Jeremiah 18:8

8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.

Jeremiah 18:8 in Other Translations

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.

8 and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it.

8 but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned.

8 But if they repent of their wicked lives, I will think twice and start over with them.

8 if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

8 But suppose the nation that I threatened turns away from doing wrong. Then I will change my plans about the disaster I planned to do to it.

8 However, if that nation I have made an announcement about, turns from its evil, I will not bring the disaster on it I had planned.

8 But suppose the nation I warned turns away from its sins. Then I will not do what I said I would. I will not bring trouble on it as I had planned.

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 He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.

7 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed,

8 and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned.

9 And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted,

10 and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 32:14; Psalms 25:11; Jeremiah 26:13; Jeremiah 36:3; John 3:8-10
• 2. Jeremiah 31:28; Jeremiah 42:10; Daniel 9:14; Ezekiel 18:21; Hosea 11:8-9; Joel 2:13; John 4:2