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.

Is Ephraim my dear son? ... The question implies that a negative answer was to be expected. Who would have thought that one so undutiful to His heavenly Father as Ephraim had been should still be regarded by God as a "pleasant child." Certainly he was not so in respect to his sin. But by virtue of God's "everlasting love" (), on Ephraim's being "turned" to God, he was immediately welcomed as God's "dear son." This 20th verse sets forth God's readiness to welcome the penitent (Jeremiah 31:18), anticipating his return with prevenient grace and love. (Compare , "When he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion," etc.)

Since I spake against him - threatened him idolatry.

I do earnestly remember him still - with favour and concern, as in ; .

My bowels are troubled for him - (; ; ) namely, with the yearnings of compassionate love. "The "bowels" include the region of the heart, the seat of the affections.