Jeremiah 18:8

But if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I will relent of the disaster I had planned to bring.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — God speaks through Jeremiah to the prophet and the people of Judah, framing prophetic warnings as conditional announcements rather than fixed decrees.

The words — The text hinges on שָׁב (Shav), literally "turn away," describing the nation’s departure from evil, and נִחַמְתִּי (ni.cham.Ti), literally "I will relent," marking God’s withdrawal of the threatened disaster.

The thread — This conditional pattern appears in Jeremiah 26:13, where national repentance is tied to God’s reversal of planned disaster, and Ezekiel 18:21, which links the removal of judgment to individual turning from sin.

Why it lands — The passage demands readers treat divine warnings as immediate calls to moral correction, recognizing that prophetic threats depend on human response rather than operating as immutable fate.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְשָׁב֙ve./Shavand/ it will turn away הַגּ֣וֹיha./Goythe/ nation הַה֔וּאha./Hu'<the>/ that מֵרָ֣עָת֔וֹme./Ra.'a.T/ofrom/ evil/ its אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhich דִּבַּ֖רְתִּיdi.Bar.tiI had spoken עָלָ֑יו'a.La/von/ it וְנִֽחַמְתִּי֙ve./ni.cham.Tiand/ I will relent עַל־'al-on הָ֣רָעָ֔הha./ra.'Ahthe/ calamity אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.Sherwhich חָשַׁ֖בְתִּיcha.Shav.tiI had planned לַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla./'a.Sotto/ doלֽוֹ׃ סl/oto <the>/ it

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked man turns from all the sins he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.
Jeremiah 26:13 So now, correct your ways and deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, so that He might relent of the disaster He has pronounced against you.
Hosea 11:8 How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!
Jonah 3:9 Who knows? God may turn and relent; He may turn from His fierce anger, so that we will not perish.”
Jeremiah 26:3 Perhaps they will listen and turn—each from his evil way of life—so that I may relent of the disaster I am planning to bring upon them because of the evil of their deeds.
Judges 2:18 Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for the Israelites, He was with that judge and saved them from the hands of their enemies while the judge was still alive; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning under those who oppressed them and afflicted them.
Joel 2:13 So rend your hearts and not your garments, and return to the LORD your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion. And He relents from sending disaster.
Amos 7:3 So the LORD relented from this plan. “It will not happen,” He said.
Psalms 106:45 And He remembered His covenant with them, and relented by the abundance of His loving devotion.
Jeremiah 7:3 Thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel: Correct your ways and deeds, and I will let you live in this place.