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.
Jeremiah 31:20
God speaks tenderly about Ephraim, one of the tribal or territorial expressions of Israel, personifying it as a beloved son. The question, “Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child?” uses intimate parental language to convey the Father’s longing for fidelity from his covenant people. The verse arises after warnings of judgment due to infidelity, yet it immediately reveals God’s merciful, sorrowful resolve to remember and restore. The phrases “since I spake against him” allude to earlier prophetic judgments and rebukes, while “my bowels are troubled for him” communicates deep compassion. The promise “I will surely have mercy upon him” stresses steadfast mercy as the underlying motive of divine action. The broader Jeremiah 30–31 context emphasizes a new covenant and future restoration, with Ephraim as a representative for all Israel. This verse thus sits at the hinge between judgment and mercy.
This verse foregrounds divine compassion as a core attribute: God is not distant or punitive without grief; He relationally grieves, yet remains committed to mercy. It also highlights the personal nature of God’s covenants—He cares for His people as a Father cares for a child, even when they falter. The emphasis on mercy in the face of transgression points forward to the New Covenant motif in which God’s forgiveness and restoration become the central hope for the people. It also underscores the continuity of God’s promises: even in judgment, mercy is not canceled, and the relationship remains intact.
For readers today, this verse invites trust in the patient mercy of God when we fail. If you feel distant from God after a mistake, remember that He longs to renew relationship rather than withdraw. Practically, this can mean returning to prayer, pursuing reconciliation with someone you’ve harmed, and embracing the discipline that leads to growth rather than bitterness. When God says He will have mercy, we should respond with contrition and hope—believing that restoration is possible and real. It can also shape how we treat others who have faltered: imitate God’s mercy, offering second chances and steady encouragement rather than condemnation. The verse invites us to cultivate a posture of affectionate faith toward church, community, and family—seeing them as “dear” and “pleasant” in God’s eyes, deserving mercy, too.
Cross-References: Hosea 11:1-4; Psalm 103:13-14; Romans 11:30-32; Zephaniah 3:17; Micah 7:18-19