Jeremiah 8 6

Jeremiah 8:6 kjv

I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.

Jeremiah 8:6 nkjv

I listened and heard, But they do not speak aright. No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, 'What have I done?' Everyone turned to his own course, As the horse rushes into the battle.

Jeremiah 8:6 niv

I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, "What have I done?" Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle.

Jeremiah 8:6 esv

I have paid attention and listened, but they have not spoken rightly; no man relents of his evil, saying, 'What have I done?' Everyone turns to his own course, like a horse plunging headlong into battle.

Jeremiah 8:6 nlt

I listen to their conversations
and don't hear a word of truth.
Is anyone sorry for doing wrong?
Does anyone say, "What a terrible thing I have done"?
No! All are running down the path of sin
as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle!

Jeremiah 8 verses

Jeremiah 8 6 Meaning

The verse describes God's lament over Judah's spiritual state. God attentively listened and observed their conduct and words, expecting repentance or self-reflection, but found none. Instead of confessing their wrongdoings or questioning their actions, the people adamantly continued in their chosen path of rebellion and sin. Their eager, unrestrained rush into wickedness is likened to a horse charging blindly and impulsively into battle, heedless of the danger or consequences, indicative of their deep spiritual depravity and willful ignorance.

Jeremiah 8 6 Context

Jeremiah 8 is set against the backdrop of Judah's spiritual apostasy during the tumultuous period leading to the Babylonian exile. The prophet Jeremiah, often called the "weeping prophet," continually confronts the people and their leaders for their persistent idolatry, injustice, and false worship, all while false prophets assure them of peace. In this chapter, Jeremiah laments Judah's incurable wound, comparing their rejection of God's law to an irrational migration pattern of birds who instinctively know their times, while Judah's people do not know the LORD's rule. Despite clear warnings and impending doom, they cling to deceit and reject the true wisdom of God, thereby incurring divine judgment. Verse 6 specifically encapsulates God's despair over their stubborn unrepentance in the face of these grave realities.

Jeremiah 8 6 Word analysis

• I listened (קַשַּׁבְתִּי - qashshavti): Derived from qashav, meaning to give close attention, to heed, to listen intently. This emphasizes God's active and earnest expectation of a positive response or a sign of turning. It indicates God wasn't merely passively hearing, but carefully discerning the true spiritual condition and intentions.
• and heard (וָאֶשְׁמָע - va'eshma'): From shama', meaning to hear, perceive, understand, and sometimes obey. In this context, it confirms God's full perception of their words and silence. The combination with qashav heightens the sense of divine vigilance.
• but they did not speak rightly (לֹא כֵן דִּבֵּרוּ - lo chen dibberu): Lo ken literally means "not thus" or "not properly/rightly." Dibberu is "they spoke." This signifies that their speech was morally or spiritually incorrect; it did not align with truth, righteousness, or what God desired. It was devoid of confession, repentance, or genuine spiritual understanding.
• no one repented (אִישׁ לֹא נִחַם - ish lo nicham): Ish (man, anyone). Nicham is the Niphal form of nacham, meaning to regret, be sorry, or repent, indicating a profound change of mind and heart leading to a change of action. The explicit "no one" stresses the universality of their unrepentance across the nation.
• of his evil (עַל רָעָתוֹ - 'al ra'ato): Ra'ato means his evil, wickedness, or calamity. The focus is on their personal and collective wrongdoing. Repentance must be of one's own recognized sin.
• saying, 'What have I done?' (לֵאמֹר מַה עָשִׂיתִי - le'mor mah 'asiti): This specific phrase highlights the crucial act of self-examination and honest introspection. It is the beginning of conviction, where an individual genuinely questions their behavior and recognizes their culpability before God. This was entirely absent.
• Everyone turned (כֻּלָּם שָׁבוּ - kullam shavu): Kullam (all of them, everyone) again denotes widespread behavior. Shavu is from shuv, which usually means to turn, return, or repent. Here, ironically, it's used in the negative sense: they returned or turned back to their familiar, wicked patterns, rather than turning to God.
• to his own course (בְּמֵרוּצָתָם - bemerutsatam): Merutsah means a running, a course, a race. It depicts their headlong pursuit, their chosen path or accustomed way of life. The emphasis is on their own course, implying a self-directed path that ignored God's direction.
• like a horse (כְּסוּס - k'sus): Sus is a horse. The comparison emphasizes powerful, impulsive action, often associated with untamed vigor or readiness for conflict (Job 39:19-25).
• plunging madly (שׁוֹטֵף - shotef): A participle meaning rushing, sweeping, overflowing, or charging impetuously. It vividly describes unrestrained, headlong, and uncontrolled movement. It’s not just moving but eagerly, even fiercely, and without prudence.
• into battle (בַּמִּלְחָמָה - bamilchamah): Milchamah is war, battle. The analogy of a horse rushing into battle signifies not courage, but an instinctual, thoughtless, even destructive charge into conflict or danger, entirely oblivious to the consequences or rational assessment of risk. It underscores their zealous, unthinking pursuit of sin as if it were an unavoidable or even desirable destination.

• "I listened and heard": This phrase underlines God's intentional and thorough evaluation of His people. It’s not a superficial glance but an attentive search for spiritual health, met only with disheartening silence regarding repentance.
• "but they did not speak rightly; no one repented of his evil, saying, 'What have I done?'": This entire section paints a picture of comprehensive spiritual failure. Their external expressions (speaking) were incorrect, and their internal state (heart) lacked genuine sorrow or introspection for sin, a necessary prerequisite for true repentance.
• "Everyone turned to his own course, like a horse plunging madly into battle": This powerful double comparison intensifies the portrayal of Judah's obstinate rebellion. They willfully followed their own destructive inclinations with an eager, uncontrolled, and self-destructive fervor, paralleled to an animal driven by instinct, blind to danger. Their 'own course' directly contradicts God's prescribed path, illustrating their full-throttle commitment to apostasy.

Jeremiah 8 6 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of God's patient listening with the people's total lack of hearing (in the sense of understanding and obeying) or even speaking truthfully is central to the verse's power. It underscores the profound disconnect between the divine expectation and human spiritual reality. The people’s "own course" (merutsatam) is not merely a path they drifted onto but one they vigorously and willfully pursued, rejecting God's counsel. This determined self-direction represents an indirect polemic against any notion that their suffering was merely misfortune; it was the direct outcome of their conscious and zealous choices. The 'horse plunging madly' signifies not bravery but a dangerous, untamed, and ultimately self-destructive impetus. It highlights how sin can become a force that seizes an individual or a nation, propelling them heedlessly towards disaster, extinguishing any inclination towards self-preservation or rational thought regarding consequences.

Jeremiah 8 6 Commentary

Jeremiah 8:6 stands as a poignant divine lament, exposing the utter spiritual decay of Judah. God, in His meticulous and expectant listening, searched for any whisper of regret, any spark of introspection that might signal a turning from their evil ways. Yet, He found only deafening silence and unwavering resolve in their sinful trajectory. Their "speaking rightly" should have involved confessing their transgressions and questioning their harmful choices—a humble acknowledgment reflected in the simple, yet profound, question: "What have I done?" The absence of this elementary self-awareness highlights a profound spiritual insensitivity and hardened heart. The subsequent analogy of the horse plunging madly into battle dramatically illustrates their reckless pursuit of sin; it is not a calculated risk but an uncontrolled, eager charge towards self-destruction, void of reason or caution. This verse vividly portrays a people fully committed to their path of unrighteousness, making divine judgment both lamentable and inevitable.