Definition: I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus]; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed [to the yoke]: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou [art] the LORD my God.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Jeremiah 31:18. It's a really powerful and moving passage about God’s plan for Israel. Here’s a simple explanation: The Basic Idea: This verse is essentially saying that God is taking action to fix something that’s going wrong with Ephraim. It’s like when you accidentally break something – the key is to fix it. Let's unpack it word by word: “I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself…” : This tells us that God knows about Ephraim’s unhappiness and frustration. He’s aware of their pain. “…thus;” : This is a little tricky – it means "because" or “as a result.” It's emphasizing the cause of the problem. “Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed [to the yoke]: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou [art] the LORD my God.” : This is the core of the verse. Let’s break it down further: “Thou hast chastised me…” : This means God has put Ephraim in a difficult situation – perhaps through unjust laws or a harsh treatment. “…as a bullock unaccustomed [to the yoke]” : This is the most important part. “The yoke” refers to the Mosaic Law, which was a set of rules and regulations that were given to Israel as a way for them to be ruled by God. It was seen as a burden and a restriction. “Unaccustomed” means they weren’t used to it – they didn't understand or appreciate it. So, God is saying that Ephraim was set up in a way that wasn't fair or right. “turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou [art] the LORD my God.” : This is the crucial part. God says, “I will fix this for you! You are the Lord my God, and I will turn you away from this wrong path.” It’s a declaration of God's intention to restore Ephraim to the way he was originally meant to be – a people who follow his laws and worship him. In simpler terms: God is taking action to correct a problem that Ephraim is facing because it's causing them unhappiness. He’s saying, "I'm going to make things right for you, and I will help you return to the way God intended." Why is this important? This verse is a foundational part of the Old Testament narrative and is often interpreted as a promise of God’s faithfulness and protection. It speaks to the idea that God's plan is always for good, even when things are difficult. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse? Discuss its significance in the context of the Old Testament story of Israel?