Jeremiah 31:3

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me ... Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love. Israel gratefully acknowledges in reply God's past grace; but at the same time tacitly implies, by the expression "of old," that God does not appear to her now. 'God appeared to me of old, but now I am forsaken!' God replies, Nay, I love thee with the same love now as of old (). My love was not a momentary impulse, but from "everlasting" in my counsels, and to "everlasting" in its continuance; hence, originated the covenant whereby I gratuitously adopted thee (; Romans 11:28). Margin translates, 'from afar,' which does not answer so well as "of old" to "in the wilderness" (), which refers to the olden times of Israel's history.

With loving-kindness ... drawn - (). Rather, 'I have drawn out continually my loving-kindness toward thee.' So . "Continue (margin, draw out at length) thy loving-kindness." By virtue of my everlasting love I will still extend my loving-kindness to thee. So , "O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me."