Jeremiah 8:6

I have listened and heard; they do not speak what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, asking, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone has pursued his own course like a horse charging into battle.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God speaks through Jeremiah to the people of Judah during a period of deliberate apostasy. They have turned away, cling to deceit, and refuse to return despite repeated warnings.

The words — The Hebrew term נִחָם (ni.Cham) literally means "relents" or "repents," describing the absent self-examination. The phrase הִקְשַׁ֤בְתִּי (hik.Shav.ti) translates as "I have paid attention," emphasizing God’s deliberate observation of their speech.

The thread — The theme of divine observation for repentance appears in Psalms 14:2, where God looks for those who seek Him. The necessity of turning from transgression to live is echoed in Ezekiel 18:28, while Isaiah 30:18 contrasts human obstinacy with God’s readiness to show compassion.

Why it lands — The text states that God has attentively heard their words but found no one who examines his own wickedness. It demands that readers acknowledge their own failure to ask “What have I done?” and cease pursuing self-directed paths.

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

הִקְשַׁ֤בְתִּיhik.Shav.tiI have paid attention וָֽאֶשְׁמָע֙va./'esh.Ma'and/ I have heard לוֹא־lo'-not כֵ֣ןkhenright יְדַבֵּ֔רוּye.da.Be.ruthey speak אֵ֣ין'einthere not אִ֗ישׁ'Ish[is] anyone נִחָם֙ni.Cham[who] relents עַל־'al-on רָ֣עָת֔וֹra.'a.T/owickedness/ his לֵאמֹ֖רle./Mor<to>/ saying מֶ֣הmehwhat?עָשִׂ֑יתִי'a.Si.tihave I done כֻּלֹּ֗הku.Lo/hall of/ it שָׁ֚בShav[is] turning בִּמְר֣וּצָתָ֔םbi/m.ru.tzo.ta/min/ own course/ their כְּס֥וּסke./Suslike/ a horse שׁוֹטֵ֖ףsho.Tef[which] rushes בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ba./mil.cha.Mahin the/ battle

King James Version

I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.

Cross-references

Psalms 14:2 The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.
Ezekiel 18:28 Because he considered and turned from all the transgressions he had committed, he will surely live; he will not die.
Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.
Luke 15:17 Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food, but here I am, starving to death!
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
Job 39:19 Do you give strength to the horse or adorn his neck with a mane?
Jeremiah 5:1 “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look now and take note; search her squares. If you can find a single person, anyone who acts justly, anyone who seeks the truth, then I will forgive the city.
Micah 7:2 The godly man has perished from the earth; there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; they hunt one another with a net.
Malachi 3:16 At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name.
Job 33:27 Then he sings before men with these words: ‘I have sinned and perverted what was right; yet I did not get what I deserved.