Charles Ellicott Commentary Jeremiah 3:12

"Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith Jehovah; I will not look in anger upon you; for I am merciful, saith Jehovah, I will not keep [anger] for ever." — Jeremiah 3:12 (ASV)

Toward the north. —The prophet utters his message toward the far land of Assyria and the cities of the Medes, to which the ten tribes of Israel had been carried away captive (2 Kings 17:6; 2 Kings 17:23). He had a word of glad tidings for the far-off exiles.

Return, you backsliding Israel. —It is hard to reproduce the poignant assonance of the original, “Shubah, mashubah,” — turn back, you who have turned away; return, you renegade.

I will not cause my anger to fall upon you.— Literally, my face; the face so fearsome in its wrath.

I will not keep anger forever. —With perhaps a latent reference to the hope held out in Hosea 3:5, and to the words which Judah had uttered in her hypocrisy (Jeremiah 3:5), but which were truer of Israel.