Jeremiah 33:8
And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
Original Language Analysis
וְטִ֣הַרְתִּ֔ים
And I will cleanse
H2891
וְטִ֣הַרְתִּ֔ים
And I will cleanse
Strong's:
H2891
Word #:
1 of 15
to be pure (physical sound, clear, unadulterated; levitically, uncontaminated; morally, innocent or holy)
מִכָּל
H3605
מִכָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
2 of 15
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
חָֽטְאוּ
whereby they have sinned
H2398
חָֽטְאוּ
whereby they have sinned
Strong's:
H2398
Word #:
5 of 15
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
לְכָול
H3605
לְכָול
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
8 of 15
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
10 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
חָֽטְאוּ
whereby they have sinned
H2398
חָֽטְאוּ
whereby they have sinned
Strong's:
H2398
Word #:
11 of 15
properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn
וַאֲשֶׁ֖ר
H834
וַאֲשֶׁ֖ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
13 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
Cross References
Zechariah 13:1In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.Psalms 51:2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.Ezekiel 36:25Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.Revelation 1:5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,Jeremiah 31:34And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.Ezekiel 36:33Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded.Isaiah 44:22I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.Psalms 65:3Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away.Jeremiah 50:20In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.
Historical Context
Jeremiah 31:31-34 (the New Covenant promise) provides the theological foundation for this verse. Written to a people drowning in guilt from covenant-breaking, idolatry, and injustice, this promise of divine cleansing and pardon was revolutionary. It anticipates Ezekiel 36:25-27 (clean water, new heart, God's Spirit) and finds fulfillment in Christ's blood that cleanses all sin (1 John 1:7-9).
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's promise to both cleanse and pardon address the dual problem of sin's pollution and guilt?
- What does it mean that only God can 'pardon' (<em>salach</em>)—why can't we forgive ourselves or earn forgiveness?
- How does this Old Testament promise of total cleansing prepare you to receive the New Covenant in Christ's blood?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
I will cleanse them from all their iniquity (וְטִהַרְתִּים מִכָּל־עֲוֺנָם, vetihartim mikol-avonam)—The priestly cleansing verb taher (used for ritual purification) applies to moral guilt (avon, iniquity/guilt). God acts as both Judge and Priest, cleansing what He condemned. This impossible juxtaposition resolves only at the cross, where Christ became sin-offering to cleanse sin.
I will pardon all their iniquities (וְסָלַחְתִּי לְכָל־עֲוֺנֹתֵיהֶם, vesalachti lekhol-avonoteihem)—The verb salach (pardon, forgive) is used exclusively of God in the Old Testament—only YHWH can truly forgive. The threefold description—'sinned against me,' 'sinned,' 'transgressed against me'—covers all categories of rebellion. God promises total amnesty, the essence of the New Covenant: 'I will remember their sin no more' (Jeremiah 31:34).