Hosea 6:2, Luke 15:20

Ephraim: Jeremiah 31:6, Jeremiah 31:9, Jeremiah 3:21, Jeremiah 3:22, Jeremiah 50:4, Jeremiah 50:5, Hosea 11:8, Hosea 11:9, Hosea 14:4-8

Thou hast: Jeremiah 2:30, Jeremiah 5:3, Job 5:17, Psalms 39:8, Psalms 39:9, Psalms 94:12, Psalms 119:75, Proverbs 3:11, Isaiah 1:5, Isaiah 9:13, Isaiah 57:17, Hosea 5:12, Hosea 5:13, Zephaniah 3:2, Hebrews 12:5, Revelation 3:19

as a: Psalms 32:9, Proverbs 26:3, Proverbs 29:1, Isaiah 51:20, Isaiah 53:7, Lamentations 3:27-30, Hosea 10:11

turn: Jeremiah 17:14, Psalms 80:3, Psalms 80:7, Psalms 80:19, Psalms 85:4, Lamentations 5:21, Malachi 4:6, Luke 1:17, Acts 3:26, Philippians 2:13, James 1:16-18

for: Jeremiah 3:22, Jeremiah 3:25, Isaiah 63:16

Reciprocal: Leviticus 26:40 - confess Deuteronomy 21:3 - an Deuteronomy 21:18 - will not 1 Kings 8:47 - done perversely 1 Kings 18:37 - thou hast turned 2 Chronicles 6:37 - We have sinned 2 Chronicles 33:12 - And when Job 34:31 - General Job 40:5 - but I will proceed Psalms 7:1 - O Psalms 7:12 - If Psalms 32:3 - When Psalms 51:13 - converted Psalms 107:13 - General Psalms 119:59 - turned Psalms 119:67 - but now Psalms 119:176 - seek Proverbs 23:35 - stricken Song of Solomon 6:12 - soul Isaiah 1:19 - General Isaiah 12:1 - though Isaiah 30:18 - wait Isaiah 31:6 - Turn Isaiah 42:3 - bruised Isaiah 57:18 - have Isaiah 64:5 - in those Jeremiah 3:4 - Wilt thou Jeremiah 3:13 - acknowledge Ezekiel 7:16 - mourning Ezekiel 14:6 - Repent Ezekiel 16:61 - remember Ezekiel 18:28 - he considereth Ezekiel 20:43 - and ye shall Ezekiel 24:13 - because Ezekiel 33:11 - turn ye Ezekiel 36:31 - shall ye Daniel 9:13 - that we Hosea 2:7 - I will Hosea 14:3 - Asshur Hosea 14:8 - I have Jonah 3:10 - God saw Habakkuk 1:12 - for Zechariah 1:3 - and Zechariah 12:12 - the land Matthew 5:3 - the poor Mark 4:12 - be converted Mark 14:72 - Peter Luke 6:21 - ye that weep Luke 7:38 - weeping Luke 15:15 - he went Luke 18:13 - but Luke 22:61 - looked Luke 22:62 - and wept Acts 3:19 - be Acts 9:11 - for Acts 11:18 - granted 1 Corinthians 11:31 - General 2 Corinthians 7:7 - mourning 2 Corinthians 7:9 - I rejoice 2 Corinthians 7:11 - indignation 2 Thessalonians 3:14 - that he 2 Timothy 2:25 - if James 4:9 - afflicted

Cross-References

Genesis 27:41
So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him; and Esau said in his heart, "The days of mourning for my father are very near; then I will kill my brother Jacob."
Genesis 28:21
and if [He grants that] I return to my father's house in safety, then the LORD will be my God.
Genesis 31:1
Jacob heard that Laban's sons were saying: "Jacob has taken away everything that was our father's, and from what belonged to our father he has acquired all this wealth and honor."
Genesis 31:2
Jacob noticed [a change in] the attitude of Laban, and saw that it was not friendly toward him as before.
Genesis 31:27
"Why did you run away secretly and deceive me and not tell me, so that [otherwise] I might have sent you away with joy and with songs, with [music on the] tambourine and lyre?
Genesis 31:29
"It is in my power to harm you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, 'Be careful not to speak to Jacob, either good or bad.'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus],.... Not Ephraim in person; though, as he was a very affectionate and tenderhearted man, as appears from 1 Chronicles 7:22; he is with like propriety introduced, as Rachel before; but Ephraim intends Israel, or the ten tribes, and even all the people of the Jews; and the prophecy seems to respect the conversion of them in the latter day, when they shall be in soul trouble, and bemoan their sins, and their sinful and wretched estate, and especially their rejection of the Messiah; when they shall look on him whom they have pierced, and mourn, and be in bitterness, as one that mourns for his firstborn, and which the Lord will take notice of and observe, Zechariah 12:10; and it may be applied to the case of every sensible sinner bemoaning their sinful nature; want of righteousness; impotence to all that is spiritually good; their violations of the righteous law of God; and the curse they are liable to on account of it; their many sins against a God of love, grace, and mercy; and their ruined and undone state and condition by sin; all which the Lord takes notice of: "hearing I have heard" s; which denotes the certainty of it, and with what attention he hears, yea, with what pleasure; it is the moan of his doves, of those who are like doves of the valley, everyone mourning for his iniquity; he hears, so as he answers; and sympathizing with them, he sends comfort to them, and delivers them out of their troubles:

thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised; this is the case bemoaned; not so much the chastising hand of God, as unaffectedness with it, and not being the better for it; the Lord has indeed, as if Ephraim should say, chastised me, and I have been chastised by him, and that is all; it has made no manner of impression upon me; I have not received correction, nor has it been of any use to me; and this he bemoaned: and this will be the case of the Jews when they are converted; they will then reflect upon all the corrections and chastisements of God under which they have been ever since the rejection of the Messiah, and still are; and yet are now stupid under them, and take no notice of them, and are never the better for them; and this they will lament when their eyes are opened: and so it is with particular persons at conversion; in their state of unregeneracy they have been chastened and corrected by the Lord, by one providence or another, by one disease and disorder or another, and they have not observed it; it has not wrought upon them, nor awakened them to a sense of danger; God has spoken once, and twice, in this rough way, and they have not perceived; he has stricken them, and they have not grieved; beaten them, and they felt it not; but now being made sensible, they bemoan their former stupidity and inattention, and wonder at the forbearance and goodness of God:

as a bullock unaccustomed [to the yoke]; or to draw the plough; as senseless and as stupid, yea, as thoughtless of danger, as that creature is when led to the slaughter; as "untaught", as the word t signifies; as ignorant of divine and spiritual things; knowing nothing of Christ, or God in Christ, or of the way of salvation by him, and of the operations of his Spirit and grace; as unruly as that to bear the yoke of the law, or the yoke of Christ; and as impatient under the yoke of affliction, kicking, tossing, and flinging, like a wild bull in a net; all which give concern to an awakened mind, that now sees its need of conversion, and prays for it, as follows:

turn thou me, and I shall be turned; which designs not a mere reformation of manners, or conversion to a doctrine or doctrines; nor a restoration after backslidings; nor a carrying on of the work of grace on the soul, and a daily renewing it; but the first work of conversion; which lies in a man's being turned from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God; is a turn of the heart, and not of the head and action only; of the will, affections, and bias of the mind; it is a turning of persons to the Lord Jesus Christ, to look to him for righteousness, life, and salvation; and in such sense will the Jews be turned in the latter day, 2 Corinthians 3:16; and this being prayed for, not only shows a sense of need of it, but of inability to work it; that it is not in the power of man to do it; that he is not active, but passive in it; that it is the Lord's work, and his only; and that when he does it, it is done effectually:

for thou [art] the Lord my God: the "Lord", the mighty Jehovah, and therefore able to do it; "my God", covenant God, who has promised to do it; and by virtue of covenant grace will be the conversion of the Jews; and to which the conversion of everyone is owing, Romans 11:25; or, "for thou [shalt be] the Lord my God"; I will own, acknowledge, fear, serve, and glorify thee as such, being converted to thee; see

Genesis 28:20.

s שמוע שמעתי "audiendo audivi", Vatablus, Pagninus, Montanus, Schmidt. t לא למד "non instructus", Munster; "non doctus", Montanus.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The religious character of the restoration of the ten tribes. Chastisement brought repentance, and with it forgiveness; therefore God decrees their restoration.

Jeremiah 31:15

Ramah, mentioned because of its nearness to Jerusalem, from which it was distant about five miles. As the mother of three tribes, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh, Rachel is regarded as the mother of the whole ten. This passage is quoted by Matthew (marginal reference) as a type. In Jeremiah it is a poetical figure representing in a dramatic form the miserable condition of the kingdom of Ephraim devastated by the sword of the Assyrians.

Jeremiah 31:16

Rachel’s work had been that of bearing and bringing up children, and by their death she was deprived of the joy for which she had labored: but by their being restored to her she will receive her wages.

Jeremiah 31:17

In thine end - i. e., for thy time to come (see the Jeremiah 29:11 note).

Jeremiah 31:18

As a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke - literally, like an untaught calf. Compare the Hosea 10:11 note. Ephraim, like an untrained steer, had resisted Yahweh’s will.

Jeremiah 31:19

After that I was turned - i. e., after I had turned away from Thee. In Jeremiah 31:18 it has the sense of turning to God.

Instructed - Brought to my senses by suffering. The smiting upon the thigh is a sign of sorrow. Compare Ezekiel 21:17.

The reproach of my youth - i. e., the shame brought upon me by sins of my youth.

Jeremiah 31:20

Moved to compassion by Ephraim’s lamentation, Yahweh shows Himself as tender and ready to forgive as parents are their spoiled (rather, darling) child.

For ... him - Or, “that so often as I speak concerning him,” i. e., his punishment.

My bowels are troubled - The metaphor expresses the most tender internal emotion.

Jeremiah 31:21

Waymarks - See 2 Kings 23:17 note.

High heaps - Or, signposts, pillars to point out the way.

Set thine heart - Not set thy affection, but turn thy thoughts and attention (in Hebrew the heart is the seat of the intellect) to the highway, even the way by which thou wentest.

Jeremiah 31:22

Israel instead of setting itself to return hesitates, and goes here and there in a restless mood. To encourage it God gives the sign following.

A woman shall compass a man - i. e., the female shall protect the strong man; the weaker nature that needs help will surround the stronger with loving and fostering care. This expresses a new relation of Israel to the Lord, a new covenant, which the Lord will make with His people (Jeremiah 31:31 following). The fathers saw in these words a prophecy of the miraculous conception of our Lord by the Virgin.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 31:18. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself — The exiled Israelites are in a state of deep repentance.

Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised — I was at first like an unbroken and untoward steer, the more I was chastised the more I rebelled; but now I have benefited by thy correction.

Turn thou me — I am now willing to take thy yoke upon me, but I have no power. I can only will and pray. Take the matter into thy own hand, and fully convert my soul.


 
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