Jeremiah 25:5
They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:
Original Language Analysis
שֽׁוּבוּ
Turn ye again
H7725
שֽׁוּבוּ
Turn ye again
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
2 of 20
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
נָ֞א
H4994
נָ֞א
Strong's:
H4994
Word #:
3 of 20
'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction
אִ֣ישׁ
now every one
H376
אִ֣ישׁ
now every one
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
4 of 20
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
מִדַּרְכּ֤וֹ
way
H1870
מִדַּרְכּ֤וֹ
way
Strong's:
H1870
Word #:
5 of 20
a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb
וּמֵרֹ֣עַ
and from the evil
H7455
וּמֵרֹ֣עַ
and from the evil
Strong's:
H7455
Word #:
7 of 20
badness (as marring), physically or morally
וּשְׁבוּ֙
and dwell
H3427
וּשְׁבוּ֙
and dwell
Strong's:
H3427
Word #:
9 of 20
properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
10 of 20
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֨ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
12 of 20
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נָתַ֧ן
hath given
H5414
נָתַ֧ן
hath given
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
13 of 20
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
יְהוָ֛ה
that the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֛ה
that the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
14 of 20
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְלַאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם
unto you and to your fathers
H1
וְלַאֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם
unto you and to your fathers
Strong's:
H1
Word #:
16 of 20
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
לְמִן
H4480
לְמִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
17 of 20
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
עוֹלָֽם׃
and ever
H5769
עוֹלָֽם׃
and ever
Strong's:
H5769
Word #:
18 of 20
properly, concealed, i.e., the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e., (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial
Cross References
Jeremiah 7:7Then will I cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, for ever and ever.Jeremiah 17:25Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever.Genesis 17:8And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.Jeremiah 35:15I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.Jeremiah 18:11Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.Ezekiel 18:30Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.
Historical Context
The promised land was central to Israel's covenant identity. God gave it to Abraham's descendants (Genesis 15:18-21), but possession depended on obedience (Leviticus 26:3-39). By Jeremiah's time, Judah had violated every covenant stipulation—worshiping idols, oppressing the poor, profaning the Sabbath, rejecting God's law. The northern kingdom (Israel) had already been exiled by Assyria (722 BC) for identical sins. Judah refused to learn from this object lesson, assuming Jerusalem's temple guaranteed protection regardless of behavior.
Questions for Reflection
- How does biblical repentance differ from mere regret or behavior modification, and what does genuine turning from evil require?
- What does the conditional nature of land possession teach about the relationship between God's gifts and our stewardship responsibilities?
- In what ways might we presume on God's blessings while neglecting the faithfulness those blessings require?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings. The prophetic message centered on shûḇ (שׁוּב, turn/return/repent), the fundamental Hebrew term for repentance involving both turning from sin and turning toward God. The phrase mē-darkĕḵem hārāʿâ (מִדַּרְכְּכֶם הָרָעָה, from your evil way) refers to one's chosen path or lifestyle, while mē-rōaʿ maʿalĕlêḵem (מֵרֹעַ מַעַלְלֵיכֶם, from the evil of your doings) points to specific actions. True repentance addresses both character and conduct.
And dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever—Continued possession of the promised land was conditional on covenant faithfulness. The phrase ʿaḏ-ʿôlām (עַד־עוֹלָם, forever) doesn't mean unconditional permanence but 'as long as covenant conditions are maintained.' This principle appears throughout Deuteronomy: obedience brings blessing and land possession; disobedience brings curse and exile (Deuteronomy 28-30). The land was gift, but stewardship required faithfulness.