Jeremiah 18:8

8 But if these Gentiles shall turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

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 O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel.

7 In an instant I shall speak against Gentiles and against kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down and to destroy.

8 But if these Gentiles shall turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

9 And in an instant I shall speak concerning the nation and concerning the kingdom, to build and to plant it;

10 but if it should do evil in my sight, not hearing my voice, then I will repent of the good that I had determined to do unto them.