Jeremiah 18 8

Jeremiah 18:8 kjv

If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

Jeremiah 18:8 nkjv

if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it.

Jeremiah 18:8 niv

and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.

Jeremiah 18:8 esv

and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it.

Jeremiah 18:8 nlt

but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned.

Jeremiah 18 verses

Jeremiah 18 8 Meaning

Jeremiah 18:8 conveys the principle of divine conditional judgment and mercy, illustrating God's responsiveness to human actions. It states that if a nation, upon which God has declared impending disaster due to its evil, genuinely repents and turns from its wicked ways, God will then "relent" from bringing that prophesied calamity. This highlights God's justice intertwined with His compassion, demonstrating that His declared judgments are often warnings meant to call humanity to repentance, rather than irreversible decrees.

Jeremiah 18 8 Context

Jeremiah 18 begins with God commanding Jeremiah to go to the potter's house. There, Jeremiah observes the potter working with clay on the wheel. When a vessel in the potter's hand is marred, he remolds it into another vessel as he sees fit. This act becomes a living parable for Jeremiah, illustrating God's sovereign authority over nations, akin to a potter's authority over clay. The nation of Israel, and indeed any nation, is like clay in God's hands. He has the power to shape them for good or for judgment. Verse 8, along with its parallel in verse 10, clarifies the dynamic nature of God's declarations regarding judgment or blessing. They are not absolute pronouncements devoid of human responsibility but are contingent upon a nation's response. Historically, Judah was rapidly descending into idolatry, social injustice, and covenant disobedience, prompting the severe prophetic warnings from Jeremiah. The context implies a call to repentance for Judah, before the threatened "disaster" of Babylonian invasion becomes irreversible.

Jeremiah 18 8 Word analysis

• If (אִם - im): This conjunctive particle introduces a condition. It indicates that the subsequent action (God relenting) is directly dependent on the fulfillment of the preceding condition (the nation turning from evil). It underscores the conditional nature of divine dealings, emphasizing human choice and responsibility.
• that nation (הַגּוֹי הַהוּא - ha-goy ha-hu): Refers to a specific entity that is the subject of God's decree. While applicable to Judah, it can be universally applied to any nation or group addressed by prophetic warnings. "Goy" is the standard Hebrew term for "nation" or "people."
• concerning which I have spoken (אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתִּי עָלָיו - asher dibbarti 'alav): Highlights the divine origin and authority of the previous prophetic pronouncements. God is not acting arbitrarily; His declaration of disaster is intentional and clearly communicated. It emphasizes that warnings are always issued.
• turns from (יָשׁוּב - yashuv): Derived from the verb shuv, which is central to the concept of "repentance" or "returning." It implies a decisive change of direction, a turning away from wrong and a turning back to God. This isn't just regret but a change in action and conduct.
• its evil (מֵרָעָתוֹ - me-ra'ato): Refers to the collective wickedness, corruption, idolatry, or injustice that characterises the nation. It indicates that the judgment is a direct consequence of their moral and spiritual state. The root ra' means bad, evil, disaster.
• I will relent (וְנִחַמְתִּי - ve-nichamti): From the verb nacham, meaning "to feel regret," "to comfort oneself," or "to change one's mind/action." When applied to God, it is an anthropomorphism. It does not mean God changes His character or ultimate purpose, but rather that His interaction and the immediate outcome of His justice change in response to human repentance. It shows God's responsiveness and readiness to suspend announced judgment, consistent with His compassionate character.
• of the disaster (עַל־הָרָעָה - 'al ha-ra'ah): Refers to the calamitous event or judgment God had previously declared. Here, ra'ah signifies physical and national destruction, contrasting with ra'ato as moral evil.
• that I intended (אֲשֶׁר חָשַׁבְתִּי - asher chashavti): From the verb chashav, "to think," "to plan," "to devise." It confirms that the disaster was not arbitrary but a divinely purposed and carefully considered consequence of the nation's actions. It implies a predetermined judicial outcome.
• to bring upon it (לַעֲשׂוֹת לוֹ - la'asot lo): Concludes the thought, emphasizing God's active role in implementing judgment when necessary.

Words-group Analysis:

• "If that nation... turns from its evil": This phrase highlights the conditionality of divine justice. It places human free will and responsibility at the forefront, implying that divine declarations of judgment are not irrevocable pronouncements but rather invitations to change course. The power of repentance to avert prophesied doom is emphasized.
• "I will relent... that I intended to bring upon it": This juxtaposition showcases God's compassionate nature despite His just judgments. It reveals a God who is sovereign yet also relational, whose plans for disaster can be altered by human response. The "relenting" demonstrates His desire for people to choose life, aligning with His character of slow anger and abounding steadfast love (Exod 34:6-7). This "relenting" does not signify a change in God's immutable nature but a change in His interactive dealings based on altered human circumstances, confirming His dynamic moral governance.

Jeremiah 18 8 Bonus section

The Hebrew word for "relent," nicham, can also be translated as "comfort," "grieve," or "be sorry." Its usage concerning God in Jer 18:8 and similar passages (e.g., Exod 32:14, Jonah 3:10) is a prime example of theological anthropomorphism, where human emotions or actions are attributed to God to help us understand His character and interactions. Scholars often differentiate between God's eternal, unchangeable plan or will (His absolute sovereignty) and His temporal, interactive will that responds to human free will. God's ultimate purpose for history remains fixed, but His immediate responses to humanity, such as judgments or blessings, are often conditioned upon their moral and spiritual state. This passage emphasizes God's moral governance, His justice that requires accountability, and His grace that invites a turning back to Him. It implicitly defines genuine repentance as a comprehensive change, not merely a superficial acknowledgment of guilt.

Jeremiah 18 8 Commentary

Jeremiah 18:8 serves as a cornerstone passage illustrating God's conditional decrees regarding nations. It operates on the theological principle that divine pronouncements of judgment are not typically absolute or unalterable, but contain an implicit invitation to repentance. God, the ultimate Potter, possesses the right to reshape the destiny of the "clay" (the nation) based on its actions. If a nation, warned of impending catastrophe due to its pervasive evil, truly undergoes a fundamental turning (a teshuvah) away from that wickedness, God's announced judgment can be withheld. This is not a change in God's character (which is immutable), but rather a change in His operational response, demonstrating His boundless mercy and justice perfectly balanced. The passage refutes any fatalistic view of prophetic warning, confirming that human repentance holds transformative power in the face of divine judgment.

• Example 1: A parent warns a child of punishment for continued misbehavior, but if the child sincerely apologizes and amends their conduct, the parent might choose to forgive and not enact the promised punishment.
• Example 2: A traffic court judge gives a suspended sentence to an offender who shows genuine remorse and commitment to changing their ways, demonstrating that justice can be tempered with mercy.