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.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The LORD speaks through Jeremiah to the people of Judah gathered in the temple courtyard for worship. He delivers this message immediately after commanding Jeremiah to proclaim all the words given to him without omission (Jeremiah 26:2).

The words — The Hebrew terms אוּלַ֣י ('u.Lai) and וְ/נִחַמְתִּ֣י (ve./ni.cham.Ti) carry the core conditional structure, translating literally as "perhaps" and "and I will repent/relent." These words frame the divine warning as an open possibility rather than a fixed decree.

The thread — This pattern of conditional divine relenting appears in Jeremiah 36:3 and Jeremiah 18:7, where God announces planned disaster but leaves room for repentance. The call to abandon evil deeds also echoes the imperative in Isaiah 1:16.

Why it lands — The text demands immediate self-examination and behavioral change before executing judgment. It requires the reader to recognize that divine warning functions as a mechanism for repentance, not merely a declaration of doom.

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

אוּלַ֣י'u.Laiperhaps יִשְׁמְע֔וּyish.me.'Uthey will listen וְיָשֻׁ֕בוּve./ya.Shu.vuand/ they may turn back אִ֖ישׁ'isheveryone מִדַּרְכּ֣וֹmi./dar.K/ofrom/ way/ his הָרָעָ֑הha./ra.'Ah<the>/ evil וְנִחַמְתִּ֣יve./ni.cham.Tiand/ I will repent אֶל־'el-concerning הָרָעָ֗הha./ra.'Ahthe/ calamity אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.Sherwhich אָנֹכִ֤י'a.no.KhiI חֹשֵׁב֙cho.Shev[am] planning לַעֲשׂ֣וֹתla./'a.Sotto/ doלָהֶ֔םla./Hemto <the>/ themמִפְּנֵ֖יmi./pe.Nei<from>/ because of רֹ֥עַRo.a'[the] wickedness of מַעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃ma.'a.lei./Hemdeeds/ their

King James Version

If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 36:3 Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about all the calamity I plan to bring upon them, each of them will turn from his wicked way. Then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.”
Isaiah 1:16 Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!
Jeremiah 18:7 At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed.
Jonah 4:2 So he prayed to the LORD, saying, “O LORD, is this not what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I was so quick to flee toward Tarshish. I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion—One who relents from sending disaster.
Jeremiah 36:7 Perhaps they will bring their petition before the LORD, and each one will turn from his wicked way; for great are the anger and fury that the LORD has pronounced against this people.”
Ezekiel 18:27 But if a wicked man turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will save his life.
Jonah 3:8 Furthermore, let both man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and have everyone call out earnestly to God. Let each one turn from his evil ways and from the violence in his hands.
1 Kings 21:27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly.
1 Kings 21:29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son.”