Jeremiah 8:6
I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.
Original Language Analysis
וָֽאֶשְׁמָע֙
and heard
H8085
וָֽאֶשְׁמָע֙
and heard
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
2 of 19
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
לוֹא
H3808
לוֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
3 of 19
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
כֵ֣ן
H3651
כֵ֣ן
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
4 of 19
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ
but they spake not aright
H1696
יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ
but they spake not aright
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
5 of 19
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
אִ֗ישׁ
no man
H376
אִ֗ישׁ
no man
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
7 of 19
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)
נִחָם֙
repented
H5162
נִחָם֙
repented
Strong's:
H5162
Word #:
8 of 19
properly, to sigh, i.e., breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e., (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavo
עַל
him of
H5921
עַל
him of
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
9 of 19
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
מֶ֣ה
H4100
מֶ֣ה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
12 of 19
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
עָשִׂ֑יתִי
What have I done
H6213
עָשִׂ֑יתִי
What have I done
Strong's:
H6213
Word #:
13 of 19
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
כֻּלֹּ֗ה
H3605
כֻּלֹּ֗ה
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
14 of 19
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
שָׁ֚ב
every one turned
H7725
שָׁ֚ב
every one turned
Strong's:
H7725
Word #:
15 of 19
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
בִּמְר֣צּוָתָ֔ם
to his course
H4794
בִּמְר֣צּוָתָ֔ם
to his course
Strong's:
H4794
Word #:
16 of 19
a race (the act), whether the manner or the progress
Cross References
Psalms 14:2The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.Ezekiel 18:28Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.2 Peter 3:9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Historical Context
This observation reflects Jeremiah's forty-year ministry during which he searched for genuine repentance among the people. His search for one righteous person (Jeremiah 5:1) parallels Abraham's intercession for Sodom. The horse-in-battle metaphor resonated with Judah's militaristic culture as they vacillated between Egyptian and Babylonian alliances. Archaeological evidence shows Judah maintained significant cavalry forces during this period.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God's careful listening for repentance challenge our assumptions about divine awareness of our hearts?
- What does the failure to ask 'What have I done?' reveal about the spiritual blindness that accompanies unrepentant sin?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
God describes His careful observation of Judah's behavior: 'I hearkened and heard' uses qashav (קָשַׁב, to attend carefully) and shama (שָׁמַע, to hear). God listened intently for evidence of repentance. 'But they spake not aright' (lo-ken yedabberu, לֹא־כֵן יְדַבֵּרוּ)—literally 'they do not speak rightly/correctly.' 'No man repented him of his wickedness' reveals the absence of genuine contrition anywhere in the nation. The phrase 'saying, What have I done?' represents the self-examination that should characterize repentance but was absent. Instead, 'every one turned to his course' uses shav (שָׁב, turned) with meruts (מְרוּץ, running, course)—like a horse rushing headlong into battle. The imagery suggests unthinking, unstoppable momentum toward destruction.