Ephraim’s words of repentance continue. For after I had turned away I relented.
The Hebrew word sub, translated as turned,
is used, and as in the rest of Jeremiah, it is the language of repentance1. The northern exiles acknowledge that they had turned
away from the Lord and now they had relented
of their unfaithfulness.
The words, I struck my thigh
are an expression of pain, lament and remorse2. Ephraim continues: I was ashamed, and I was confounded, because I bore the disgrace of my youth.
The exiles recognize that their behaviour (and that of their descendants) had been disgraceful. They had brought shame on themselves when the Lord had driven them from the land because of their unfaithfulness. This shameful behaviour stretches all the way back to their youth
as a people. It has been a consistent pattern for the nation. Ephriam reached this new understanding after I was instructed.
It is in the preaching of this message by Jeremiah, and other prophets like him, that both northern and southern exiles are instructed and come to realize how they have treated the Lord and therefore turn to him in repentance3.
19 Après m'être détourné, j'éprouve du repentir; Et après avoir reconnu mes fautes, je frappe sur ma cuisse; Je suis honteux et confus, Car je porte l'opprobre de ma jeunesse.