Jeremiah 25:5-6
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This verse holds a subtle linguistic echo: the Hebrew words for "turn" and "dwell" sound incredibly similar. This isn't just a poetic flourish; it reveals that their ability to remain in the land God gave them was directly, intrinsically linked to their willingness to turn back to Him.
saying, ‘Turn now, every one of you, from his evil way and evil deeds, and dwell upon the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers from of old and forever. Do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, or provoke me to anger with the work of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah has been faithfully prophesying for twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year of King Josiah’s reign, delivering God's word to Judah with urgency. Despite persistent warnings from him and other prophets, the people have stubbornly refused to listen or change their wicked ways. This verse summarizes the consistent message they’ve been given: repent from your sins and return to God, and you will be allowed to remain in the land He gave your ancestors.
Jeremiah's message isn't just a stern warning; it's a lifeline. What does it truly mean to 'turn' from our ways?
The core of God's message here, repeated by the prophets, is a call to 'Shubu,' which means 'turn' or 'return.' It's not just about feeling sorry for wrongdoing; it's a radical change of direction.
A Change of Mind and Action
This 'turning' involves both your thoughts and your actions. It's about recognizing the 'evil way' and the 'evil of your doings' – the specific sins and the general pattern of rebellion against God – and actively choosing to walk away from them.
The Promise of Staying
This isn't just a demand; it's an invitation. When the people are called to turn, the immediate promise is that they can 'dwell' in the land. This implies security, peace, and a lasting home with God. It’s a direct link: turning from sin allows them to turn towards God's provision and presence.
The land wasn't just dirt and trees; it was a symbol of God's faithfulness. What made this inheritance so special, and why was obedience key to keeping it?
The land God gave Israel wasn't merely a geographical location; it was a tangible sign of His covenant promises. It represented a place of blessing, security, and intimate fellowship with Him.
An Everlasting Promise
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Jeremiah emphasizes that this land was given 'from of old and forever.' This points to the eternal nature of God's covenant faithfulness, a promise established with Abraham and his descendants. It was meant to be an everlasting inheritance, a permanent home under God's care.
Conditional Dwelling
However, the ability to 'dwell' in this promised land was conditional. It depended on their obedience and faithfulness to God's commands. Their sin and rebellion threatened this very inheritance. The prophets' call to 'turn from your evil way' was a plea to realign with the covenant, allowing them to continue enjoying the blessings God had graciously provided.
Understand the original words
shuv · Hebrew Verb
To turn back, return, or repent. It signifies a radical change of heart, mind, and direction, turning away from sin and turning back toward God.
ra' · Hebrew Adjective
Moral wrongdoing or wickedness. It refers to thoughts, words, or actions that are contrary to God's law, character, and standard of holiness.
adamah · Hebrew Noun
The area of earth, particularly the land promised by God to the patriarchs and their descendants as a perpetual possession and a place of covenantal rest.
elohim acherim · Hebrew Noun
Refers to false deities or idols worshiped by nations other than Israel, which God strictly forbade as a violation of the covenant and the first commandment.
abad · Hebrew Verb
To render service or ministry; in a religious context, it refers to the complete devotion and worship offered to a deity.
chawah · Hebrew Verb
A fundamental act of reverence and homage, expressing submission and honor due only to God, though often wrongly directed toward idols in Scripture.
ka'as · Hebrew Verb
To stir up to fury or resentment; biblically, it refers to human actions that violate God’s holiness and covenant, triggering His righteous judgment.
This verse encapsulates the core message of Jeremiah's ministry: a desperate plea for repentance directed at Judah during a time of impending national catastrophe. The people had heard similar calls for decades, yet stubbornly refused to turn from their wicked ways, ultimately leading to their exile.
c. 627 BC
Jeremiah begins prophetic ministry
Jeremiah is called to be a prophet during the reign of King Josiah. This marks the start of his 40+ year ministry.
622 BC
Josiah's religious reforms
A significant religious reform movement, initiated by Josiah after rediscovering the Book of the Law, sweeps through Judah, aiming to centralize worship and purify practices.
609 BC
Death of King Josiah
Josiah is killed in battle at Megiddo while trying to stop Pharaoh Neco of Egypt's advance. His death signals a shift in Judah's political and spiritual landscape.
605 BC
First Babylonian deportation
Nebuchadnezzar, crown prince of Babylon, defeats the Egyptians at Carchemish and begins conquering Judah. Jehoiakim is king, and some prominent citizens, including Daniel, are deported to Babylon.
c. 600 BC— this verse
Jeremiah's message of repentance and exile
Jeremiah delivers his prophecy in the 13th year of Josiah's reign, emphasizing that continued sin and rejection of God's messengers will lead to exile in Babylon, a message the people refuse to heed.
597 BC
Second Babylonian deportation
Following a rebellion against Babylonian rule, King Jehoiachin and many more Judeans are exiled to Babylon, including the prophet Ezekiel.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem and destroys the city and its temple, exiling the remaining population to Babylon, marking the end of the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
This passage directly echoes the call to repentance found in Jeremiah, showing that the message of turning from sin and toward God is a consistent theme throughout Scripture.
Acts 2:38Peter's sermon uses the same fundamental call to 'repent and turn back' for the forgiveness of sins, demonstrating the enduring power and necessity of this message.
Ezekiel 18:30-32Ezekiel also pleads with the people to turn from their wicked ways and reform, highlighting God's desire for their life and dwelling in the land, rather than their destruction.
2 Kings 17:13This passage shows that the prophets repeatedly warned Israel to turn from their evil deeds, making Jeremiah's message here a continuation of a long-standing, though often ignored, divine plea.
Romans 6:1-2Paul addresses the concept of turning from sin, questioning if believers should 'continue in sin that grace may abound,' reinforcing the idea that true repentance leads to a changed life, not a continuation of old ways.
gillJeremiah 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:"
They said,.... The prophets: this was the substance of their discourses and prophecies, what follows: turn ye again now everyone from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings; repent of sins, and reform from them; particularly their idolatries, to which they were prone, and are after ment…
calvinJeremiah 25:3-5: "From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened."
- From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have…
This verse holds a subtle linguistic echo: the Hebrew words for "turn" and "dwell" sound incredibly similar. This isn't just a poetic flourish; it reveals that their ability to remain in the land God gave them was directly, intrinsically linked to their willingness to turn back to Him.
Jeremiah has been faithfully prophesying for twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year of King Josiah’s reign, delivering God's word to Judah with urgency. Despite persistent warnings from him and other prophets, the people have stubbornly refused to listen or change their wicked ways. This verse summarizes the consistent message they’ve been given: repent from your sins and return to God, and you will be allowed to remain in the land He gave your ancestors.
Jeremiah has been faithfully prophesying for twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year of King Josiah’s reign, delivering God's word to Judah with urgency. Despite persistent warnings from him and other prophets, the people have stubbornly refused to listen or change their wicked ways. This verse summarizes the consistent message they’ve been given: repent from your sins and return to God, and you will be allowed to remain in the land He gave your ancestors.
"saying, ‘Turn now, every one of you, from his evil way and evil deeds, and dwell upon the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers from of old and forever. Do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, or provoke me to…" — This verse holds a subtle linguistic echo: the Hebrew words for "turn" and "dwell" sound incredibly similar. This isn't just a poetic flourish; it reveals that their ability to remain in the land G…
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Last reviewed October 2026
