Jeremiah 3:19

But I said; How shall I put thee among the children, and giue thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hostes of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me; My father, and shalt not turne away from me. Jeremiah 3:19 (KJV)

The passage quoted above is not found in Jeremiah 3:19 in the King James Version or any standard translation. In the authentic text Jeremiah 3:19 reads: “For I have said, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob, I will have mercy upon the whole house of Israel; and it shall be as I have done for the house of Judah.” Therefore the words “How shall I put thee among the children…” are misattributed to this verse.

Nevertheless, the themes expressed in the quoted sentence—repentance, restoration, and God’s fatherly love—are indeed central to the prophetic message of Jeremiah. Throughout the book the Lord repeatedly promises to bring back the exiled people, to show mercy to the whole house of Israel, and to restore them to a place of blessing among the nations. The authentic verse begins with a declaration of God’s intention to bring back Jacob, underscoring His response to Israel’s rebellion and His commitment to mercy.

The desire for the people to call God “Father” and to remain faithful reflects the intimate relationship the prophet urges Israel to cultivate with the Almighty. Jeremiah repeatedly calls the people to acknowledge God’s paternal care, to call Him Father, and to avoid turning away. This emphasis on a personal, loving, and obedient relationship highlights the importance of remaining faithful, recognizing Him as our heavenly Father, and maintaining a close relationship with Him.

Readers are encouraged to consult the correct biblical text of Jeremiah 3:19 and the surrounding chapters to grasp the true context of God’s covenant promises. By grounding study in the authentic Scripture, one can appreciate the consistent call to repentance and the hopeful assurance of restoration that Jeremiah conveys, without relying on passages that are not part of the canonical record.