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Jeremiah 36:3

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 36:3 say?

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

The verse

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.
Jeremiah 36:3 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 36

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,
2Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.
3It 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.
4Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of Jehovah, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.
5And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of Jehovah:
6therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of Jehovah in the ears of the people in Jehovah`s house upon the fast-day; and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.
← Jeremiah 36:2Jeremiah 36:4 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them, etc.] Not that there was any uncertainty in God as to the knowledge of future events, any more than a change in his purposes: he had purposed to bring evil upon them, which purpose would not be disannulled; and he knew that the Jews would not hearken to the prediction of it, or be concerned about it, and repent of their sins, and reform; but this method he was pleased to take, as being, humanly speaking, a probable one to awaken their attention, and which would leave them inexcusable: that they may return every man from his evil way; repent of it, and reform: that I may forgive their iniquity and their…”
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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
“hear--consider seriously. return . . . from . . . evil way-- (Jon 3:8).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Compare Jeremiah 26:3. In point of date Jeremiah 26:0: is immediately prior to the present. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“36:3 The Lord gave the people of Judah every opportunity to repent. God wanted the messages of judgment not just to alarm his people, but to awaken them to the judgment they would face if they did not turn from idol-worship. If they heeded the alarm, repented, and sincerely worshiped the one true God, he would forgive their sins and wrongdoings.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“may be: Jer 36:7, Jer 18:8, Jer 26:3; Deu 5:29; Eze 12:3; Zep 2:3; Luk 20:13; Ti2 2:25, Ti2 2:26; Pe2 3:9 hear: Eze 18:27, Eze 18:28, Eze 33:7-9, Eze 33:14-16; Mat 3:7-9; Luk 3:7-9 they may: Jer 18:8, Jer 18:11, Jer 23:14, Jer 24:7, Jer 35:15; Deu 30:2, Deu 30:8; Sa1 7:3; Kg1 8:48-50; Ch2 6:38, Ch2 6:39; Neh 1:9; Isa 55:6, Isa 55:7; Eze 18:23; Jon 3:8-10; Act 26:20 that I: Isa 6:10; Mat 13:15; Mar 4:12; Act 3:19, Act 26:18, Act 28:27 Jeremiah 36:4”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 36 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification