The Meaning of Jeremiah 26:3 Explained

Jeremiah 26:3

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.

YLT: If so be they hearken, and turn back each from his evil way, then I have repented concerning the evil that I am thinking of doing to them, because of the evil of their doings.

Darby: Peradventure 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 wickedness of their doings.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Jeremiah 26:3 Mean?

Study Notes

repent
.
repented
Repentance (O.T.), Summary: In the O.T., repentance is the English word used to translate the Heb. nacham, to be "eased" or "comforted." It is used of both God and man. Notwithstanding the literal meaning of nacham, it is evident, from a study of all the passages, that the sacred writers use it in the sense of metanoia in the N.T.--a change of mind. Matthew 3:2 (See Scofield " Acts 17:30 ") . As in the N.T., such change of mind is often accompanied by contrition and self-judgment. When applied to God the word is used phenomenally according to O.T. custom. God seems to change His mind. The phenomena are such as, in the case of man, would indicate a change of mind.

Verse Meaning

There was still hope that the people would repent, and avoid the judgment that God would bring upon them for their sins, when Jeremiah preached these words.

Context Summary

Jeremiah 26:1-24 - Shepherds That Mislead God's Flock
It is God's purpose to care for His people through shepherds (pastors) who are responsible to Him. Jesus our Lord is the Branch into which we may be grafted. He is our King who saves us and clothes us with His own spotless righteousness. God finds us in Him, Philippians 3:9. Because He reigns, we are saved and dwell in safety. When we are brought into contact with false shepherds, whether the failure be in doctrine or example, let us ask for the broken heart of Jeremiah 23:9.
God is everywhere present; as the latter paragraph indicates, He is near at hand to overhear the blasphemy of those who deride religion, and to be a very present help in time of trouble. If He fills heaven and earth, can He not fill thy heart? If His Word is like fire, let it cleanse thee! If it is as a hammer, let it pulverize thy pride! Let those of us who essay to teach and preach, not steal our words from our neighbors, or utter our own, but receive them from the source of all truth. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 26

1  Jeremiah by promises and threats exhorts to repentance
8  He is therefore apprehended,
10  and arraigned
12  His apology
16  He is quit in judgment, by the example of Micah,
20  and of Urijah,
24  and by the care of Ahikam

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 26:3 mean?

Perhaps will listen and turn everyone from his way evil that I may relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings
אוּלַ֣י יִשְׁמְע֔וּ וְיָשֻׁ֕בוּ אִ֖ישׁ מִדַּרְכּ֣וֹ הָרָעָ֑ה וְנִחַמְתִּ֣י אֶל־ הָרָעָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֤י חֹשֵׁב֙ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת לָהֶ֔ם מִפְּנֵ֖י רֹ֥עַ מַעַלְלֵיהֶֽם

אוּלַ֣י  Perhaps 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אוּלַי  
Sense: perhaps, peradventure.
יִשְׁמְע֔וּ  will  listen 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
וְיָשֻׁ֕בוּ  and  turn 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
אִ֖ישׁ  everyone 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
מִדַּרְכּ֣וֹ  from  his  way 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
הָרָעָ֑ה  evil 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
וְנִחַמְתִּ֣י  that  I  may  relent 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: נָחַם  
Sense: to be sorry, console oneself, repent, regret, comfort, be comforted.
אֶל־  concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הָרָעָ֗ה  the  calamity 
Parse: Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
חֹשֵׁב֙  purpose 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: חָשַׁב 
Sense: to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, count.
לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת  to  bring 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
לָהֶ֔ם  on  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
מִפְּנֵ֖י  because 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
רֹ֥עַ  of  the  evil 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹעַ  
Sense: badness, evil.
מַעַלְלֵיהֶֽם  of  their  doings 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מַעֲלִיל 
Sense: deed, practice.