Jeremiah 26:3 kjv
If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.
Jeremiah 26:3 nkjv
Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way, that I may relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings.'
Jeremiah 26:3 niv
Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from their evil ways. Then I will relent and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done.
Jeremiah 26:3 esv
It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds.
Jeremiah 26:3 nlt
Perhaps they will listen and turn from their evil ways. Then I will change my mind about the disaster I am ready to pour out on them because of their sins.
Jeremiah 26 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 26:13 | "Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you." | Jeremiah 18:8; 26:3; Joel 2:14 |
| Jeremiah 7:3 | "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place." | Jer 7:5; 4:1; 26:13 |
| Jonah 3:9 | "Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not?" | Jonah 3:9-10; Acts 3:19 |
| Acts 3:19 | "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;" | Acts 2:38; Rev 2:5 |
| Ezekiel 14:6 | "Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations;" | Ezek 18:30; 3:18-19; 33:11 |
| Proverbs 1:20 | "She crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:" | Prov 1:21; Jer 26:2 |
| Jeremiah 18:11 | "Now therefore speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good." | Jer 26:13; 7:3; 35:15 |
| Matthew 11:20 | "Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:" | Matt 11:21; Luke 10:13 |
| Mark 1:15 | "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." | Mark 1:15; Luke 4:43 |
| Luke 13:3 | "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." | Luke 13:5; 17:3 |
| Revelation 2:5 | "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." | Rev 3:3; 2:16; 3:19 |
| Jeremiah 25:8 | "Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not obeyed my words," | Jer 26:5; 2 Kings 17:14 |
| Jeremiah 7:15 | "And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim." | Jer 7:15; Deut 18:14 |
| Deuteronomy 11:26 | "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;" | Deut 30:19; Jer 26:11 |
| Joshua 1:8 | "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." | Ps 1:2; Josh 1:8 |
| Jeremiah 3:12 | "Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, and I will not keep anger for ever." | Jer 3:12-13; 31:22 |
| Jeremiah 26:1 | "In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying," | Jer 26:1 |
| Isaiah 55:7 | "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." | Isa 55:7; Ps 103:12 |
| Romans 10:8 | "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;" | Rom 10:8; Deut 30:14 |
| Ezekiel 33:11 | "Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" | Ezek 18:23; 33:10; Lam 3:33 |
| 2 Samuel 12:22 | "And David said, while the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether God will be gracious to me, that the child may live?" | 2 Sam 12:23; Jonah 3:9 |
Jeremiah 26 verses
Jeremiah 26 3 Meaning
This verse commands Jeremiah to proclaim a message of impending destruction to the people of Jerusalem and all its inhabitants. The core of the message is a call for repentance, offering a potential alternative to God's judgment. If they heed His words and turn from their evil ways, God will relent and not bring the predicted disaster upon them.
Jeremiah 26 3 Context
This verse is part of Jeremiah's prophecy during the reign of Jehoiakim, a period marked by significant political instability and a decline in spiritual faithfulness among the people of Judah. Chapter 26 details a dramatic confrontation in the temple court where Jeremiah is commanded by God to deliver a severe warning. He is to speak about the potential destruction of the Temple itself and Jerusalem, a highly sacred place. The immediate context involves Jehoiakim's father, Josiah, who had initiated religious reforms, but Jehoiakim and many of the people had reverted to disobedience and idolatry. Jeremiah's message in this chapter is a public denunciation of their sin and a stark pronouncement of the consequences. This prophetic act led to Jeremiah's arrest and a trial before the priests and prophets, highlighting the resistance he faced.
Jeremiah 26 3 Word Analysis
"Speak all the words":
- The phrase emphasizes the totality of God's message. Nothing is to be omitted or softened.
- This includes both the pronouncements of judgment and the conditional offer of repentance and salvation.
- Jeremiah is acting as a mouthpiece, relaying God's exact communication.
"which I command thee":
- Highlights the divine origin of the message. Jeremiah is not speaking his own thoughts but God's direct command.
- Implies authority and absolute necessity in conveying the message as given.
"to them":
- Refers specifically to the recipients of the message: the people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem.
- Indicates direct address and accountability for those who hear.
"omit not a word":
- A strong reiteration of the command from "speak all the words."
- The emphasis is on completeness and fidelity to the divine instruction. Any alteration or omission would render the message void or even make Jeremiah complicit in deception.
"Lest":
- Introduces the consequence of disobedience to the command.
- Signifies a negative outcome that Jeremiah must avoid.
"they hearken":
- Refers to the action of listening attentively and, importantly, obeying.
- The hope, however slim, is that hearing will lead to a change of heart and action.
"and":
- Connects the act of hearkening with the outcome of God relenting.
"repent every one from his evil way":
- "Repent" (Hebrew: nacham) can mean to regret, to be comforted, or to relent. In this context, it carries the sense of a change of mind and direction, leading to sorrow for sin.
- "Every one": Stresses individual responsibility and the comprehensive nature of the required change.
- "His evil way": Denotes personal sin and departure from God's path. This is not just societal sin but an individual's culpable actions.
"and":
- Links the turning from evil ways with God's action.
"I repent me of the evil":
- "Repent me" (Hebrew: nacham) here describes God's response. It signifies that God, in His mercy and longsuffering, will turn away from carrying out the punishment He had decreed when His people turn from sin.
- This reflects God's unchanging nature of justice balanced with mercy, and His responsiveness to genuine repentance, as seen in passages like 2 Samuel 12:22 and Jonah 3:10. It is not an admission of change in God's character, but a change in His outward dealing with His people.
"which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings":
- Explains the reason for the impending judgment: their wicked actions.
- "Purpose" (Hebrew: chashav) implies a planned or intended action. God’s judgment is not capricious but a consequence of their persistent sin.
- This phrase clearly establishes the cause-and-effect relationship between sin and judgment, and repentance and mercy.
Jeremiah 26 3 Bonus Section
The Hebrew word translated as "repent" (nacham) appears in relation to both God and humans in Scripture. When used of God, it describes His decision to alter His course of action towards His people in response to their repentance or sin (Exodus 32:12-14; Jonah 3:10). It's important to understand this not as a change in God's immutable character, but a change in His outward dealings motivated by His mercy and justice. When used of humans, it signifies a profound turning from sin towards God, a change of heart and mind that manifests in behavior. This verse showcases the dynamic interplay between divine decree and human responsibility, illustrating that God's judgments are often contingent on human response, particularly the response of repentance. Jeremiah’s task was to ensure that the path to relenting (God’s action) remained open by ensuring the people heard the command to repent (human action).
Jeremiah 26 3 Commentary
Jeremiah 26:3 is a pivotal statement of conditional prophecy. It underscores God's consistent posture: judgment is declared because of sin, but His ultimate desire is for people to repent and live. The prophet is charged with the critical task of delivering the complete, unvarnished message, lest the people miss the opportunity for God to turn from His wrath. This highlights two essential truths: the severe consequences of continued sin against a holy God, and the boundless mercy available to those who turn back to Him. Jeremiah's faithful utterance of these words, despite personal risk, sets the stage for his confrontation in the temple, demonstrating the courage required of God's spokespersons. The message echoes throughout Scripture, from the Old Testament prophets calling for national repentance to Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament, urging individuals to "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17).