Jeremiah 36 7

Jeremiah 36:7 kjv

It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people.

Jeremiah 36:7 nkjv

It may be that they will present their supplication before the LORD, and everyone will turn from his evil way. For great is the anger and the fury that the LORD has pronounced against this people."

Jeremiah 36:7 niv

Perhaps they will bring their petition before the LORD and will each turn from their wicked ways, for the anger and wrath pronounced against this people by the LORD are great."

Jeremiah 36:7 esv

It may be that their plea for mercy will come before the LORD, and that every one will turn from his evil way, for great is the anger and wrath that the LORD has pronounced against this people."

Jeremiah 36:7 nlt

Perhaps even yet they will turn from their evil ways and ask the LORD's forgiveness before it is too late. For the LORD has threatened them with his terrible anger."

Jeremiah 36 verses

Jeremiah 36 7 meaning

Jeremiah 36:7 expresses the hopeful possibility that when the people of Judah hear the Lord's warnings spoken through Jeremiah, their earnest prayers and supplications might reach God. The verse underscores that individual repentance and turning from wickedness is the necessary response, which, if actualized, could potentially avert the severe and formidable divine wrath that God has already declared against them due to their persistent sin. It highlights both God's righteous judgment and His compassionate desire for His people to repent and be spared.

Jeremiah 36 7 Context

Jeremiah 36 recounts God's command to Jeremiah to record all the prophecies given against Israel, Judah, and all nations since the beginning of his ministry. This instruction came in the fourth year of King Jehoiakim's reign, a period marked by persistent sin, idolatry, and resistance to Jeremiah's prophetic warnings. The specific act of writing was meant to provide a concrete, audible warning to the people who had largely ignored Jeremiah's spoken words. Verse 7 appears after God tells Jeremiah to put all the words He has spoken on a scroll (v. 2) and Baruch has done so (v. 4). Jeremiah then instructs Baruch to read the scroll to the people on a fast day (v. 6), with the hope that this public hearing of God's severe warnings might finally move them to repentance. The background is one of escalating national judgment, with Babylon looming, and Judah on the brink of exile due to their unbroken covenant disloyalty. The reading of the scroll was a final, desperate act of divine mercy, offering one more opportunity for the people to turn back from their "evil way" before judgment became irreversible.

Jeremiah 36 7 Word analysis

• Perhaps (Hebrew: אולי - 'ūlay): This word introduces an element of uncertainty and possibility. It does not indicate doubt on God's part, but rather highlights the genuine human freedom to choose. God’s desire for their repentance is clear, but their response is not guaranteed. It reflects His patience and hope that they might choose rightly, despite their long history of obstinacy.
• their plea (Hebrew: תְּחִנָּתָם - těḥinnātām): Derived from the root ḥānan (to be gracious, to show favor). This term refers to earnest supplication, an appeal for grace and mercy, often from an inferior to a superior. It suggests a desperate and humble petition rather than a casual request, implying a recognition of their need for divine favor in light of their transgressions.
• will come before the Lord: An anthropomorphic expression indicating that their prayer or supplication will be heard and considered by God. It signifies divine attentiveness and accessibility for those who genuinely seek Him, suggesting an intimate moment of divine-human interaction where God might choose to respond favorably.
• and each one: This emphasizes individual accountability and the personal nature of true repentance. While the scroll was read to the nation, the ultimate responsibility to turn was on each person's heart and actions. It transcends a collective ritual to demand personal transformation.
• will turn (Hebrew: יָשׁוּבוּ - yāšûbû): From the fundamental Hebrew verb šûb, meaning "to turn," "return," or "repent." It denotes a fundamental change of direction – both an inner change of heart and an outward change in behavior. It’s not merely regret, but an active decision to reverse course and orient oneself back towards God.
• from his evil way (Hebrew: מִדַּרְכּוֹ הָרָעָה - midarkô hārā'āh): "Way" (derekh) metaphorically represents one's conduct, lifestyle, and moral direction. "Evil" (rā'āh) refers to that which is morally bad, harmful, and offensive to God. Therefore, "turning from his evil way" signifies a conscious abandonment of sinful practices and a commitment to aligning one's life with God's commands. It implies concrete actions rather than mere sentiment.
• for great is the anger (Hebrew: כִּי-גָדוֹל הָאַף - kî-gadôl hā'ap): "For" (kî) indicates the reason or motivation for their potential turning. "Great" (gadôl) stresses the intensity and magnitude. "Anger" ('ap), literally "nose" or "nostrils," often used for a rapid, hot outburst of indignation, signifying a strong, emotional, yet righteous displeasure from God.
• and wrath (Hebrew: וְהַחֵמָה - wěhaḥēmāh): This word denotes a deeper, more settled and burning fury or indignation. Often paired with 'ap, it intensifies the depiction of God's righteous displeasure and the severity of the impending judgment, leaving no doubt about the gravity of the situation.
• that the Lord has pronounced (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה - 'ăšer dibber YHWH): Emphasizes that this judgment is not merely a possibility but a firm divine declaration spoken by God (YHWH, the covenant-keeping God). His word is binding and will be fulfilled unless there is genuine repentance. This phrase highlights the reliability and authority of divine decree.
• against this people: Specifically refers to the inhabitants of Judah. It contextualizes the prophecy, showing it is a direct confrontation with the actions and fate of God's own covenant people, not a general statement of judgment.

Jeremiah 36 7 Bonus section

The specific setting of the scroll's reading on a fast day is significant. Fasting was traditionally associated with national lament, seeking God's face, repentance, and averting calamity (e.g., Joel 2). This timing would amplify the message's impact, drawing people to solemn assembly where the words of divine judgment and the call to return would be most poignant. Baruch, as Jeremiah's scribe, plays a crucial role in the dissemination of this warning, enduring personal risk to obey the divine command. The verse also underscores a consistent theological principle in the Hebrew Bible: divine justice is tempered with mercy, and while God is unwavering in His judgments against sin, He offers a pathway to reconciliation through repentance. This stands in contrast to common pagan beliefs where gods were often fickle and unyielding, irrespective of human change. God's declarations were not predetermined fate but carried the possibility of amendment based on human response.

Jeremiah 36 7 Commentary

Jeremiah 36:7 distills the core message of Jeremiah's prophetic ministry: the urgency of repentance in the face of impending, divinely ordained judgment. The phrase "Perhaps their plea will come before the Lord" encapsulates the thin thread of hope available to Judah, despite their entrenched sinfulness. God, through Jeremiah's scroll, extends a final, conditional opportunity for salvation from the "great anger and wrath" that His covenant people had provoked. This anger and wrath were not capricious but a righteous response to generations of idolatry, injustice, and disobedience. The verse powerfully demonstrates that even when judgment seems sealed, God's patient nature holds out for sincere individual and collective turning (šûb) from evil ways. It is a testament to His enduring mercy, showing that His pronouncements of judgment are not always absolute and irreversible if His people genuinely respond to His call to repentance. This concept resonates throughout scripture, where divine judgment is frequently averted or mitigated by humility and change of heart.