The Church Fathers on this verse

Jeremiah 3:18Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In those days the house of Juda shall go to the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land which I gave to your fathers.

Douay-Rheims

בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔מָּה יֵלְכ֥וּ בֵית־יְהוּדָ֖ה עַל־בֵּ֣ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְיָבֹ֤אוּ יַחְדָּו֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ צָפ֔וֹן עַל־הָאָ֕רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִנְחַ֖לְתִּי אֶת־אֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

2 Church Fathers comment on this verse

John Chrysostom

4th centuryChurch Father

In those days, the house of Israel will unite with the house of Judah, and they shall act in unison. The pinnacle of goodness is found in harmony and love, which also serves as the root of all evils. Observe how He has orchestrated these events. He did not say, "The house of Judah will come to the house of Israel," but rather, in an unexpected twist, the first person to show indignation—the one who initiated the conflict, the rebellious one, the violent one—will be the one to usher in harmony. This restoration will not wait for their return, but they will begin to act together prior to that return. Look, dear ones, at the blessings that captivity has wrought: it has ended the relentless strife, it has united a once-divided people, it has reconciled citizens previously at odds.

Read more (116 words)

Nature was in turmoil, the tribes were scattered, and the rightful order of society was disrupted. All of this arose from injustice, and all of it I resolved through captivity. From the north land, note what is affirmed: from the northern territory, certainly not from other nations. He then recalls the ancient narrative: "I will grant the south as a heritage to their forefathers." This declaration is even more extraordinary. When intending to illustrate a miracle, He invokes a historic account or prior miracle. Do you doubt that the ancestors were assembled, that I bequeathed them an inheritance? That those who are dispersed across the earth would be gathered into one location is a miracle indeed.

Jerome of Stridon

4th centuryChurch Father

This promise was indeed realized with the advent of Christ, when all the twelve tribes embraced the gospel. Having abandoned the harsh northern regions and broken free from the grasp of evil, they then attained the land of promise that God had assured their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I have recently released a small volume discussing the promised land.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.