Jeremiah 31:20Is 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 yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him, says Yahweh.
The setting
Babylon, ~586 BC. God's heart breaking over His exiled people in modern-day Iraq. Despite their rebellion, His father-love won't let go...
The emotion here: amazed and moved by the tenderness of God's father-heart toward rebellious children
The original word
raḥam (רחם) — womb-love, the fierce protective instinct of a mother for her child
Why it matters
Ephraim was Joseph's son, Jacob's favorite grandson — making this extra personal
Read with care
What most readers miss in Jeremiah 31:20
God is literally asking Himself questions — His heart is torn between justice and love
Common misconceptionPeople think this is just nice poetry about God's love, but it reveals God's internal emotional struggle — His justice demands punishment while His father-heart yearns for reconciliation.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Jeremiah 31:20
Bible Genome reading
Jeremiah 31:20 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Jeremiah 31:20 comes from the book of Jeremiah, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Yahweh. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 95% and a tone that is tender. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine love, parental affection. Notable phrases: my dear son; darling child; my heart yearns for him. This verse contains a promise of God. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same worship
“Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God; Yahweh is one:”
— Deuteronomy 6:4
“and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1
“Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.”
— John 14:6
“Jesus said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."”
— John 8:58
Your reflection
What does Jeremiah 31:20 mean to you, today?
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