Jeremiah 5:18

KJV

Nevertheless in those days, saith the LORD, I will not make a full end with you.

KJV (with Strong's)

Nevertheless in those days {H3117}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}, I will not make {H6213} a full end {H3617} with you.

Complete Jewish Bible

But even in those days," says ADONAI, "I will not completely destroy you.

Berean Standard Bible

“Yet even in those days,” declares the LORD, “I will not make a full end of you.

American Standard Version

But even in those days, saith Jehovah, I will not make a full end with you.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 5:18 stands as a profound declaration of God's enduring mercy and covenant faithfulness amidst His righteous judgment against Judah. Despite the nation's pervasive idolatry, moral decay, and stubborn refusal to repent, which warranted severe divine discipline in the form of foreign invasion and exile, the Lord promises that He will not bring about their complete annihilation. This verse serves as a crucial "nevertheless," signaling a divine limit to punishment and preserving the hope for a future remnant and the continuation of His redemptive plan.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 5 is a scathing indictment of Judah's widespread corruption and rebellion against God. Preceding verse 18, the chapter details the nation's spiritual blindness, their rejection of God's prophets, their oppression of the poor and vulnerable, and their pervasive idolatry (e.g., [Jeremiah 5:7-9](/jeremiah/5-7 "Jeremiah 5:7-9 - Judah's Idolatry and Punishment")). The Lord declares that because of these egregious sins, a foreign nation will invade and destroy their land, devouring their harvest and cities ([Jeremiah 5:15-17](/jeremiah/5-15 "Jeremiah 5:15-17 - The Coming Invasion")). Verse 18, introduced by "Nevertheless," dramatically shifts from the pronouncements of judgment to a crucial promise of preservation, indicating that even in the midst of severe discipline, God's wrath has a boundary, ensuring the survival of a remnant.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah prophesied during the tumultuous final decades of the Kingdom of Judah (late 7th to early 6th century BCE), a period marked by political instability and the rising threat of the Babylonian Empire. Judah, caught between regional superpowers, often vacillated between alliances and spiritual apostasy. The people had largely abandoned the covenant stipulations given at Sinai, embracing Canaanite Baal worship and social injustice, despite repeated warnings from prophets like Jeremiah. The impending "full end" was the devastating Babylonian invasion and subsequent exile (as recorded in [2 Kings 25](/2_kings/25 "2 Kings 25 - The Fall of Jerusalem and Exile")), which would see Jerusalem destroyed and much of the population deported. In this context, God's promise not to make a "full end" was a radical statement of hope against the backdrop of utter national catastrophe, implying that a future return and restoration were possible.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Jeremiah and the broader prophetic corpus. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Restraint and Mercy**, showcasing God's character as just yet profoundly compassionate, limiting His punishment even when fully deserved. Secondly, it highlights **Covenant Faithfulness**, demonstrating that despite Israel's persistent unfaithfulness, God remains true to His eternal covenant with Abraham ([Genesis 17:7](/genesis/17-7 "Genesis 17:7 - God's Covenant with Abraham")) and David, ensuring the survival of a lineage through whom His redemptive purposes would ultimately be fulfilled. Thirdly, it implicitly introduces the concept of the **Remnant**, a recurring theological idea in the prophets ([Isaiah 10:21-22](/isaiah/10-21 "Isaiah 10:21-22 - The Remnant Shall Return")), signifying that God would always preserve a faithful or chosen portion of His people, even through the most severe trials and purges, to carry forward His plan.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** From H3068, referring to the self-Existent or Eternal One, the covenant God of Israel. The use of "LORD" (Yahweh) here emphasizes that this declaration of restraint comes from the sovereign, faithful God who entered into covenant relationship with His people, not from a capricious deity. It underscores the divine authority and unwavering nature of the promise.
* **days (Hebrew, _yôwm'_):** From H3117, meaning a day, but often used figuratively for a space of time or period. "In those days" points to the specific period of impending judgment and exile, indicating that even during this dark and difficult era, God's promise of preservation would hold true. It signifies that the period of wrath, though severe, would be finite and not result in total annihilation.
* **full end (Hebrew, _kâlâh'_):** From H3617, meaning a completion, consumption, or utter destruction. The phrase "not make a full end" is a crucial negation. It signifies that while God would indeed bring judgment and destruction upon Judah, it would not be an absolute, irreversible annihilation of the nation or people. There would be a limit to His wrath, ensuring that a future, a remnant, and a possibility of restoration would remain.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Nevertheless in those days, saith the LORD":** This opening phrase marks a significant turning point, a divine interjection of mercy amidst pronouncements of judgment. "Nevertheless" acts as a strong adversative, contrasting with the preceding declarations of severe punishment. "In those days" refers specifically to the impending period of Babylonian invasion and exile. The phrase "saith the LORD" authenticates the promise as a direct, authoritative word from Yahweh Himself, the covenant-keeping God.
* **"I will not make a full end with you":** This is the core promise of the verse. Despite Judah's profound unfaithfulness and the deserved judgment, God declares that He will not utterly destroy them, nor will He completely wipe them out as a people. While severe discipline, including exile, is certain, the nation's existence will not be terminated. This ensures the continuation of God's covenant purposes through a surviving remnant, preserving the lineage and the possibility of future restoration.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 5:18 employs several powerful literary devices. The most prominent is **Contrast**, as the verse sharply pivots from the preceding pronouncements of devastating judgment (e.g., [Jeremiah 5:15-17](/jeremiah/5-15 "Jeremiah 5:15-17 - The Coming Invasion")) to a declaration of divine restraint and mercy. This "nevertheless" creates a dramatic shift in tone, highlighting God's complex character of justice tempered with compassion. There is also clear **Divine Speech**, indicated by "saith the LORD," which lends absolute authority and certainty to the promise. Furthermore, the phrase "not make a full end" functions as a form of **Understatement** (or **litotes**), subtly emphasizing the profound mercy of God by negating the ultimate destruction that Judah's sins truly deserved. This suggests a deeper, underlying purpose of preservation rather than mere punishment.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 5:18 profoundly illustrates God's complex character, balancing His righteous indignation against sin with His unwavering covenant faithfulness and merciful preservation. It teaches that divine judgment, while severe and necessary, is not always aimed at utter annihilation but often at purification and the preservation of a remnant for His redemptive purposes. This promise of a limited judgment ensures that God's overarching plan for humanity, initiated through Israel, will not be thwarted by human rebellion. It foreshadows the broader biblical narrative of God's enduring commitment to His people, even through their darkest failures, and His ultimate desire for their restoration and salvation.

* [Lamentations 3:22-23](/lamentations/3-22 "God's Steadfast Love and Mercies")
* [Romans 11:1-5](/romans/11-1 "God Has Not Rejected Israel")
* [Isaiah 1:9](/isaiah/1-9 "A Small Remnant")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 5:18 offers a profound source of comfort and hope for believers today, reminding us that even in the midst of deserved discipline or overwhelming trials, God's ultimate purpose is not our destruction but our purification and preservation. It encourages us to trust in His sovereign control and unfailing love, knowing that His faithfulness transcends our unfaithfulness. When we face consequences for our sins, or when the world around us seems to be unraveling, this verse assures us that God's grace sets a limit to His wrath, always leaving a path for repentance, restoration, and the continuation of His redemptive work in our lives and in the world. It calls us to reflect on the depth of God's mercy and to respond with humility and renewed commitment to Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jeremiah 5:18 challenge your understanding of God's justice and mercy?**
* **In what areas of your life have you experienced God's discipline, and how did His mercy become evident in those times?**
* **How does the concept of God preserving a "remnant" encourage you when you observe widespread spiritual decline in the world or in the church?**

### FAQ
**What does "make a full end" mean in this context?**

Answer: In Jeremiah 5:18, "make a full end" (Hebrew: *kâlâh*) signifies complete and utter destruction or annihilation. When God says, "I will not make a full end with you," He is promising that despite the severe judgment and impending exile that Judah deserved and would experience, He would not completely wipe them out as a nation or people. This promise ensured that a remnant would survive and that the covenant line would continue, allowing for future restoration and the fulfillment of His redemptive plan. It highlights God's mercy tempering His justice.

**Why would God not make a full end, given Judah's severe sins?**

Answer: God's decision not to make a full end with Judah, despite their profound and persistent rebellion, is rooted in His unwavering covenant faithfulness. His promises to Abraham ([Genesis 12:1-3](/genesis/12-1 "The Call of Abraham")), Isaac, Jacob, and David (e.g., [2 Samuel 7:12-16](/2_samuel/7-12 "The Davidic Covenant")) were unconditional and eternal. To completely annihilate Judah would have contradicted His own sworn word and jeopardized the very lineage through which the Messiah would come. Therefore, His preservation of a remnant demonstrates His commitment to His own character and His redemptive plan for humanity, which transcends even the most grievous human sin.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 5:18, with its promise of divine preservation amidst judgment, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "remnant" preserved by God's mercy through the Old Testament trials ultimately points to the spiritual remnant, the church, established through Christ's atoning work. While Israel as a nation faced judgment, God's covenant faithfulness ensured the lineage of David would continue, culminating in the birth of Jesus, the Messiah ([Matthew 1:1](/matthew/1-1 "The Genealogy of Jesus Christ")). Through Him, God did "not make a full end" with humanity, but instead provided the ultimate means of salvation and reconciliation. The judgment for sin, which would have led to humanity's "full end" (eternal separation from God), was fully borne by Christ on the cross ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "Christ Became Sin for Us")). Thus, the limited judgment promised in Jeremiah foreshadows the boundless mercy offered in the New Covenant, where believers, though deserving of judgment, are not given a "full end" but eternal life and a new creation in Christ ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "God So Loved the World")). He is the true and faithful Remnant, through whom all of God's promises find their "Yes" and "Amen" ([2 Corinthians 1:20](/2_corinthians/1-20 "God's Promises are Yes in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Romans 11:1

¶ I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, [of] the tribe of Benjamin.

Romans 11:5

Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Jeremiah 5:10

¶ Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they [are] not the LORD'S.

Jeremiah 4:27

For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.

Ezekiel 11:13

And it came to pass, when I prophesied, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then fell I down upon my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou make a full end of the remnant of Israel?

Ezekiel 9:8

And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord GOD! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?