New International Version But they will reply, ‘It’s no use. We will continue with our own plans; we will all follow the stubbornness of our evil hearts.’” New Living Translation But the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires.” English Standard Version “But they say, ‘That is in vain! We will follow our own plans, and will every one act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’ Berean Standard Bible But they will reply, ‘It is hopeless. We will follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’” Berean Literal Bible And they said, ‘It is hopeless! For according to our own plans we will walk, and each man will do the stubbornness of his evil heart.’” King James Bible And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart. New King James Version And they said, “That is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart.” New American Standard Bible But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will persist in the stubbornness of his evil heart.’ NASB 1995 “But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’ NASB 1977 “But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’ Legacy Standard Bible But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’ Amplified Bible But they will say, ‘That is hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act in accordance with the stubbornness of his evil heart.’ Berean Annotated Bible But they will reply, ‘It is hopeless. We will follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart. Christian Standard Bible But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless. We will continue to follow our plans, and each of us will continue to act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’ ” Holman Christian Standard Bible But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless. We will continue to follow our plans, and each of us will continue to act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’” American Standard Version But they say, It is in vain; for we will walk after our own devices, and we will do every one after the stubbornness of his evil heart. Contemporary English Version But I know you won't listen. You might as well answer, "We don't care what you say. We have made plans to sin, and we are going to be stubborn and do as we please!" English Revised Version But they say, There is no hope: for we will walk after our own devices, and we will do every one after the stubbornness of his evil heart. GOD'S WORD® Translation "But they will answer, 'It's useless! We'll live the way we want to. We'll go our own stubborn, evil ways.' Good News Translation They will answer, 'No, why should we? We will all be just as stubborn and evil as we want to be.'" International Standard Version But they'll say, 'It's useless! We will follow our plans and each of us will pursue his own evil desires.' NET Bible But they just keep saying, 'We do not care what you say! We will do whatever we want to do! We will continue to behave wickedly and stubbornly!'" New Heart English Bible But they say, 'It is in vain; for we will walk after our own devices, and we will do everyone after the stubbornness of his evil heart.'" Webster's Bible Translation And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleBut they will reply, ‘It is hopeless. We will follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’” World English Bible But they say, ‘It is in vain; for we will walk after our own plans, and we will each follow the stubbornness of his evil heart.’” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd they have said, “It is incurable, "" For we go after our own plans, "" And each of us does the stubbornness of his evil heart.” Berean Literal Bible And they said, ‘It is hopeless! For according to our own plans we will walk, and each man will do the stubbornness of his evil heart.’” Young's Literal Translation And they have said, It is incurable, For after our own devices we do go, And each the stubbornness of his evil heart we do. Smith's Literal Translation And they said, We shall despair; for after our purposes we will go, and we will do each the stubbornness of his evil heart. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd they said: We have no hopes: for we will go after our own thoughts, and we will do every one according to the perverseness of his evil heart. Catholic Public Domain Version And they said: “We have lost hope. And so we will follow our own thoughts, and each of us will act according to the depravity of his own evil heart.” New American Bible But they will say, “No use! We will follow our own devices; each one of us will behave according to the stubbornness of our evil hearts!” New Revised Standard Version But they say, “It is no use! We will follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of our evil will.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleBut they said, We shall become strong and we will walk after our own devices and we will every man do the imagination of his evil heart. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And those said: “We will be strong, and we will go after our thoughts, and we shall do, each man, the pleasures of his evil heart!” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917But they say: There is no hope; but we will walk after our own devices, and we will do every one after the stubbornness of his evil heart.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And they said, We will quit ourselves like men, for we will pursue our perverse ways, and we will perform each the lusts of his evil heart. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context The Potter and the Clay…11Now therefore, tell the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I am planning a disaster for you and devising a plan against you. Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways, and correct your ways and deeds.’ 12But they will reply, ‘It is hopeless. We will follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’” 13Therefore this is what the LORD says: “Inquire among the nations: Who has ever heard things like these? Virgin Israel has done a most terrible thing.… Cross References But they will reply, ‘It is hopeless. Ezekiel 37:11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look, they are saying, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.’ Job 17:15 where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me? Lamentations 3:18 So I say, “My strength has perished, along with my hope from the LORD.” We will follow our own plans, Psalm 81:12 So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. 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. Isaiah 65:2 All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people who walk in the wrong path, who follow their own imaginations, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’” Jeremiah 11:8 Yet they would not obey or incline their ears, but each one followed the stubbornness of his evil heart. So I brought on them all the curses of this covenant I had commanded them to follow but they did not keep.” Deuteronomy 29:19 because when such a person hears the words of this oath, he invokes a blessing on himself, saying, ‘I will have peace, even though I walk in the stubbornness of my own heart.’ This will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. 2 Chronicles 36:13 He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel. Isaiah 30:1 “Woe to the rebellious children,” declares the LORD, “to those who carry out a plan that is not Mine, who form an alliance, but against My will, heaping up sin upon sin. Ezekiel 3:7 But the house of Israel will be unwilling to listen to you, since they are unwilling to listen to Me. For the whole house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted. Ezekiel 33:31 So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. Zechariah 7:11-12 But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing. / They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts. Proverbs 1:24-25 Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand, / because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction, Proverbs 29:1 A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery. 2 Kings 17:14 But they would not listen, and they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not believe the LORD their God. Treasury of Scripture And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart. There. Jeremiah 2:25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go. 2 Kings 6:33 And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer? Isaiah 57:10 Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved. we will walk. Jeremiah 3:17 At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the LORD; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the LORD, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. Jeremiah 7:24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. Jeremiah 11:8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not. Jump to Previous Act Continue Designs Devices Evil Follow Heart Hope Hopeless Imagination Moved Plans Stubbornness Use Vain WalkJump to Next Act Continue Designs Devices Evil Follow Heart Hope Hopeless Imagination Moved Plans Stubbornness Use Vain WalkJeremiah 18 1. Under the type of a potter is shown God's absolute power in disposing of nations.11. Judgments threatened to Judah for her strange revolt. 18. Jeremiah prays against his conspirators. But they will reply, ‘It is hopeless. Judah’s response rejects the warning God has given through Jeremiah. They treat repentance as useless and resign themselves to the judgment their sin has invited, though God’s warning itself leaves room for mercy if they turn from evil. Ezk 37:11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones”… We will follow our own plans, Rather than submit to the Lord’s purpose for them, the people choose their own desires and policies. Their determination reveals open rebellion against the covenant God who had called them to obedience. Psa 81:12 So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts… and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart.’” The rebellion is both personal and national. Each person intends to continue in sinful conduct, hardened against correction. Their refusal to change confirms the justice of the coming judgment. Jer 11:8 Yet they would not obey or incline their ears,… Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah. Known for his lamentations and warnings of impending judgment due to the people's disobedience. 2. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel, which was often warned by prophets like Jeremiah about their idolatry and unfaithfulness to God. 3. The People of Judah The recipients of Jeremiah's prophecies, who often responded with stubbornness and rebellion against God's commands. 4. God The sovereign Lord who communicates His will through prophets and desires repentance and obedience from His people. 5. The Potter's House A symbolic place used by God to illustrate His sovereignty and the malleability He desires in His people, as seen earlier in Jeremiah 18. Teaching Points The Danger of StubbornnessJeremiah 18:12 highlights the people's refusal to heed God's warning, choosing instead to follow their own plans. This serves as a caution against hardening our hearts and ignoring divine guidance. The Call to Repentance Despite the people's rebellion, God's message through Jeremiah is a call to repentance. We are reminded of God's patience and desire for us to turn back to Him. God's Sovereignty and Our Response The imagery of the potter and clay underscores God's authority over our lives. Our response should be one of humility and willingness to be shaped by His hands. Consequences of Disobedience The people's choice to follow their own plans leads to judgment. This serves as a reminder that disobedience to God has serious consequences. The Importance of Listening to God The passage challenges us to evaluate whether we are truly listening to God's voice or following our own desires. It encourages us to seek His will in all aspects of our lives. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 18:12?2. How does Jeremiah 18:12 illustrate human resistance to God's guidance and plans? 3. What does "We will continue with our own plans" reveal about human nature? 4. How can we align our plans with God's will, as opposed to Jeremiah 18:12? 5. What other scriptures warn against following "the stubbornness of his evil heart"? 6. How can Jeremiah 18:12 encourage us to seek God's direction in decision-making? 7. What does Jeremiah 18:12 reveal about human free will versus divine sovereignty? 8. How does Jeremiah 18:12 challenge the concept of repentance and redemption? 9. Why do people choose to follow their own plans despite God's warnings in Jeremiah 18:12? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 18? (12) And they said.--Better, But they say, as of continued action. This was the ever-recurring answer (see Note on Jeremiah 2:25) which they made to the prophet's pleas. It was the answer of defiance rather than of despair. "There is no hope, you need not hope, that we will do as you bid us. We will go on our way, and walk after our own devices." Imagination.--Better, as elsewhere, stubbornness. Verse 12. - And they said; rather, But they go on saying (comp. Ezekiel 33:17, 20). There is no hope. The rendering may be easily misunderstood. The speakers are not, as we might suppose, despondent about their state and prospects, but they seek to check the troublesome preacher by the warning that he has no chance of success (so Jeremiah 2:25). Imagination; rather, stubbornness (as constantly). Jeremiah 18:12 captures Judah’s defiant refusal of God’s gracious offer to reshape their destiny. They talk back instead of listening, declare repentance pointless, cling to self-directed plans, act on individual rebellion, and harden their hearts in stubborn evil. The verse stands as a sober warning: hope remains only while hearts stay soft toward the Potter’s hands.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew But they will reply,וְאָמְר֖וּ (wə·’ā·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 559: To utter, say ‘It is hopeless. נוֹאָ֑שׁ (nō·w·’āš) Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 2976: To desist, to despond We will follow נֵלֵ֔ךְ (nê·lêḵ) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk our own plans, מַחְשְׁבוֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ (maḥ·šə·ḇō·w·ṯê·nū) Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common plural Strong's 4284: A contrivance, a texture, machine, intention, plan and each of us וְאִ֛ישׁ (wə·’îš) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person will act נַעֲשֶֽׂה׃ (na·‘ă·śeh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural Strong's 6213: To do, make according to the stubbornness שְׁרִר֥וּת (šə·ri·rūṯ) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 8307: Firmness, stubbornness of his evil הָרָ֖ע (hā·rā‘) Article | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7451: Bad, evil heart.’” לִבּֽוֹ־ (lib·bōw-) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre Additonal Resources Jeremiah 18:12 Blue Letter BibleJeremiah 18:12 Bible Gateway Jeremiah 18:12 Bible.com Jeremiah 18:12 NIV |
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