In 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.

JEREMIAH 50:20KJV
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Jeremiah 50:20 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 50:20 mean?

Jeremiah 50:20 promises that in a future time, God will completely forgive the people of Israel and Judah, so that if anyone looks for their wrongdoing or sins, nothing will be found—because God will have pardoned those He chooses to spare. This verse speaks of a total and lasting forgiveness that erases all past guilt for a specific group God preserves.

In this verse, God is speaking through the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Israel and Judah, who had suffered exile and judgment because of their unfaithfulness. The setting is a message of hope in the middle of warnings against Babylon, their enemy. The verse assures the people that God’s forgiveness will be so thorough that their past sins will not be found or held against them anymore.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 50:20

  • "iniquity" (עָוֹן, ʿavon): This word often refers to guilt or moral wrongdoing. Here, it highlights that even deep-seated guilt will be completely removed.
  • "sins" (חַטָּאָה, chatta'ah): This word points to offenses or failures to meet God’s standard. The verse stresses that not even these will be found.
  • "pardon" (סָלַח, salach): This is the Hebrew word for forgiving or letting go of guilt. It is a strong term, often used for God’s gracious act of wiping away sin.
  • "reserve" (שָׁאַר, sha'ar): This word means to leave a remnant or to spare. The verse makes clear that this forgiveness is for those whom God chooses to keep safe.

Why Jeremiah 50:20 matters

  • Jeremiah 50:20 clarifies that God’s forgiveness is not partial or temporary, but so complete that no trace of past sin remains for those He pardons.
  • The verse connects to the larger theme of restoration in Jeremiah 50, where God promises to bring His people back from exile and defeat their enemies.
  • This verse corrects the idea that God’s judgment is the final word for Israel and Judah; instead, it reveals God’s intention to restore and forgive a faithful remnant.

Where else these words appear

“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.

“reserve” Hebrew H7604 · used in 123 verses

  • Genesis 7:23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.
  • Joshua 13:1 Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.
  • Ezra 9:15 O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.