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.

JEREMIAH 33:8KJV
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Jeremiah 33:8 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 33:8 mean?

Jeremiah 33:8 describes God’s promise to completely cleanse and forgive His people for all the ways they have sinned and turned against Him. The verse emphasizes that God Himself will remove every trace of their wrongdoing and grant them a full pardon.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah, who have suffered because of their unfaithfulness. The promise comes during a time of trouble and exile, offering hope that God will restore the relationship by taking away every sin and transgression. The verse highlights God’s willingness to forgive fully, not just partially, and to renew His people.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 33:8

  • The word “cleanse” (טָהֵר, taher; H2891) means to make pure or ritually clean, often used for removing impurity or guilt. Here, it stresses that God is not just overlooking sin but actively purifying His people.
  • “Iniquity” (עָוֹן, avon; H5771) refers to guilt or moral wrongdoing, not just mistakes but deep-seated wrongs. The repeated use underlines the seriousness of what is being forgiven.
  • “Sinned” (חָטָא, chata; H2398) means to miss the mark or fail, covering both intentional and unintentional offenses.
  • “Pardon” (סָלַח, salach; H5545) is a strong word for forgiving or releasing someone from the penalty of their wrongdoing, showing that God is removing all consequences of their guilt.
  • “Transgressed” (פָּשַׁע, pasha; H6586) means to rebel or break away, highlighting not just mistakes but acts of defiance against God.

Why Jeremiah 33:8 matters

  • Jeremiah 33:8 clarifies that God’s forgiveness is thorough, addressing every kind of wrongdoing—guilt, sin, and rebellion—so nothing is left unforgiven.
  • The verse shows that restoration with God is entirely His work; the people do not cleanse themselves, but God does it for them.
  • This promise stands out in the wider context of Jeremiah, where judgment is often the focus, by offering hope and assurance that God’s mercy can overcome even the deepest failures.

Where else these words appear

“transgressed” Hebrew H6586 · used in 37 verses

  • 1 Kings 8:50 And forgive thy people that have sinned against thee, and all their transgressions wherein they have transgressed against thee, and give them compassion before them who carried them captive, that they may have compassion on them:
  • Psalms 51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
  • Jeremiah 2:29 Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.

“pardon” Hebrew H5545 · used in 45 verses

  • Exodus 34:9 And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.
  • Numbers 15:26 And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance.
  • 2 Chronicles 6:27 Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.

“cleanse” Hebrew H2891 · used in 79 verses

  • Genesis 35:2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:
  • Leviticus 14:31 Even such as he is able to get, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the meat offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed before the LORD.
  • 2 Chronicles 30:18 For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one