Charles Ellicott Commentary Jeremiah 3:11

"And Jehovah said unto me, Backsliding Israel hath showed herself more righteous than treacherous Judah." — Jeremiah 3:11 (ASV)

Has justified herself. —Literally, has justified her soul, has put in a better plea in her defence. The renegade was better than the traitress. Even open rebellion was better than hypocrisy, as the publicans and sinners in the Gospel story were better than the Pharisees (Matthew 21:31).