Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version I have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right. None of them repent of their wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Each pursues their own course like a horse charging into battle. New Living Translation I listen to their conversations and don’t hear a word of truth. Is anyone sorry for doing wrong? Does anyone say, “What a terrible thing I have done”? No! All are running down the path of sin as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle! English Standard Version I have paid attention and listened, but they have not spoken rightly; no man relents of his evil, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turns to his own course, like a horse plunging headlong into battle. Berean Standard Bible I have listened and heard; they do not speak what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, asking, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone has pursued his own course like a horse charging into battle. Berean Literal Bible I paid attention and listened; they did not speak what is right; there was no man repenting over his wickedness, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his own course, like a horse rushing into the battle. King James Bible 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. New King James Version I listened and heard, But they do not speak aright. No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his own course, As the horse rushes into the battle. New American Standard Bible “I have listened and heard, They have spoken what is not right; No one repented of his wickedness, Saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his own course, Like a horse charging into the battle. NASB 1995 “I have listened and heard, They have spoken what is not right; No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his course, Like a horse charging into the battle. NASB 1977 “I have listened and heard, They have spoken what is not right; No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his course, Like a horse charging into the battle. Legacy Standard Bible I have given heed and heard, They have spoken what is not right; No man regretted his evil, Saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his course, Like a horse charging into the battle. Amplified Bible “I have listened and heard, But they have spoken what is not right; No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turns to his [individual] course, As the horse rushes like a torrent into battle. Berean Annotated Bible I have listened and heard; they do not speak what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, asking, ‘What have I done? Everyone has pursued his own course like a horse charging into battle. Christian Standard Bible I have paid careful attention. They do not speak what is right. No one regrets his evil, asking, ‘What have I done? ’ Everyone has stayed his course like a horse rushing into battle. Holman Christian Standard Bible I have paid careful attention. They do not speak what is right. No one regrets his evil, asking, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone has stayed his course like a horse rushing into battle. American Standard Version I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repenteth him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turneth to his course, as a horse that rusheth headlong in the battle. Contemporary English Version I listen carefully, but none of you admit that you've done wrong. Without a second thought, you run down the wrong road like horses running blindly into battle. English Revised Version I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repenteth him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turneth to his course, as a horse that rusheth headlong in the battle. GOD'S WORD® Translation I have paid attention and listened, but they weren't honest. They don't turn away from their wickedness and ask, "What have we done?" They go their own ways like horses charging into battle. Good News Translation I listened carefully, but you did not speak the truth. Not one of you has been sorry for your wickedness; not one of you has asked, 'What have I done wrong?' Each of you keep on going your own way, like a horse rushing into battle. International Standard Version I've listened and I've heard, and what they say is not right. No one repents of his evil and says, 'What have I done?' "They all turn to their own course like a horse racing into battle. NET Bible I have listened to them very carefully, but they do not speak honestly. None of them regrets the evil he has done. None of them says, "I have done wrong!" All of them persist in their own wayward course like a horse charging recklessly into battle. New Heart English Bible I listened and heard, but they did not speak what is right: no man repents him of his wickedness, saying, "What have I done?" Everyone turns to his course, as a horse that rushes headlong in the battle. Webster's Bible Translation I hearkened and heard, but they spoke not aright: no man repented of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth to the battle. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleI have listened and heard; they do not speak what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, asking, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone has pursued his own course like a horse charging into battle. World English Bible I listened and heard, but they didn’t say what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Everyone turns to his course, as a horse that rushes headlong in the battle. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionI have given attention, indeed, I listen, "" They do not speak right, "" No man has sighed over his wickedness, "" Saying, What have I done? Everyone has turned to his courses, "" As a horse is rushing into battle. Berean Literal Bible I paid attention and listened; they did not speak what is right; there was no man repenting over his wickedness, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his own course, like a horse rushing into the battle. Young's Literal Translation I have given attention, yea, I hearken, They do not speak right, No man hath repented of his wickedness, Saying, What have I done? Every one hath turned to his courses, As a horse is rushing into battle. Smith's Literal Translation I hearkened and I will hear, they shall not speak thus: no man lamented for his evil, saying, What did I? Every one turned back in his race as the horse rushing into battle. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleI attended, and hearkened; no man speaketh what is good, there is none that doth penance for his sin, saying: What have I done? They are all turned to their own course, as a horse rushing to the battle. Catholic Public Domain Version I paid close attention and I listened carefully. No one is speaking what is good. There is no one who does penance for his sin, saying: ‘What have I done?’ They have all turned to their own course, like a horse rushing with fury into battle. New American Bible I have listened closely: they speak what is not true; No one regrets wickedness, saying, “What have I done?” Everyone keeps on running their course, like a horse dashing into battle. New Revised Standard Version I have given heed and listened, but they do not speak honestly; no one repents of wickedness, saying, “What have I done!” All of them turn to their own course, like a horse plunging headlong into battle. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleI have given ear and heard, but they did not speak aright; no one repented of his evil, saying, What have I done? All of them walk according to their own will, as a horse that rushes into the battle. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated I turned my ear and I heard and they were not speaking justly, because none would be sorry for his evil and say: ‘What have I done?’ They all walk in their will, like a horse that leads into battle OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917I attended and listened, But they spoke not aright; No man repenteth him of his wickedness, Saying: 'What have I done?' Every one turneth away in his course, As a horse that rusheth headlong in the battle. Brenton Septuagint Translation Hearken, I pray you, and hear: will they not speak thus, There is no man that repents of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? the runner has failed from his course, as a tired horse in his neighing. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Judah's Sin and Punishment…5Why then have these people turned away? Why does Jerusalem always turn away? They cling to deceit; they refuse to return. 6I have listened and heard; they do not speak what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, asking, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone has pursued his own course like a horse charging into battle. 7Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons. The turtledove, the swift, and the thrush keep their time of migration, but My people do not know the requirements of the LORD.… Cross References I have listened and heard; Malachi 3:16 At that time those who feared the LORD spoke with one another, and the LORD listened and heard them. So a scroll of remembrance was written before Him regarding those who feared the LORD and honored His name. Psalm 94:9-11 He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see? / He who admonishes the nations, does He not discipline? He who teaches man, does He lack knowledge? / The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile. they do not speak what is right. Isaiah 59:4 No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case honestly. They rely on empty pleas; they tell lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. Psalm 12:2 They lie to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart. Proverbs 4:24 Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech. No one repents of his wickedness, asking, ‘What have I done?’ Jeremiah 2:35 you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’ Hosea 7:2 But they fail to consider in their hearts that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds are all around them; they are before My face. Revelation 16:9 And the people were scorched by intense heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had authority over these plagues. Yet they did not repent and give Him glory. Everyone has pursued his own course Isaiah 53:6 We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Philippians 2:21 For all the others look after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. like a horse charging into battle. Job 39:19-25 Do you give strength to the horse or adorn his neck with a mane? / Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting? / He paws in the valley and rejoices in his strength; he charges into battle. … Joel 2:4-5 Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like swift steeds. / With a sound like that of chariots they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle. Revelation 9:7 And the locusts looked like horses prepared for battle, with something like crowns of gold on their heads; and their faces were like the faces of men. Isaiah 30:15 For the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “By repentance and rest you would be saved; your strength would lie in quiet confidence—but you were not willing.” Hosea 11:7 My people are bent on turning from Me. Though they call to the Most High, He will by no means exalt them. Treasury of Scripture I listened and heard, but they spoke not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rushes into the battle. hearken. Job 33:27,28 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; … Psalm 14:2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. Isaiah 30:18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. no. Jeremiah 5:1 Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it. Isaiah 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. saying. Job 10:2 I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. Ezekiel 18:28 Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Haggai 1:5,7 Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways… as. Jeremiah 2:24,25 A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her… Job 39:19-25 Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder? … Jump to Previous Aright Attended Attentively Battle Charging Course Ear Evil-Doing Goes Headlong Heard Hearkened Heed Horse Note Regret Repented Repents Right Rushes Rusheth Speak Turned Turneth Turns Way WickednessJump to Next Aright Attended Attentively Battle Charging Course Ear Evil-Doing Goes Headlong Heard Hearkened Heed Horse Note Regret Repented Repents Right Rushes Rusheth Speak Turned Turneth Turns Way WickednessJeremiah 8 1. The calamity of the Jews, both dead and alive.4. He upbraids their foolish and shameless impenitency. 13. He shows their grievous judgment; 18. and bewails their desperate estate. I have listened and heard; This phrase emphasizes God's attentiveness to the actions and words of His people. It reflects the divine attribute of omniscience, where God is fully aware of human behavior and intentions. In the context of Jeremiah, God is portrayed as a witness to the moral and spiritual state of Judah. This echoes other scriptures where God listens to His people, such as in Exodus 3:7, where God hears the cries of the Israelites in Egypt. they do not speak what is right. No one repents of his wickedness, asking, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone has pursued his own course like a horse charging into battle. Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his messages of warning and calls for repentance to the people of Judah. 2. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel, which was often the focus of Jeremiah's prophecies due to its persistent idolatry and disobedience to God. 3. God The speaker in this verse, expressing His disappointment with the people's lack of repentance and self-awareness. 4. The People of Judah The audience of Jeremiah's prophecy, characterized by their stubbornness and refusal to acknowledge their sins. 5. The Horse Charging into Battle A metaphor used to describe the people's reckless pursuit of their own desires without consideration of the consequences. Teaching Points The Importance of Self-ExaminationWe must regularly ask ourselves, "What have I done?" to ensure we are living in alignment with God's will. The Danger of Spiritual Deafness Ignoring God's voice and failing to repent can lead us down a destructive path. Repentance as a Daily Practice True repentance involves a change of heart and direction, not just acknowledgment of wrongdoing. The Consequences of Ignorance Like a horse charging into battle, pursuing our own desires without seeking God's guidance can lead to spiritual ruin. God's Desire for Righteousness God listens and desires for us to speak and act rightly, reflecting His character in our lives. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 8:6?2. How does Jeremiah 8:6 highlight the importance of listening to God's guidance? 3. What does "no man repented of his wickedness" reveal about human nature? 4. How can we ensure we are not like the "horse charging into battle"? 5. What steps can we take to genuinely repent and turn from sin today? 6. How does Jeremiah 8:6 connect with the call to repentance in the New Testament? 7. What does Jeremiah 8:6 reveal about human nature and repentance? 8. How does Jeremiah 8:6 challenge our understanding of divine patience? 9. What historical context influenced the message in Jeremiah 8:6? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 8? 11. Psalm 21:8-10: How can the depiction of God's fiery wrath be reconciled with other scriptures portraying God as loving and merciful? 12. How can 1 John 4:8 say 'God is love' when the Old Testament shows actions that don't seem loving? 13. Psalm 86:5 - How can a God said to be 'abounding in steadfast love' align with the severity of punishments described elsewhere in the Old Testament? 14. Jeremiah 14:7-9: How can a merciful God seemingly ignore the desperate pleas of His people in these verses? What Does Jeremiah 8:6 Mean I have listened and heard• The speaker is the LORD Himself: “The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of men” (Psalm 33:13–15). His listening is neither passive nor distant; He pays close attention to every word and motive (Malachi 3:16). • Because God truly hears, His verdict carries unassailable authority (Exodus 3:7). We cannot plead ignorance or claim He misunderstood; the Judge has perfect knowledge of the evidence. They do not speak what is right • Judah’s speech has drifted from truth to deceit. “Truth has stumbled in the public square” (Isaiah 59:14), and God laments, “Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips” (Jeremiah 7:28). • Words reveal the heart (Matthew 12:36). When flattery, lies, and half-truths dominate conversation (Psalm 12:2), they expose an inner rebellion against God’s standard. • Right speech flows from right relationship. When that relationship is broken, unrighteous words become the norm and shape a culture of falsehood (2 Timothy 4:3–4). No one repents of his wickedness, asking, ‘What have I done?’ • The absence of self-examination marks a hardened society. Even God’s discipline leaves them unmoved: “You struck them…but they refused to repent” (Jeremiah 5:3). • Genuine repentance begins with honest reflection—“when he came to his senses” (Luke 15:17). Judah will not pause long enough to ask the basic question, “What have I done?” • Without that godly sorrow which “brings repentance that leads to salvation” (2 Corinthians 7:10; see also Acts 3:19), sin piles up unconfessed, and hearts grow ever colder (Hosea 7:10). • God’s grievance is not merely moral but relational: He longs for His people to turn back, confess, and be healed (1 John 1:9). Everyone has pursued his own course like a horse charging into battle • The image is vivid: a warhorse, ears back, eyes fixed, pounding ahead, oblivious to danger. Judah races toward judgment with similar intensity. • “We all like sheep have gone astray; each one has turned to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). The mindset is self-directed—Proverbs 14:12 warns that the self-chosen path “seems right…but its end is the way of death.” • Earlier Jeremiah used animal pictures (“a swift she-camel,” “a wild donkey,” Jeremiah 2:23–25) to describe restless, unbridled desire. Here the comparison shifts to a warhorse: deliberate, forceful, unstoppable. • Stubborn independence characterizes the nation: “Israel is stubborn like a stubborn heifer” (Hosea 4:16). By charging ahead without restraint, they ensure a collision with divine judgment. summary Jeremiah 8:6 unveils a tragic four-fold cycle: God listens; He finds no truthful speech; He sees no genuine repentance; He watches a headstrong people gallop toward ruin. The verse warns that unchecked deception and unrepentant hearts lead to reckless self-destruction, while it simultaneously highlights God’s patient attentiveness. He longs for His people to break the cycle—speak truth, confess sin, turn around, and follow His way instead of their own. Verse 6. - I hearkened and heard. The Divine Judge condescends to speak after the manner of men. He will be his own witness; for it is his own people, Jeshurun, which is on its trial. Not aright. It is a compound expression, equivalent to "insincerely," "untruly" (comp. Isaiah 16:6). Repented... turned; rather, repenteth... turneth (or, returneth). To his course. The Hebrew text, sometimes represented as having a different reading ("courses," in the plural) from the margin, really gives the same reading with one letter misplaced. The singular stands in the parallel passage, Jeremiah 23:19, and offers no difficulty. As the horse rusheth; literally, over-floweth. Both the Authorized Version and the Vulgate (impetu vadens) efface the second metaphor. The uncontrollable passion of both people and war-horse is compared to the all-subduing course of a winter stream or torrent.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew I have listenedהִקְשַׁ֤בְתִּי (hiq·šaḇ·tî) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 7181: To prick up the ears, hearken and heard; וָֽאֶשְׁמָע֙ (wā·’eš·mā‘) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently they do not לוֹא־ (lō·w-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no speak יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ (yə·ḏab·bê·rū) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue what is right. כֵ֣ן (ḵên) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 3651: So -- thus No אֵ֣ין (’ên) Adverb Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle one אִ֗ישׁ (’îš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person repents נִחָם֙ (ni·ḥām) Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 5162: To sigh, breathe strongly, to be sorry, to pity, console, rue, to avenge of his עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against wickedness, רָ֣עָת֔וֹ (rā·‘ā·ṯōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 7451: Bad, evil asking, לֵאמֹ֖ר (lê·mōr) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 559: To utter, say “What מֶ֣ה (meh) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what have I done?” עָשִׂ֑יתִי (‘ā·śî·ṯî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 6213: To do, make Everyone כֻּלֹּ֗ה (kul·lōh) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every has stayed שָׁ֚ב (ḇ) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again his course בִּמְר֣וּצָתָ֔ם (bim·rū·ṣā·ṯām) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 4794: A running, course like a horse כְּס֥וּס (kə·sūs) Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5483: A swallow, swift (type of bird) charging שׁוֹטֵ֖ף (šō·w·ṭêp̄) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7857: To gush, to inundate, cleanse, to gallop, conquer into battle. בַּמִּלְחָמָֽה׃ (bam·mil·ḥā·māh) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4421: A battle, war Links Jeremiah 8:6 NIVJeremiah 8:6 NLT Jeremiah 8:6 ESV Jeremiah 8:6 NASB Jeremiah 8:6 KJV Jeremiah 8:6 BibleApps.com Jeremiah 8:6 Biblia Paralela Jeremiah 8:6 Chinese Bible Jeremiah 8:6 French Bible Jeremiah 8:6 Catholic Bible OT Prophets: Jeremiah 8:6 I listened and heard but they didn't (Jer.) |
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