New English Translation
Jeremiah 26:3
3Maybe they will pay attention and each of them will stop living the evil way they do. If they do that, then I will forgo destroying them as I had intended to do because of the wicked things they have been doing.
Jeremiah 26:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from their evil ways. Then I will relent and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done.
- English Standard Version (ESV)It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, that I may relent of the disaster that I intend to do to them because of their evil deeds.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way, that I may relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings.’
Context of Jeremiah 26:3
1The Lord spoke to Jeremiah at the beginning of the reign of Josiah’s son, King Jehoiakim of Judah. 2The Lord said, “Go stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple. Speak out to all the people who are coming from the towns of Judah to worship in the Lord’s temple. Tell them everything I command you to tell them. Do not leave out a single word! Maybe they will pay attention and each of them will stop living the evil way they do. If they do that, then I will forgo destroying them as I had intended to do because of the wicked things they have been doing. 4Tell them that the Lord says, ‘You must obey me! You must live according to the way I have instructed you in my laws. 5You must pay attention to the exhortations of my servants the prophets. I have sent them to you over and over again. But you have not paid any attention to them.
Read all of Jeremiah 26Jeremiah 26:3 word by word
אוּלַ֣י יִשְׁמְע֔וּ וְיָשֻׁ֕בוּ אִ֖ישׁ מִדַּרְכּ֣וֹ הָרָעָ֑ה וְנִחַמְתִּ֣י אֶל־הָרָעָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֤י חֹשֵׁב֙ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת לָהֶ֔ם מִפְּנֵ֖י רֹ֥עַ מַעַלְלֵיהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- If so be they will hearkenשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- and turnשׁוּבshûb · to return: repentH7725
- every manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- from his evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
- wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870
- that I may repentנָחַםnâcham · to be sorry: relentH5162
- me of the evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: harmH7451
- which I purposeחָשַׁבchâshab · to devise: deviseH2803
- to doעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
- unto them becauseפָּנֶהpânîym · face: becauseH6440
- of the evilרֹעַrôa‛ · evilH7455
- of their doingsמַעֲלָלma‛ălâl · deedH4611
Cross-references for Jeremiah 26:3
- Jeremiah 18:7There are times, Jeremiah, when I threaten to uproot, tear down, and destroy a nation or kingdom.
- Jeremiah 36:3Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about all the disaster I intend to bring on them, they will all stop doing the evil things they have been doing. If they do, I will forgive their sins and the wicked things they have done.”
- Isaiah 1:16Wash! Cleanse yourselves! Remove your sinful deeds from my sight. Stop sinning!
- Ezekiel 18:27When a wicked person turns from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he will preserve his life.
- Jonah 3:8Every person and animal must put on sackcloth and must cry earnestly to God, and everyone must turn from their evil way of living and from the violence that they do.
- Jonah 4:2He prayed to the Lord and said, “Oh, Lord, this is just what I thought would happen when I was in my own country. This is what I tried to prevent by attempting to escape to Tarshish! – because I knew that you are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in mercy, and one who relents concerning threatened judgment.
- Jeremiah 26:13But correct the way you have been living and do what is right. Obey the Lord your God. If you do, the Lord will forgo destroying you as he threatened he would.
- 1 Kings 21:27When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He slept in sackcloth and walked around dejected.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 26:3
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3The Lord gave the people a choice about their future. If they turned from their evil ways, the Lord would reconsider. The standard of judgment was his covenant with Israel (see Deuteronomy 5:1–21; 27:1–28:68). When Israel obeyed the covenant, the Lord blessed them. When Israel persistently and stubbornly disobeyed, the Lord eventually punished them.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. if so be--expressed according to human conceptions; not as if God did not foreknow all contingencies, but to mark the obstinacy of the people and the difficulty of healing them; and to show His own goodness in making the offer which left them without excuse [Calvin].Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 26:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 26
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries