Jeremiah 26 · Verse 3

Jeremiah 26:3

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, King James Version

Jeremiah 26:3 in other translations

BSBPerhaps they will listen and turn—each from his evil way of life—so that I may relent of the disaster I am planning to bring upon them because of the evil of their deeds.
WEBIt 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 the evil of their doings.’”
ASVIt may 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.
YLTIf so be they hearken, and turn back each from his evil way, then I have repented concerning the evil that I am thinking of doing to them, because of the evil of their doings.
DARBYPeradventure 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 wickedness of their doings.
BBEIt may be that they will give ear, and that every man will be turned from his evil way, so that my purpose of sending evil on them because of the evil of their doings may be changed.
WebsterIt may be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent of the evil, which I purpose to do to them because of the evil of their doings.

What does Jeremiah 26:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. if so be--expressed according to human conceptions; not as if God did not foreknow all contingencies, but to mark the obstinacy of the people and the difficulty of healing them; and to show His own goodness in making the offer which left them without excuse [Calvin].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Jeremiah 26:1-6

The destruction of the temple and city foretold. (Jr 26:1-6) Jeremiah's life is threatened. (Jr 26:7-15) He is defended by the elders. (Jr 26:16-24) Verses 1-6 God's ambassadors must not seek to please men, or to save themselves from harm. See how God waits to be gracious. If they persisted in disobedience, it would ruin their city and temple. Can any thing else be expected? Those who will not be subject to the…

Read the full comment on Jeremiah 26:1-6 →

Jeremiah 26:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אוּלַ֣י'u.LaiperhapsH194
יִשְׁמְע֔וּyish.me.'Uthey will listenH8085
וְיָשֻׁ֕בוּve.ya.Shu.vuand they may turn backH7725
אִ֖ישׁ'isheveryoneH376
מִדַּרְכּ֣וֹmi.dar.Kofrom way hisH1870
הָרָעָ֑הha.ra.'Ah<the> evilH7451
וְנִחַמְתִּ֣יve.ni.cham.Tiand I will repentH5162
אֶל\־'el-concerningH413
הָרָעָ֗הha.ra.'Ahthe calamityH7451
אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherwhichH834
אָנֹכִ֤י'a.no.KhiIH595
חֹשֵׁב֙cho.Shev[am] planningH2803
לַעֲשׂ֣וֹתla.'a.Sotto doH6213
לָהֶ֔םla.Hemto <the> them
מִפְּנֵ֖יmi.pe.Nei<from> because ofH6440
רֹ֥עַRo.a'[the] wickedness ofH7455
מַעַלְלֵיהֶֽם\׃ma.'a.lei.Hemdeeds theirH4611

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Jeremiah 26:3

  • Jeremiah 36:3

    It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.

  • Jeremiah 18:7-10

    At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; 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.

  • Jonah 4:2

    And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

  • Isaiah 1:16-19

    Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

  • Jonah 3:8-10

    But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

  • Jeremiah 36:7

    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.

  • Ezekiel 18:27-30

    Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

  • 1 Kings 21:29

    Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.

  • 1 Kings 21:27

    And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
so.
18:7-10; 36:3; Isa 1:16-19; Eze 18:27-30; Jon 3:8-10; 4:2
that I.
13
See on ch.
18:7-10; 1Ki 21:27,29

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Jeremiah 26:2

    Thus saith the Lord; Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the Lord’s house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:

  • Jeremiah 26:3

    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 26:4

    And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,

Read all of Jeremiah 26

Jeremiah 26:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Quizá oirán, y se tornarán cada uno de su mal camino; y arrepentiréme yo del mal que pienso hacerles por la maldad de sus obras.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Peut-être qu’ils écouteront, et qu’ils reviendront chacun de sa mauvaise voie; et je me repentirai du mal que je pense à leur faire à cause de l’iniquité de leurs actions.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Vielleicht werden sie hören und ein jeder von seinem bösen Wege umkehren: So werde ich mich des Übels gereuen lassen, welches ich ihnen zu tun gedenke wegen der Bosheit ihrer Handlungen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		si forte audiant, et convertantur unusquisque a via sua mala, et pœniteat me mali quod cogito facere eis propter malitiam studiorum eorum.