Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jeremiah 7:2 places the prophet at the gate of the house of the LORD, addressing the people of Judah who enter to worship. The speaker is the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, delivering a conditional promise before the people's trust in the temple's physical presence is addressed.
The words — The imperative הֵיטִיבוּ (hei.Ti.vu) translates literally as "make good" or "correct," directly governing דַרְכֵי/כֶ֖ם (dar.khei./Khem), "your ways." This pairing ties the promise of continued residence to concrete behavioral adjustment rather than ritual maintenance.
The thread — The identical command to "correct your ways and deeds" appears in Jeremiah 18:11 and Jeremiah 26:13, where God links national survival to immediate obedience. Proverbs 28:13 reinforces the pattern by contrasting concealed sin with confessed action that yields mercy.
Why it lands — The verse conditions ongoing habitation in the promised location on immediate, observable change in conduct. It requires readers to prioritize active obedience over passive reliance on religious identity or sacred space.
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
King James Version
Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place.
Cross-references
- 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 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.
- Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
- Isaiah 1:16 Wash and cleanse yourselves. Remove your evil deeds from My sight. Stop doing evil!
- Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.
- Jeremiah 7:5 For if you really correct your ways and deeds, if you act justly toward one another,
- Ezekiel 18:30 Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall.
- Ezekiel 33:4 Then if anyone hears the sound of the horn but fails to heed the warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his own head.
- Matthew 3:8 Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.
- Jeremiah 35:15 Again and again I have sent you all My servants the prophets, proclaiming: ‘Turn now, each of you, from your wicked ways, and correct your actions. Do not go after other gods to serve them. Live in the land that I have given to you and your fathers.’ But you have not inclined your ear or listened to Me.