Jeremiah 7:5

5 Instead, if you really change your ways and your actions, if you act justly toward one another,^[a]

Jeremiah 7:5 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 7:5

For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings
Or, "if ye make your ways good, and do your works well", which is what is exhorted to ( Jeremiah 7:3 ) , and respects the duties of the moral law; which are more acceptable to God than legal sacrifices, when done from right principles, and with right views, from love, in faith, and to the glory of God; which is doing good works well; the particulars of which follow: if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;
without respect to persons, without favour and affection, without bribery and corruption; passing a righteous sentence, and making an equitable decision of the case between them, according to the law of God, and the rules of justice and equity: this respects judges and civil magistrates.

Jeremiah 7:5 In-Context

3 "This is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Correct your ways and your deeds, and I will allow you to live in this place.

4 Do not trust deceitful words, chanting: This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.

5 Instead, if you really change your ways and your actions, if you act justly toward one another,

6 if you no longer oppress the alien, the fatherless, and the widow and no longer shed innocent blood in this place or follow other gods, bringing harm on yourselves,

7 I will allow you to live in this place, the land I gave to your ancestors forever and ever.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit justly between a man and his neighbor