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Jeremiah 26:3

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 26:3 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “It may 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.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

It may 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.
Jeremiah 26:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 26

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, came this word from Jehovah, saying,
2Thus saith Jehovah: Stand in the court of Jehovah`s house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in Jehovah`s house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word.
3It may 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.
4And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah: If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,
5to hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I send unto you, even rising up early and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;
6then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.
← Jeremiah 26:2Jeremiah 26:4 →
← Full Chapter 26 Jeremiah Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“If so be they will hearken, etc.] And obey; which is expressive not of ignorance and conjecture in God, but of his patience and long suffering, granting space and time for repentance, and the means of it; which disregarded, leave without excuse: and turn every man from his evil way; his series and course of life, which was evil, and was the case of everyone; so that as their sin was general, the reformation ought to be so too: that I may repent me of the evil which I purpose to do unto them; or “am thinking”, or “devisingf535 to do unto them”; which repentance must be understood not of a change of mind, but of the course of his providence towards them, which, by his threatenings, and some…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“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].”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“26:3 The Lord gave the people a choice about what would happen to them in the future. If they would turn from their evil ways, the Lord would change his mind. The standard of judgment was his covenant with Israel (see Deut 5:1-21; 27:1–28:68). When Israel obeyed the terms of the covenant, the Lord blessed the people. When Israel persistently and stubbornly disobeyed, the Lord eventually punished them.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“so: Jer 18:7-10, Jer 36:3; Isa 1:16-19; Eze 18:27-30; Jon 3:8-10, Jon 4:2 that I: Jer 26:13, see note on Jer 18:7-10; Kg1 21:27, Kg1 21:29 Jeremiah 26:4”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 26 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification