ירמיהו, פרק ז׳, פסוק י״ט

People who act wickedly often operate under a deep misconception about the nature of their actions. They tend to believe that their bad choices act as a direct rebellion against God, somehow causing Him harm or sorrow. Yet the truth is entirely the opposite. Human sins do not damage the Creator, but rather act against the wrongdoers themselves, planting the seeds of destruction in their own lives.

Commentators agree that human behavior does not actually impact God. He is completely immune to harm from evil actions, just as He does not gain any personal profit from good deeds [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Furthermore, God is not subject to human emotions. When the biblical text attributes feelings like anger to God, it is simply using human language to help people grasp a higher concept. Divine anger does not mean God is experiencing an emotional storm. Instead, it describes the actual punishment that falls upon those who do wrong and the visible impact it leaves behind [רד״ק, מלבי״ם].

Because God cannot be damaged, people who choose to do evil are ultimately only hurting themselves. The divine reaction they trigger translates into real destruction that descends upon the world. This devastation strikes the people, their animals, and even plant life, reaching a point where they lose all ability to find healing from nature [מלבי״ם]. In the end, the direct result of their behavior is that it turns against them, bringing them nothing but utter shame and disgrace [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].