Jeremiah 5:18 kjv
Nevertheless in those days, saith the LORD, I will not make a full end with you.
Jeremiah 5:18 nkjv
"Nevertheless in those days," says the LORD, "I will not make a complete end of you.
Jeremiah 5:18 niv
"Yet even in those days," declares the LORD, "I will not destroy you completely.
Jeremiah 5:18 esv
"But even in those days, declares the LORD, I will not make a full end of you.
Jeremiah 5:18 nlt
"Yet even in those days I will not blot you out completely," says the LORD.
Jeremiah 5 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lev 26:44 | Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away... | God will not abandon His covenant people. |
| Lev 26:45 | ...nor will I abhor them so as to destroy them utterly and break my covenant... | God's covenant is enduring, limits destruction. |
| Deut 4:31 | For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you... | God's mercy preserves, preventing total ruin. |
| Isa 1:9 | If the LORD of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we would have been like Sodom... | Remnant theme; partial judgment, not extinction. |
| Isa 6:13 | And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste... The holy seed is its stump. | Remnant as a holy stump for future growth. |
| Isa 10:20 | ...the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more... | Survivors depend on God alone. |
| Isa 10:21 | A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. | Promise of a future return. |
| Isa 10:22 | For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant will return... | Emphasizes the small number of preserved. |
| Jer 4:27 | For thus says the LORD, “The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.” | Echoes Jeremiah 5:18's specific promise. |
| Jer 30:11 | For I am with you to save you, declares the LORD; I will make a full end of all... I will not make a full end of you. | Direct parallel, God saves and preserves Israel. |
| Jer 46:28 | Do not fear, O Jacob my servant, declares the LORD, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all... I will not make a full end of you. | Another direct parallel with the same assurance. |
| Ezek 6:8 | Yet I will leave some of you alive, when you have among the nations survivors... | Preservation of some in exile. |
| Ezek 11:16 | ...Yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a little while among the countries where they have gone. | God's presence with exiles, not full abandonment. |
| Amos 9:8 | Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface... except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob. | God's judgment is not absolute destruction. |
| Mic 7:18 | Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? | God's unique nature includes mercy for remnant. |
| Lam 3:22 | The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end... | God's enduring love prevents full consumption. |
| Zech 1:3 | Therefore say to them, Thus declares the LORD of hosts: Return to me... | Call to return, implying a people to return. |
| Mal 3:6 | For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. | God's unchanging nature preserves Israel. |
| Rom 9:27-29 | And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant will be saved..." | Paul quotes Isaiah, confirming remnant theology. |
| Rom 11:1-5 | I ask then: Has God rejected his people? By no means!... So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. | God has not cast off Israel; there is a remnant. |
| 2 Tim 2:13 | if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself. | God's faithfulness endures despite human failure. |
Jeremiah 5 verses
Jeremiah 5 18 Meaning
Jeremiah 5:18 conveys God's solemn declaration that despite the severe judgment Judah is about to face due to its persistent unfaithfulness and rebellion, He will not bring a complete and utter destruction upon them. This verse signals divine wrath tempered by covenant mercy, assuring the preservation of a remnant and thus a future for His people, preventing their total annihilation.
Jeremiah 5 18 Context
Jeremiah chapter 5 depicts Judah's deep moral corruption and rampant idolatry, detailing God's frustration and impending judgment. The chapter opens with God seeking a single righteous person in Jerusalem to avert judgment, finding none (Jer 5:1). It highlights widespread unfaithfulness, oppression, and false prophecy, culminating in God raising up a mighty foreign nation (Babylon) to invade and punish Judah (Jer 5:15-17). The context of verse 18 is this declaration of severe, destructive judgment by an invading army, promising the devouring of their crops, livestock, and fortified cities. Historically, Judah was rapidly declining, caught between major empires, and stubbornly refusing to repent despite Jeremiah's warnings. Against this backdrop of guaranteed calamity, Jeremiah 5:18 stands as a surprising glimmer of hope, preventing the narrative from collapsing into utter despair and asserting God's overarching commitment to His covenant, even as His justice unfolds. It also directly refutes any contemporary belief that God would never allow His chosen people or Jerusalem to suffer severe calamity, but simultaneously denies their total destruction.
Jeremiah 5 18 Word analysis
- But even: Introduces a strong contrast or concession. It shifts from the declaration of devastating judgment to a powerful counter-statement of mercy. This juxtaposition highlights God's sovereignty over both punishment and preservation.
- in those days: Hebrew: hâ'eṯ bāyyāmîm hâhēmâh (הָאֶת־בַּיָּמִים הָהֵמָּה). Refers specifically to the time of intense judgment and national distress previously described in the chapter, namely the Babylonian invasion and subsequent exile. It underscores the severity of the coming punishment.
- declares the LORD: Hebrew: nĕʼum YHWH (נְאֻם יְהוָה). This is a characteristic prophetic formula, signifying an authoritative, direct, and unchangeable utterance from God Himself. It emphasizes the divine origin and certainty of the promise.
- I will not make a full end: Hebrew: lōʼ-ʼeʻĕśeh ʼeṯḵem kālâ (לֹא־אֶעֱשֶׂה אֶתְכֶם כָּלָה). This is the critical phrase.
- lōʼ (לֹא): The negative particle, "not," unequivocally negating the action.
- ʼeʻĕśeh (אֶעֱשֶׂה): "I will make" or "I will do," indicating a deliberate divine action.
- kālâ (כָּלָה): This significant Hebrew term means "complete consumption," "total cessation," "utter destruction," "extermination," or "full termination." It signifies an end without hope of recovery or continuation.
- Combined meaning: God solemnly declares He will prevent total annihilation or utter obliteration of His people. His judgment, while severe, has boundaries.
- of you: Hebrew: ʼeṯḵem (אֶתְכֶם). Refers to the people of Judah, the nation currently facing God's wrath. The personal pronoun emphasizes that this promise specifically applies to His covenant people.
- "But even in those days," declares the LORD, "I will not make a full end of you.": This complete sentence masterfully juxtaposes the impending severe judgment with a foundational promise of divine restraint and future hope. It communicates God's justice in punishment and His steadfast mercy in preservation, affirming the enduring nature of His covenant. It distinguishes Israel's fate from that of other nations destined for utter disappearance.
Jeremiah 5 18 Bonus section
This verse is critical in establishing the distinct destiny of Israel compared to other nations mentioned in the prophetic books. Many ancient empires faced judgment that led to their complete disappearance and cultural assimilation (e.g., Assyria, Babylon itself, though less directly stated to disappear utterly like other nations, it fell completely). For Israel, even during the most severe exilic periods, there was an unwavering divine promise of continuity. This promise of a preserved remnant found initial fulfillment in the return from Babylonian exile, allowing for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple. Ultimately, this foundational commitment by God laid the groundwork for the Messianic hope, as the lineage of the Savior depended on the ongoing existence of "you"—Israel—even in the face of judgment. The very possibility of the New Covenant and the church arising from God's people is rooted in promises like Jeremiah 5:18.
Jeremiah 5 18 Commentary
Jeremiah 5:18 serves as a pivotal assurance amidst a cascade of judgment prophecies. God's declaration that He will not make a "full end" (kālāh) of Judah highlights a fundamental aspect of His character: righteous judgment is always tempered by His covenant faithfulness. While their unfaithfulness merits severe discipline, His ultimate purpose is not to eradicate them, but to refine and restore. This promise undergirds the theology of the remnant, ensuring a continuing line and future hope for Israel. It also showcases divine sovereignty, as God maintains control over the extent and duration of punishment, setting a limit to human suffering and despair. This isn't merely a delay of destruction, but an explicit denial of ultimate termination for His chosen people, paving the way for eventual repentance and restoration.