---
title: "Bullinger"
description: "They say = [It is a common] saying. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 24:1-4 ).  yet return again to Me = yet [thinkest thou to] return, &c. It wa"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/bullingers-companion-bible-notes/jeremiah/3"
---

**They say** = [It is a common] saying. Reference to Pentateuch ([Deuteronomy 24:1-4](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/24/1-4) ).
**yet return again to Me** = yet [thinkest thou to] return, &c. It was contrary to the law of [Deuteronomy 24:1-4](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/24/1-4) . It will be the *new Israel* of [Matthew 21:43](../../../kjv/matthew/21/43) of a yet future day. God never mends what man has marred. This is the lesson of the potter's house. See [Jeremiah 18:1-4](../../../kjv/jeremiah/18/1-4) .
**to Me.** See [Jeremiah 3:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/7) ; [Jeremiah 4:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/4/1) .

**showers . . . withholden.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Leviticus 26:19](../../../kjv/leviticus/26/19) . [Deuteronomy 11:17](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/11/17) ; [Deuteronomy 28:23](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/28/23) ). App-92 .
**forehead.** Put by Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Adjunct), for impudence.

**Guide** = Friend.

**reserve.** Hebrew. *natar.* Occurs in Jer. only here and in [Jeremiah 3:12](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/12) ("keep").
**His anger.** Figure of speech *Ellipsis* (Absolute). App-6 .
**evil things** = the evil things. Hebrew. *ra'a',* as in [Jeremiah 3:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/2) .
**as thou couldest:** or, hast had thy way.

[Jeremiah 3:6-25](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/6-25) **; [Jeremiah 4:1-4](../../../kjv/jeremiah/4/1-4)** **is Jeremiah's Fifth prophecy.** (see Book comments for Jeremiah).
**in the days of Josiah.** This must be noted to understand the context.
**Israel.** Here refers to the Northern Kingdom. In Jeremiah it usually refers to the whole nation.
**mountain . . . tree.** Compare [Jeremiah 2:20](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/20) , and [Hosea 4:13](../../../kjv/hosea/4/13) .
**played the harlot.** The whole of this refers to idolatry, chiefly because of the uncleanness connected with the phallic worship of the Canaanitish nations.

**Turn thou unto Me:** or, "Unto Me she will return".

**And I saw.** In transcribing from the ancient characters, *Aleph* (= a) was perhaps taken for *Tau* (= t), the two letters differing only in one minute stroke (=) and (=). This shows that the primitive reading was = "Though she saw". The Vulg, has preserved the ancient reading, which the Revised Version has put in the margin.
**given her a bill, &c.** Reference to Pentateuch ([Deuteronomy 24:1](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/24/1) ). Compare [Isaiah 50:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/50/1) .[Mark 10:4](../../../kjv/mark/10/4) .

**stones . . . stocks.** Put by Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Cause), App-6 , for the idols made from them.

**feignedly** = in falsehood. The reformation was Josiah's. The People's heart was not changed.

**justified herself.** Compare [Ezekiel 16:51](../../../kjv/ezekiel/16/51) , [Ezekiel 16:52](../../../kjv/ezekiel/16/52) .

**toward the north** = toward the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
**cause Mine anger to fall upon you.** Hebrew cause My face, or countenance, to fall. Put by Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Effect), for the anger manifested by it. Reference to Pentateuch ([Genesis 4:5](../../../kjv/genesis/4/5) , [Genesis 4:6](../../../kjv/genesis/4/6) ).
**merciful** = gracious, favourable.
**keep.** See note on "reserve", [Jeremiah 3:5](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/5) .

**Only acknowledge, &c.** This from the first was, and still is, the one condition of national blessing for Israel. Reference to Pentateuch ([Leviticus 26:40](../../../kjv/leviticus/26/40) , [Leviticus 26:42](../../../kjv/leviticus/26/42) ).
**transgressed** = rebelled.
**scattered thy ways** = gone hither and thither.
**strangers** = foreigners.
**every green tree.** Referring to the worship of the Asherah ( App-42 ).

**Turn** = Return, as in verses: [Jeremiah 3:12](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/12) , [Jeremiah 3:22](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/22) .
**married** = am become your husband. This will be the result of the Restoration here promised.
**family.** Probably a family, or group of cities.

**pastors.** Literally shepherds; but used in Jeremiah of kings, priests, and prophets, who were the guides of the people. See [Jeremiah 2:8](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/8) ; [Jeremiah 3:15](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/15) ; [Jeremiah 10:21](../../../kjv/jeremiah/10/21) ; [Jeremiah 23:1](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/1) , [Jeremiah 23:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/2) , [Jeremiah 23:4](../../../kjv/jeremiah/23/4) ; [Jeremiah 25:34](../../../kjv/jeremiah/25/34) ; Jer 35:36 .

**in those days:** i.e. the days of the Restoration spoken of in verses: [Jeremiah 3:14](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/14) , [Jeremiah 3:15](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/15) . Compare [Jeremiah 31:38-40](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/38-40) ; [Jeremiah 33:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/33/13) .
**they:** i.e. those who return.
**shall say no more, 'The ark', &c.** The ark was still in the land in the days of this prophecy ([2 Chronicles 35:3](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/35/3) ); but it was to disappear with the broken covenant, of which it was the symbol.
**The ark of the covenant of the LORD.** Reference to Pentateuch, (see notes on [Exodus 25:22](../../../kjv/exodus/25/22) ). Compare note on [1 Chronicles 13:3](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/13/3) ).
**visit it.** This is conclusive of the fact that it was burnt together with the Temple (as it is not included in the excepted things, in [2 Kings 25:9](../../../kjv/2-kings/25/9) , [2 Kings 25:13-15](../../../kjv/2-kings/25/13-15) ), notwithstanding the Jewish tradition recorded in 2 Macc. 2:4-8, and the impossible stories of its being taken over to North Africa, Constantinople, or Ireland.
**neither shall that be done, &c.** = neither shall it be made any more. It disappeared together with the covenant, of which it was the symbol ([Jeremiah 8:19](../../../kjv/jeremiah/8/19) ; [Jeremiah 12:7](../../../kjv/jeremiah/12/7) . [Psalms 132:13](../../../kjv/psalms/132/13) , [Psalms 132:14](../../../kjv/psalms/132/14) ). The reason follows in [Jeremiah 3:17](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/17) . Jehovah's throne will be substituted for it: the reality will take the place of the symbol. Jehovah Himself will take the place of the Shekinah.

**At that time.** Referring to the future Restoration.
**call Jerusalem, &c.** Compare [Psalms 87:2-7](../../../kjv/psalms/87/2-7) . [Isaiah 60:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/60/1) ; [Isaiah 65:18](../../../kjv/isaiah/65/18) ; [Isaiah 66:7-13](../../../kjv/isaiah/66/7-13) , [Isaiah 66:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/66/20) .
**throne.** Compare [Jeremiah 14:21](../../../kjv/jeremiah/14/21) . [1 Samuel 2:8](../../../kjv/1-samuel/2/8) . [Psalms 47:8](../../../kjv/psalms/47/8) with [Matthew 25:31](../../../kjv/matthew/25/31) and [Zephaniah 3:8](../../../kjv/zephaniah/3/8) .
**all the nations.** This shows that the prophecy refers to the yet future Restoration. Compare [Jeremiah 1:5](../../../kjv/jeremiah/1/5) , [Jeremiah 1:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/1/10) .
**the name, &c.** See note on [Psalms 20:1](../../../kjv/psalms/20/1) .
**imagination** = stubbornness. The word is used eight times by Jeremiah, but is found nowhere else outside the Pentateuch, except in [Psalms 81:12](../../../kjv/psalms/81/12) . Compare [Jeremiah 7:24](../../../kjv/jeremiah/7/24) . The reference to Pent, is in [Deuteronomy 29:19](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/29/19) .

**In those days.** Still referring to the future Restoration.
**the house of Judah.** This expression occurs eleven times in this book: here; [Jeremiah 5:11](../../../kjv/jeremiah/5/11) ; [Jeremiah 11:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/11/10) , [Jeremiah 11:17](../../../kjv/jeremiah/11/17) ; [Jeremiah 12:14](../../../kjv/jeremiah/12/14) ; [Jeremiah 13:11](../../../kjv/jeremiah/13/11) ; [Jeremiah 22:6](../../../kjv/jeremiah/22/6) ; [Jeremiah 31:27](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/27) , [Jeremiah 31:31](../../../kjv/jeremiah/31/31) ; [Jeremiah 33:14](../../../kjv/jeremiah/33/14) ; [Jeremiah 36:3](../../../kjv/jeremiah/36/3) .
**walk with** = go unto.
**the house of Israel.** See note on [Jeremiah 2:4](../../../kjv/jeremiah/2/4) .
**and they shall** = that they may.
**come** = enter.
**together:** or, at the same time.

**children** = sons.
**a pleasant land.** Hebrew a land of desire: i.e. to be desired.

**husband** = guide, or friend, as in [Jeremiah 3:4](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/4) .

**the high places** = the places where they had sinned. Compare [Jeremiah 3:2](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/2) .
**for** = because.

**Behold.** Figure of speech *Asterismos* , to mark the confession that will be made "in those days".

**Truly** = Thus continuing her confession.
**in vain, &c.** = as certainly as the hills [have proved] false, and the noisy throng on the mountains fan empty sound], so truly is the salvation of Israel with our God. The "hills" and "mountains" are put by the Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Subject), for the idolatry practiced on them. Compare [Ezekiel 18:6](../../../kjv/ezekiel/18/6) , [Ezekiel 18:11](../../../kjv/ezekiel/18/11) , [Ezekiel 18:15](../../../kjv/ezekiel/18/15) .

**shame** = the shameful thing, "shame" being put by Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Effect), for the *Asherah* which put them to shame ([Jeremiah 3:25](../../../kjv/jeremiah/3/25) ). See App-42 .
**labour.** Put by Figure of speech *Metonymy* (of Cause), for all that had been produced by labour.
**their sons.** Some codices, with two early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "and their", thus completing the Figure of speech *Polysyndeton,* to emphasize the completeness of the Restoration.

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