Jeremias 18:8

8 and that nation turn from all their sins, then will I repent of the evils which I purposed to do to them.

Jeremias 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.

Jeremias 18:8 In-Context

6 Shall I not be able, O house of Israel, to do to you as this potter? behold, as the clay of the potter are ye in my hands.

7 I shall pronounce a decree upon a nation, or upon a kingdom, to cut them off, and to destroy ;

8 and that nation turn from all their sins, then will I repent of the evils which I purposed to do to them.

9 And I shall pronounce a decree upon a nation and kingdom, to rebuild and to plant ;

10 and they do evil before me, so as not to hearken to my voice, then will I repent of the good which I spoke of, to do it to them.