Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.
Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin, or can a leopard change its spots? Then you too might be able to do good, even though you're used to doing evil.
God is saying that just as people can't change their physical appearance naturally, those who are deeply set in their sinful ways find it nearly impossible to change without divine help.
📚 Historical Context
Jeremiah spoke these words to the people of Judah who had been persistently disobedient to God despite repeated warnings. They had become so entrenched in idol worship and injustice that moral reform seemed as impossible as changing one's physical features. This was part of God's explanation through Jeremiah of why judgment was inevitable for the nation.
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