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:

JEREMIAH 25:5KJV
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Jeremiah 25:5 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 25:5 mean?

Jeremiah 25:5 records a call for the people to turn away from their evil behavior and actions so that they can remain in the land that the LORD gave to their ancestors forever. The verse shows that repentance and a change in conduct are tied to the continued blessing of living in the promised land.

In this verse, Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah, reminding them of the message that God’s prophets have repeatedly delivered: turn back from wrongdoing and stop harmful practices. The warning comes in a time of looming judgment, as the people’s continued disobedience threatens their place in the land God gave them. The verse highlights both the seriousness of their actions and God’s desire for them to return and stay in the land He promised.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 25:5

  • "Turn...again" — שׁוּב (shuv): This word means to return or turn back, often understood as repentance. Here, it is a call for each person to make a personal decision to change direction away from evil.
  • "Evil way" — דֶּרֶךְ רָעָה (derekh ra'ah): The phrase combines "way" (path, manner of life) and "evil" (bad, harmful), emphasizing not just isolated acts but a whole pattern of living that needs to change.
  • "Evil of your doings" — מַעַלְלֵיכֶם הָרָעִים (ma'aleichem hara'im): "Doings" refers to deeds or practices, and the repetition of "evil" stresses the seriousness and depth of their wrongdoing.
  • "Dwell" — יָשַׁב (yashav): This word means to settle or remain, highlighting that staying in the land is conditional on their response to God’s call.

Why Jeremiah 25:5 matters

  • Jeremiah 25:5 clarifies that God’s promise of the land was not unconditional; the people’s continued presence depended on their response to God’s call for repentance.
  • The verse shows that God’s repeated warnings through the prophets were not just about ritual or religion, but about real change in daily life and actions.
  • This verse connects to the larger theme in Jeremiah of warning before judgment, showing God’s patience and desire for His people to return rather than be removed from the land.

Where else these words appear

“evil” Hebrew H7455 · used in 19 verses

  • Genesis 41:19 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:
  • Isaiah 1:16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
  • Jeremiah 24:3 Then said the LORD unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.

“doings” Hebrew H4611 · used in 41 verses

  • Deuteronomy 28:20 The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.
  • Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
  • Jeremiah 32:19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

“for” Hebrew H5704 · used in 97 verses

  • Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
  • 1 Samuel 20:15 But also thou shalt not cut off thy kindness from my house for ever: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
  • Job 18:2 How long will it be ere ye make an end of words? mark, and afterwards we will speak.