Jeremiah 3

“They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for…” Naming Arabian and Lift keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore’s forehead…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Will he reserve his anger for ever? will he keep it to the end? Behold, thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister…” Naming Judah and Turn keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a…” Naming Israel and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith…” Naming Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.” Naming Israel and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD ; and I will…” Naming Israel and Return keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to…” Naming Only keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD ; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD , they shall…” The promise, blessing, or covenant language needs its named recipient and scope. Those details prevent a personal word in the story from becoming a promise detached from context.

“At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD ; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel…” Naming Israel and Surely keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings. Behold, we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD…” Naming Return keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the LORD our God is…” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For shame hath devoured the labour of our fathers from our youth; their flocks and their herds, their sons and their…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.