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.”

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — God speaks through Jeremiah to the people of Judah as the prophet prepares to record his warnings on a scroll.

The words — אוּלַי ('u.lai) translates literally to "perhaps," and יִשְמְעוּ (yish'me'u) means "they will hear," framing the conditional nature of the warning.

The thread — This conditional promise of forgiveness if a nation turns from evil echoes Jeremiah 18:8, finds its New Testament fulfillment in Acts 3:19, and aligns with Deuteronomy 30:2.

Why it lands — The text states that hearing the planned calamity may prompt each person to turn from wickedness, after which God promises to forgive their iniquity and sin.

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

אוּלַ֤י'u.Laiperhaps יִשְׁמְעוּ֙yish.me.'Uthey will hear בֵּ֣יתbeit[the] house of יְהוּדָ֔הye.hu.DahJudah אֵ֚ת'et<obj.>כָּל־kol-all הָ֣רָעָ֔הha./ra.'Ahthe/ harm אֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.Sherwhich אָנֹכִ֥י'a.no.KhiI חֹשֵׁ֖בcho.Shev[am] planning לַעֲשׂ֣וֹתla./'a.Sotto/ doלָהֶ֑םla./Hemto <the>/ themלְמַ֣עַןle.Ma.'anso that יָשׁ֗וּבוּya.Shu.vuthey may turn back אִ֚ישׁ'isheveryone מִדַּרְכּ֣וֹmi./dar.K/ofrom/ way/ his הָרָעָ֔הha./ra.'Ah<the>/ evil וְסָלַחְתִּ֥יve./sa.lach.Tiand/ I will forgive לַעֲוֹנָ֖םla./'a.vo.Na/m<to>/ iniquity/ their וּלְחַטָּאתָֽם׃ סu./le./cha.ta.Ta/mand/ <to>/ sin/ their

King James Version

It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.

Cross-references

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.
Acts 3:19 Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away,
Deuteronomy 30:2 and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey His voice with all your heart and all your soul according to everything I am giving you today,
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.
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 12:3 Therefore, son of man, pack your bags for exile. In broad daylight, set out from your place and go to another as they watch. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious house.
Deuteronomy 30:8 And you will again obey the voice of the LORD and follow all His commandments I am giving you today.
1 Samuel 7:3 Then Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and Ashtoreths among you, prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only. And He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”
Jeremiah 18:11 Now therefore, tell the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I am planning a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways, and correct your ways and deeds.’
Jeremiah 24:7 I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD. They will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with all their heart.