if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them. At the instant I speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; if they do that which is evil in my sight, that they not obey my voice, then I will repent of the good with which I said I would benefit them.
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Jeremiah 18:8-10 sits inside this longer paragraph.
Then Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, “House of Israel, can’t I do with you as this potter?” says Yahweh. “Behold, as the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, house of Israel. At the instant I speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it; if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them. At the instant I speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; if they do that which is evil in my sight, that they not obey my voice, then I will repent of the good with which I said I would benefit them.
Parallel Translations
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if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do to them.
At the instant I speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
if they do that which is evil in my sight, that they not obey my voice, then I will repent of the good with which I said I would benefit them.
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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.
And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
Show all 3 translations
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but if that nation turn from their evil, because of which I have spoken against it, I repent of the evil that I thought to do unto it.
And at one instant I may speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
but if it do evil in My sight, that it hearken not to My voice, then I repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit it.
Examined in Scripture Analysis
Contradictions (1)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (48)
- Ezekiel 18:21 (v8) “But if the wicked turns from all his sins that he has committed, and keeps all my statutes, and does that which is lawful and right, he…
- Jeremiah 26:13 (v8) Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey Yahweh your God’s voice; then Yahweh will relent from the evil that he has…
- Hosea 11:8 (v8) “How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart…
- Jonah 3:9-10 (v8) Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?” God saw their works,…
- 1 Samuel 2:30 (v10) “Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father should walk before me forever.’ But…
Show all 48 cross-references
- Jeremiah 26:3 (v8) It may be they will listen, and every man turn from his evil way; that I may relent from the evil which I intend to do to them because of…
- Jeremiah 31:28 (v9) It will happen that, like as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down and to overthrow and to destroy and to afflict, so I…
- Ezekiel 33:18 (v10) When the righteous turns from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, he will even die therein.
- Judges 2:18 (v8) When Yahweh raised up judges for them, then Yahweh was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the…
- 1 Samuel 13:13 (v10) Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you; for now Yahweh…
- Ezekiel 18:24 (v10) “But when the righteous turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked…
- Joel 2:13-14 (v8) Tear your heart, and not your garments, and turn to Yahweh, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in…
- Amos 7:3-6 (v8) Yahweh relented concerning this. “It shall not be,” says Yahweh. Thus the Lord Yahweh showed me and behold, the Lord Yahweh called for…
- Amos 9:11-15 (v9) In that day I will raise up the tent of David who is fallen, and close up its breaches, and I will raise up its ruins, and I will build it…
- 1 Samuel 15:11 (v10) “It grieves me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments.” Samuel…
- Psalms 106:45 (v8) He remembered for them his covenant, and repented according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses.
- Psalms 125:5 (v10) But as for those who turn away to their crooked ways, Yahweh will lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be on Israel.
- Jeremiah 1:10 (v9) Behold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and…
- Jeremiah 7:3-7 (v8) Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel says, “Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Don’t trust in…
- Jeremiah 11:17 (v9) For Yahweh of Armies, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you, because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of…
- Exodus 32:12 (v8) Why should the Egyptians talk, saying, ‘He brought them out for evil, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the surface…
- Numbers 14:22 (v10) because all those men who have seen my glory, and my signs, which I worked in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have tempted me these ten…
- Deuteronomy 32:36 (v8) For Yahweh will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone; that there is no one…
- Judges 10:15-16 (v8) The children of Israel said to Yahweh, “We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, please, today.” They put away…
- 1 Samuel 15:35 (v10) Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death; for Samuel mourned for Saul: and Yahweh grieved that he had made Saul king over…
- 1 Kings 8:33-34 (v8) “When your people Israel are struck down before the enemy, because they have sinned against you; if they turn again to you, and confess…
- 2 Chronicles 12:6 (v8) Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, “Yahweh is righteous.”
- Psalms 90:13 (v8) Relent, Yahweh! How long? Have compassion on your servants!
- Psalms 135:14 (v8) For Yahweh will judge his people and have compassion on his servants.
- Ecclesiastes 3:2 (v9) a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
- Isaiah 1:16-19 (v8) Wash yourselves. Make yourself clean. Put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil. Learn to do well. Seek…
- Jeremiah 7:23-28 (v10) but this thing I commanded them, saying, ‘Listen to my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. Walk in all the way that…
- Jeremiah 30:18 (v9) Yahweh says: “Behold, I will reverse the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have compassion on his dwelling places. The city will be built on…
- Jeremiah 31:4 (v9) I will build you again, and you will be built, O virgin of Israel. You will again be adorned with your tambourines, and will go out in the…
- Jeremiah 31:38 (v9) “Behold, the days come,” says Yahweh, “that the city will be built to Yahweh from the tower of Hananel to the gate of the corner.
- Jeremiah 32:41 (v9) Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.”
- Zephaniah 1:6 (v10) those who have turned back from following Yahweh, and those who haven’t sought Yahweh nor inquired after him.
- Luke 13:3-5 (v8) I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way. Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed…
- Numbers 14:34 (v10) After the number of the days in which you spied out the land, even forty days, for every day a year, you will bear your iniquities, even…
- Jeremiah 15:6 (v8) You have rejected me,” says Yahweh. “You have gone backward. Therefore I have stretched out my hand against you and destroyed you. I am…
- Jeremiah 26:19 (v8) Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Didn’t he fear Yahweh, and entreat the favor of Yahweh, and Yahweh relented of…
- Jeremiah 36:3 (v8) It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I intend to do to them; that they may each return from his evil way; that I…
- Jeremiah 42:10 (v8) ‘If you will still live in this land, then I will build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up; for I…
- Ezekiel 33:11 (v8) Tell them, ‘ “As I live,” says the Lord Yahweh, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and…
- Ezekiel 33:13 (v8) When I tell the righteous that he will surely live; if he trusts in his righteousness, and commits iniquity, none of his righteous deeds…
- Ezekiel 45:20 (v10) So you shall do on the seventh day of the month for everyone who errs, and for him who is simple. So you shall make atonement for the house.
- Jonah 2:5-10 (v8) The waters surrounded me, even to the soul. The deep was around me. The weeds were wrapped around my head. I went down to the bottoms of…
- Jonah 4:2 (v8) He prayed to Yahweh, and said, “Please, Yahweh, wasn’t this what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore I hurried to flee to…
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (15 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv8–10 But the Prophet speaks first of punishment; Suddenly, he…
But the Prophet speaks first of punishment; Suddenly, he says, will I speak of a nation and of a kingdom, to pull down, to extirpate and to destroy; that is, even they who seem far from all danger shall find that they are exposed to my judgment. But if a nation, he says, turns from its wickedness, against whom I have spoken, then I will repent of the evil, etc. The Prophet no doubt intended to shut up the mouths of the Jews, who, as we have before seen, continually contended with God; for he could not convince them that the punishments were just which God inflicted on them for their sins. As then they were thus perverse in their wickedness, and hypocrisy also had hardened them the more, the Prophet says here in God’s name, “When I speak against a nation and threaten final ruin, if it repents, I shall be immediately reconciled to it; there is therefore no ground for the Jews to expostulate with me, as though I dealt with them too severely; for they shall find me reconcilable if they repent from the heart.” It follows then, that their obstinacy was the cause why God proceeded in his judgments, for the repentance of God means no other thing than what Scripture says elsewhere, that he is merciful, slow to wrath, and ready to forgive. (Numbers 14:18; Psalm 103:8.) He then here testifies, that nothing hindered the Jews from being in a better state but their own perverseness.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On v8 When the Scripture attributeth repentance unto God, it is…
When the Scripture attributeth repentance unto God, it is not that he doeth contrary to that which he hath ordained in his secret counsel: but when he threateneth, it is a calling to repentance, and when he giveth man grace to repent, the threatening (which ever containeth a condition in it) taketh no place: and this the scripture calleth repentance in God, because it so appeareth to man’s judgment.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv8–10 Jer 18:8 If that nation, against whom I have…
Jer 18:8 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.
Ver. 8. Turn from their evil.] If I may see such work among them, as at Nineveh God did. {Jon 3:10} He saw not their sackcloth and their ashes, but their repentance and works - those fruits of their faith.
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I will repent of the evil.] Not by any change of my will, but by the willing of a change: mutatione Rei non Dei.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv8, 10 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn…
If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil; if that nation leaveth off those sinful courses which I have by my prophets threatened with judgments;
I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them; I will also turn from the methods of my severe providence which I had resolved in case of their impenitency to proceed in against them. There is a difference betwixt repentance in man, and repentance as it is attributed to God; repentance in man must be, not only a change in action, but a change of heart; repentance as attributed to God never signifieth a change of heart, or purpose, or counsels, but only a change in action, all alteration of the course of his providence. Hence God in Scripture is said to repent, as in this text, and Jon 3:10. And it is also said of him, that he is not as man, that he should lie or repent, Num 23:19; 1Sa 15:29. God never changeth his counsels or purposes, though he often varieth his actions of providence, according to the behaviours of his creatures.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv8–10 If it do evil in my sight,.... What is…
If it do evil in my sight,.... What is sinful, contrary to the law and will of God, openly and publicly, in a bold and daring manner:
that it obey not my voice: in my word, and by my prophets, but turn a deaf ear to them, and slight and despise all instructions, admonitions, and reproofs:
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then I will repent of the good wherewith I said I would benefit them; or, "do them good" (t); that is, withhold it from them, and not bestow it on them; but, on the contrary, correct or punish them according to their deserts. Thus, though God is a sovereign God, yet, in the dispensations of his providence towards kingdoms and nations, he deals with them in such a merciful and equitable manner, that there is no just reason to complain of him; and yet he maintains and keeps up his power and authority, such as the potter exercises over the clay.
(t) "ad benefaciendum ei", Montanus; "ut benefacerem ei", Valablus, Pagninus; "benefacturum ei", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv8–10 Verse 8. See Clarke on Jer 18:7.
Verse 8. See Clarke on Jer 18:7.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v9 Jer 18:9-10. If I shall speak concerning a nation…
Jer 18:9-10. If I shall speak concerning a nation to build and to plant — That is, To advance and establish all the true interests of it; if it do evil in my sight, &c. — If it lose its piety and virtue, and become profane and vicious; then will I repent of the good, &c. — I will not proceed with the good work which I was performing in its behalf, but it shall be intermitted; and what favours were further designed it shall be withheld. Thus God changed his purpose concerning Eli’s house, 1Sa 2:30; and hurried Israel back into the wilderness, when he had brought them within sight of Canaan; and thus he rejected those lost sheep of the house of Israel who refused to embrace the gospel, notwithstanding the general promises he had made to that people, and even after he had sent his Son to seek and save them. In like manner neither can any particular Christians, nor Christian churches, lay any claim to God’s general promise of preserving and finally saving them, any further than they keep close to that rule of faith and manners which he hath prescribed to them in the New Testament.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v8 I will repent of the evil ... I will…
I will repent of the evil ... I will repent of the good - All God’s dealings with mankind are here declared to be conditional. God changeth not, all depends upon man’s conduct.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v8 Shall repent, having free-will, though prevented by grace. (St.…
Shall repent, having free-will, though prevented by grace. (St. Jerome)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On v8 their evil--in antithesis to, "the evil that I thought…
their evil--in antithesis to, "the evil that I thought to do."
repent--God herein adapts Himself to human conceptions. The change is not in God, but in the circumstances which regulate God's dealings: just as we say the land recedes from us when we sail forth, whereas it is we who recede from the land (Eze 18:21; Eze 33:11). God's unchangeable principle is to do the best that can be done under all circumstances; if then He did not take into account the moral change in His people (their prayers, &c.), He would not be acting according to His own unchanging principle (Jer 18:9-10). This is applied practically to the Jews' case (Jer 18:11; see Jer 26:3; Jon 3:10).
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv8, 10 8. Repent — The strongest type of anthropopathic language…
8. Repent — The strongest type of anthropopathic language applied to God, just as we ascribe the qualities of animate beings to inanimate; as “The sun rises;” “The shore recedes.”
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On v8 8. I will repent] speaking after the manner of…
8. I will repent] speaking after the manner of men. The sense is, I will alter my treatment, for among men change of conduct implies change of purpose.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On v8 Vers. 8-12. A never-to-be-forgotten principle of interpretation.
Vers. 8-12. A never-to-be-forgotten principle of interpretation.
These verses plainly teach that all God"s threatenings, even the most terrible, and all God"s promises, even the most blessed, are conditional on the continuance of the moral character to which they were addressed. Now, this is
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I A CORDIAL AGAINST DESPAIR. When the convicted sinner as the men of Nineveh hear the awful denunciations of God"s judgment, all hope seems to be forbidden. The Ninevites, to encourage themselves in a forlorn hope, could only say, "Who can tell whether God will be gracious?" But this and the like Scriptures, confirmed by so many facts of experience, forbid all such despair.
II A CHECK TO PRESUMPTION. How many prate concerning final perseverance who are not persevering at all except in sin and worldliness? But they need to be reminded of this sure condition, one which the great adversary of souls is ever striving to make us forget.
III AN EXPLANATION OF THE STERN WORDS OF SCRIPTURE. When one would give the alarm of fire he does not whisper the word. So when God would warn sinners he does not soften his words, but in most vivid manner sets before men the awful doom of the ungodly. Thus would God, by his terrors, scare men if naught else will do to "flee from the wrath to come," so that "he may repent of the evil he thought to do unto them." Such words are not the utterance of absolute decrees against any soul to whom they are addressed, but loving warnings to such soul to turn to God and live.
IV A REASON FOR ITS WORDS OF WARNING. These are found in varied form, addressed to disciples of Christ, to those to whom the most glorious promise had been made. See the sermon on the mount; how full of warnings! Therefore this conditionalness of God"s words speaks:
1. To the believer, and bids him" Be not high-minded, but fear." "If God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee
2. To the ungodly. See the sure end of thy way; how awful! But see, too, God"s earnest desire that thou shouldest forsake that way. C.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v8 (See Scofield "Zec 8:14").
repent
(See Scofield "Zec 8:14").
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v9 build it up or plant it
build it up or plant it
These two phrases mean basically the same thing. Yahweh speaks of strengthening kingdoms as if they were buildings that he would build, and as if they were plants that he would plant. (See: Doublet and Metaphor)
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if it does evil in my eyes
Here the word "it" refers to a nation or kingdom, which is a metonym for the people in that nation or kingdom. The word "eyes" represents seeing, and seeing represents thoughts or judgment. AT: "if the people of that nation do things that I consider to be evil" (See: Metonymy and Metaphor)
not listening to my voice
Here the word "voice" represents the words that Yahweh speaks. Here, "not listening" is an idiom that means that they do not obey. AT: "not obeying what I say" (See: Metonymy and Idiom)
translationWords
voice
good
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.