Jeremiah 18:8

8 but if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I'll relent and not carry out the harm I intended for it.

Jeremiah 18:8 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 18:8

If that nation against whom I have pronounced
Such a sentence as this, should immediately, upon the above declaration, do as Nineveh did: turn from their evil;
their evil of sin, their evil ways and works, as an evidence of the truth of their repentance for former sins: I will repent of the evil that one thought to do unto them;
as they change their course of life, God will change the dispensations of his providence towards them, and not bring upon them the evil of punishment he threatened them with; in which sense repentance can only be understood of God, he doing that which is similar to what men do when they repent of anything; they stop their proceedings, and change their outward conduct; so God proceeds not to do what he threatened to do, and changes his outward behaviour to men; he wills a change, and makes one in his methods of acting, but never changes his will.

Jeremiah 18:8 In-Context

6 House of Israel, can't I deal with you like this potter, declares the LORD? Like clay in the potter's hand, so are you in mine, house of Israel!

7 At any time I may announce that I will dig up, pull down, and destroy a nation or kingdom;

8 but if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I'll relent and not carry out the harm I intended for it.

9 At the same time, I may announce that I will build and plant a nation or kingdom;

10 but if that nation displeases and disobeys me, then I'll relent and not carry out the good I intended for it.