Jeremiah 13:23

A man from Ethiopia certainly cannot [RHQ] change the color of his black skin, and a leopard certainly cannot [RHQ] change its spots. Similarly, you cannot start doing what is good, because you have always done what is evil.

Translation for Translators

In The King James Version

Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.

In Context

22You will ask yourselves, “Why is this happening to us?” I will reply that it is because of your many sins. That is why soldiers of the invading armies will lift up the skirts of your women and rape them.

24Yahweh says, “I will scatter you like chaff that is blown away by the wind from the desert.

Read all of Jeremiah 13

Cross References

1 Samuel 19:21When Saul heard about that, he sent messengers a third time, but they also started to speak ecstatically.

Proverbs 27:22Even if you beat/crush a fool severely like [MET] you pulverize grain with a pestle, you probably will not be able to cause him to stop ◄being foolish/doing foolish things►.

Isaiah 1:5Why do you [RHQ] continue to do things for which you should be punished? Why do you continue to rebel against Yahweh? You are like [MET] someone whose head is badly injured and whose mind is sick/corrupt.

Jeremiah 2:30I punished some of you, but you did not learn anything from my doing that. You have killed many of the prophets that I sent to you, like [SIM] fierce lions kill other animals.

Jeremiah 6:29A metalworker causes the bellows to blow very hard to make the fire very hot to completely burn up the impurities [MET]. But just as a fire does not cause all the waste material to run off, it is impossible to separate the righteous people from the wicked people, and punish only the wicked people.

Jeremiah 17:9Human minds are extremely corrupt/deceitful, and you cannot change that. It is also completely impossible [RHQ] for anyone to understand that.

Matthew Henry on Jeremiah 13:23-27

Punishment Predicted; Causes of Jerusalem's Ruin. ( b. c. 606.) 22 And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare. 23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil. 24 Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness. 25 This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the Lord ;… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Jeremiah 13:23