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20 Is Ephraim not my favored son,
    the child in whom I delight?
Even though I threaten him,
    I must still remember him!
My heart stirs for him,
    I must show him compassion!—oracle of the Lord.(A)

Summons to Return Home

21 Set up road markers,
    put up signposts;
Turn your attention to the highway,
    the road you walked.
Turn back, virgin Israel,
    turn back to these your cities.
22 How long will you continue to hesitate,
    rebellious daughter?
The Lord has created a new thing upon the earth:
    woman encompasses man.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 31:22 No satisfactory explanation has been given for this text. Jerome, for example, saw the image as a reference to the infant Jesus enclosed in Mary’s womb. Since Jeremiah often uses marital imagery in his description of a restored Israel, the phrase may refer to a wedding custom, perhaps women circling the groom in a dance. It may also be a metaphor describing the security of a new Israel, a security so complete that it defies the imagination and must be expressed as hyperbolic role reversal: any danger will be so insignificant that women can protect their men.

20 Is not Ephraim my dear son,
    the child(A) in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
    I still remember(B) him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
    I have great compassion(C) for him,”
declares the Lord.

21 “Set up road signs;
    put up guideposts.(D)
Take note of the highway,(E)
    the road that you take.
Return,(F) Virgin(G) Israel,
    return to your towns.
22 How long will you wander,(H)
    unfaithful(I) Daughter Israel?
The Lord will create a new thing(J) on earth—
    the woman will return to[a](K) the man.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 31:22 Or will protect