Jeremiah 18:12 kjv
And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.
Jeremiah 18:12 nkjv
And they said, "That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart."
Jeremiah 18:12 niv
But they will reply, 'It's no use. We will continue with our own plans; we will all follow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.'?"
Jeremiah 18:12 esv
"But they say, 'That is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.'
Jeremiah 18:12 nlt
But the people replied, "Don't waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires."
Jeremiah 18 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 18:12 | "But they say, ‘It is hopeless! For we will walk after our own devices, And we will do everyone after the imagination of his evil heart.’" | Reflects human pride and rebellion |
| Psalm 2:3 | "‘Let us break their chains,’ they say, ‘and throw off their shackles.’" | Depicts rebellion against divine authority |
| Proverbs 14:12 | "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." | Warns of the deceptive nature of self-will |
| Isaiah 42:16 | "I will bring the blind ones by a way they do not know; In paths they do not know I will lead them. I will make the darkness light before them And crooked places straight. These things I will do, And I will not forsake them." | Contrasts God’s guidance with human waywardness |
| Isaiah 55:8-9 | "“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD." | Highlights the difference between God’s perfect ways and human flawed ways |
| Ezekiel 18:30 | "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,’ says the Lord GOD. ‘Repent, and turn and away from all your transgressions, so that sin shall not be your ruin." | Emphasizes accountability for one’s actions |
| Luke 1:53 | "He has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty." | Echoes God’s action to lift the humble and cast down the proud |
| Romans 1:30 | "...disobedient to parents, senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless." | Lists characteristics of those who abandon God |
| Romans 3:10-12 | "As it is written: ‘There is no righteous man, no, not one; There is no one who understands; There is no one who seeks God." | Illustrates the universal human tendency towards sin |
| Romans 8:5-7 | "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity toward God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be." | Contrasts life lived in self-will versus life in the Spirit |
| 1 Corinthians 1:18 | "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." | Shows how human wisdom is opposed to God’s wisdom |
| Galatians 5:17 | "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you cannot do the things that you wish." | Depicts the internal struggle against one’s own sinful desires |
| 1 John 2:16 | "For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world." | Identifies sources of humanistic ambition apart from God |
| Revelation 3:17 | "Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—" | Exposes self-deception and reliance on one's own resources |
| Genesis 6:5 | "Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." | Highlights humanity's inclination to evil when self-directed |
| Deuteronomy 28:20 | "The LORD will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke, in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish, because of the evil of your doings in that you have forsaken Me." | Links disobedience to destructive outcomes |
| Judges 17:6 | "In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes." | Illustrates a time of spiritual anarchy and self-rule |
| Jeremiah 18:18 | "Then they said, ‘Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah; for fire and destruction shall be poured upon him.’" | Shows their active plotting against God’s messenger |
| 1 Samuel 15:23 | "For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.”" | Equates stubborn resistance to divine instruction with idolatry |
| Acts 7:51 | "“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you." | Accuses Israel of persistent opposition to the Holy Spirit |
Jeremiah 18 verses
Jeremiah 18 12 Meaning
The verse speaks to the people of Judah, declaring that they claim to have devised their own plans, but these plans are ultimately in vain because they do not follow God's ways. Their own understanding and judgment lead them astray from the path God has set for them, resulting in a futile and self-defeating effort.
Jeremiah 18 12 Context
In Jeremiah 18, the prophet is commanded by God to go to the potter's house. There, he observes the potter working with clay, shaping it according to his will. God uses this illustration to demonstrate His sovereign power over Judah. Just as the clay cannot dictate its form to the potter, so too the people of Judah are subject to God's plans for them. If they continue in their sin, God will judge them, but if they repent, He can show them mercy. Jeremiah 18:12 is a response from the people to God’s warning and the prophet’s message. Instead of heeding the call to repentance, they declare their resolve to continue in their own ways, asserting that there is no hope for change because they are committed to their personal choices and desires. This reflects a deep-seated rebellion and a rejection of God’s authority and his capacity to redeem them from their current path of destruction. Historically, this occurs during a period when Judah is facing imminent invasion and judgment from Babylon, a consequence of their unfaithfulness to God.
Jeremiah 18 12 Word analysis
- And (Hebrew: וְ — wə) - A common conjunction connecting phrases or clauses, here indicating continuation or consequence.
- they said (Hebrew: וַיֹּאמְרוּ — wayyōʾmərû) - Implies a spoken response, a declaration of their collective intention.
- It (Hebrew: מַר — mār) - refers to their condition, their current state, or the situation they are in.
- is hopeless (Hebrew: נוֹאָשׁ — nōʾāš) - Signifies despair, giving up on any possibility of improvement or change from their current trajectory. It implies they feel beyond help or redemption.
- For (Hebrew: כִּי — kî) - Introduces the reason or justification for their declaration of hopelessness.
- we will walk (Hebrew: נֵלֵךְ — nēlēḵ) - Indicates a future action, a continuing course of conduct or behavior.
- after (Hebrew: אַחֲרֵי — ʾaḥărê) - Denotes following or being guided by something.
- our own (Hebrew: הַרְ — har) - Emphasizes possession and self-determination, distinct from God’s guidance.
- devices (Hebrew: מְזִמֹּות — məzimmōt) - Refers to plans, schemes, contrivances, often with a negative connotation of cunning or evil planning. It signifies human reasoning and invention apart from divine counsel.
- And (Hebrew: וְ — wə) - Another conjunction, connecting the previous declaration with the following one.
- we will do (Hebrew: נַעֲשֶׂה — naʿăśeh) - Means to perform or carry out actions.
- everyone (Hebrew: אִישׁ — ʾîš) - Individually, each person.
- after (Hebrew: לְ — lə) - Similar to the previous "after," signifying being guided by or according to.
- the imagination (Hebrew: יֵ֫צֶר — yēṣer) - Refers to formation, device, purpose, or imagination. Here, it specifically denotes the intent or conception originating from within.
- of his evil (Hebrew: רָע — rāʿ) - Signifies badness, wickedness, or depravity.
- heart (Hebrew: לֵב — lēḇ) - Represents the inner person, the seat of thought, emotion, will, and moral disposition. The "imagination of his evil heart" signifies the sum total of their sinful thoughts and desires.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "It is hopeless!": This phrase encapsulates a state of resignation mixed with defiance. They haven't reached the point of giving up on God, but on the possibility of doing anything else besides their current sinful course. It’s a justification for continued rebellion.
- "For we will walk after our own devices": This segment reveals their self-reliance and rejection of divine counsel. Their "devices" (məzimmōt) are the products of their own thinking, devoid of God’s wisdom. They are determined to follow their self-generated plans.
- "And we will do everyone after the imagination of his evil heart": This amplifies the previous point by highlighting the source of their plans: the corrupted human heart (lēḇ rāʿ). It signifies individual responsibility for embracing and acting upon sinful inclinations, resulting in a pervasive state of unrighteousness.
Jeremiah 18 12 Bonus section
The phrase "It is hopeless!" (נוֹאָשׁ - nōʾāš) implies not just a lack of future prospects, but a surrender to a way of life. It’s a statement that their chosen path is the only path they are willing to acknowledge. This defiant pronouncement foreshadows their resistance to Jeremiah’s message throughout his ministry. Their determination to follow "imagination of his evil heart" is a recognition of the internal source of their sin, contrasting with God's external, pure will. This is consistent with theological understanding of total depravity where the human heart, unredeemed, is inherently inclined towards sin and rebellion.
Jeremiah 18 12 Commentary
The people of Judah, in their response to God’s warning through Jeremiah, exhibit a profound spiritual rebellion and self-deception. They declare their situation "hopeless," not in the sense of seeking God's mercy, but as an excuse to persist in their chosen paths. They resolve to "walk after our own devices," indicating a steadfast commitment to their own plans and schemes, devoid of divine guidance. This is further emphasized by their intention to act according to "the imagination of his evil heart." This signifies that their personal desires, inclinations, and flawed thinking originating from within their sinful hearts will be their sole guides. This posture stands in stark contrast to the potter-and-clay analogy God presented, which called for submission to His sovereign will and potential for change. Their declaration is a rejection of God's transformative power and an embrace of their own destructive ways, sealing their impending judgment. It illustrates the devastating consequences of rejecting God's wisdom and choosing instead the path of self-will and personal autonomy when divorced from Him.