Jeremiah 17 meaning explained in AI Summary
Jeremiah 17 can be divided into three main sections:
1. The Incurable Sin of Judah (verses 1-4):
- Judah's sin is etched permanently, like a carving in stone or a tattoo on their hearts.
- Their idolatry has corrupted them to the core, leading them away from God.
- As a consequence, they will face desolation and hardship, losing their land and prosperity.
2. Trust in God vs. Trust in Humanity (verses 5-8):
- This section contrasts two ways of life: trusting in God versus relying on human strength.
- Those who trust in humans are like shrubs in the desert, withered and without hope.
- Those who trust in God are like trees planted by water, flourishing and bearing fruit.
3. The Deceitfulness of the Human Heart and God's Judgment (verses 9-18):
- The human heart is deceitful and desperately wicked, beyond understanding.
- God, however, sees all and judges righteously, rewarding each person according to their deeds.
- Jeremiah calls for justice and laments the mockery he faces for preaching God's word.
- He reaffirms his trust in God, knowing that those who oppose the Lord will be put to shame.
Overall Message:
Jeremiah 17 delivers a stark warning about the consequences of sin and idolatry. It emphasizes the importance of trusting in God alone, as opposed to relying on human strength or deceitful desires. The chapter also highlights God's perfect judgment and the ultimate triumph of those who remain faithful to Him.
Jeremiah 17 bible study ai commentary
Jeremiah 17 starkly contrasts the futility of human-centered trust with the vitality of faith in God. It diagnoses Judah's condition—a sin so deep it is engraved on the heart—and presents the Lord as the only one who can truly know the heart and provide life. The chapter pivots from this diagnosis to a national test case: the Sabbath, a command that forces a choice between trusting in human effort or trusting in God's provision and covenant promises, all while interweaving Jeremiah's own personal lament and trust in God.
Jeremiah 17 Context
This chapter is situated in the final years of the Kingdom of Judah (late 7th/early 6th century BC), just before the Babylonian exile. Despite King Josiah's earlier reforms, the people's hearts had not truly changed. They practiced syncretism, blending Yahweh worship with pagan rituals (e.g., to Baal and Asherah), and held a false security in the physical Temple. Jeremiah’s message directly confronts this superficial religion, political maneuvering (seeking alliances with Egypt), and commercialism that profaned core covenant principles like the Sabbath.
Jeremiah 17:1
The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with a point of diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of their altars.
In-depth-analysis
- Indelible Sin: The imagery of an "iron pen" and "diamond point" signifies that Judah's sin is not a temporary mistake but a permanent, deeply engraved part of their character. It cannot be easily erased.
- Dual Location of Sin: Sin is engraved in two places, revealing its total corruption of the nation:
- Tablet of their heart (
lev
): This signifies internal corruption. The heart, the center of will, thought, and emotion, is defiled. Their very motives are sinful. - Horns of their altars: This signifies external, religious corruption. The altar horns, the most sacred part of the altar where blood was applied for atonement, are now inscribed with sin. Their worship is polluted and unacceptable.
- Tablet of their heart (
Bible references
- Ezekiel 36:26: "...I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." (Contrasts the stone tablet heart with the promised new heart).
- 2 Corinthians 3:3: "...you are a letter from Christ... written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." (Shows the New Covenant fulfillment where the Spirit, not sin, is inscribed on the heart).
- Hebrews 8:10: "...I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts..." (The New Covenant solution to the problem described in Jeremiah 17:1).
Cross references
Job 19:24 (engraved in rock), Prov 3:3 (write mercy on the tablet of your heart), Prov 7:3 (write commands on your heart).
Jeremiah 17:2-4
...while their children remember their altars and their Asherim, by green trees on high hills. O my mountain in the field, I will give your wealth and all your treasures as plunder, and your high places for sin throughout all your territory. And you, through no one but yourself, shall lose the heritage that I gave you, and I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever.
In-depth-analysis
- Generational Sin: The sin is so normalized that "their children remember" the pagan altars and Asherah poles. Idolatry has become the heritage passed down, instead of the Law of the Lord.
- Covenant Curses: The punishment described directly reflects the curses for covenant-breaking found in the Torah. "Wealth... as plunder" and "serve your enemies in a land that you do not know" are specific consequences of disobedience.
- "My mountain in the field": This likely refers to Jerusalem/Mount Zion, which was God’s chosen dwelling place, now seen from the perspective of the surrounding country ("the field"). Its holiness will not protect it from judgment.
- Personal Responsibility: The phrase "through no one but yourself" (or "you shall let go of your hand from") places the full blame on Judah. They cannot blame God or others; they are losing their inheritance through their own actions.
Bible references
- Deuteronomy 28:47-48: "...because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness... therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you..." (Direct parallel to the covenant curse).
- Judges 3:7: "And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth." (Historical precedent for the sins mentioned).
- Leviticus 26:30-31: "And I will destroy your high places and cut down your incense altars and cast your dead bodies upon the lifeless forms of your idols..." (The foundational warning).
Cross references
Deut 12:2 (idols on high hills), 2 Ki 17:10-12 (setting up pillars/Asherim), Isa 1:29 (ashamed of the oaks), Jer 15:13-14 (plunder as consequence).
Jeremiah 17:5-6
Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land."
In-depth-analysis
- Trust in "Man" (
geber
): Cursed is the strong or mighty man (geber
) who relies on another human, specifically on "flesh" (basar
)—a term highlighting humanity's weakness, frailty, and mortality. - The Cause and Effect: The curse is a direct result of the heart's posture: "whose heart turns away from the Lord." The outward trust in man is a symptom of an inward turning from God.
- Imagery of Barrenness: The result is to be a "shrub" or a destitute tree (
'ar'ar
). It lives in the worst possible conditions: desert, parched places, salt land. It is isolated, unproductive, and sees no relief ("shall not see any good").
Bible references
- Psalm 146:3-4: "Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish." (Directly teaches the folly of trusting in mortals).
- Isaiah 31:1, 3: "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help... The Egyptians are man, and not God; and their horses are flesh, and not spirit." (Direct polemic against Judah's political trust in human alliances).
Cross references
Psa 62:9 (mankind is a breath), Psa 118:8-9 (better to trust in the LORD than man/princes), Isa 2:22 (stop trusting in man).
Jeremiah 17:7-8
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
In-depth-analysis
- Trust in the "LORD" (
YHWH
): The blessed man is not just one who has a generic trust; his "trust is the Lord." God Himself is the foundation and substance of his confidence. - Imagery of Life: This man is a flourishing "tree." The key is its connection to the "water," a consistent, life-giving source.
- Security and Fruitfulness: Its roots go deep, giving it stability and access to life. Therefore, it has no fear of external crises ("heat," "drought"). It remains green (vibrant life) and continues to bear fruit (productive life) regardless of circumstances.
Bible references
- Psalm 1:1-3: "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked... He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season..." (The foundational parallel for the blessed man as a thriving tree).
- John 15:5: "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." (Jesus identifies Himself as the source of life and fruitfulness, echoing this theme).
- Revelation 22:1-2: "...the river of the water of life... also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit..." (The ultimate picture of eternal life sustained by God's presence).
Cross references
Psa 84:12 (blessed is the one who trusts), Prov 16:20 (he who trusts in the Lord is blessed), Eze 47:12 (trees by the temple river), Joh 7:38 (out of his heart will flow rivers of living water).
Polemics
The contrast between verses 5-6 and 7-8 is a powerful polemic against Judah’s foreign policy. Instead of trusting in Egypt (a desert shrub that will fail), they should trust in Yahweh (a life-giving stream). It uses the literary form of a wisdom teaching to deliver a prophetic indictment.
Jeremiah 17:9-10
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? "I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
In-depth-analysis
- The Deceitful Heart (
‘aqov
): The heart (lev
) is declared crooked, sly, and fundamentally untrustworthy. The word used,'aqov
, is a play on the name of Jacob (Ya'aqov
), whose name meant "supplanter" or "deceiver." The problem is rooted in their very identity. - Desperately Sick (
'anush
): The heart is not just tricky; it is incurably, mortally ill. This underscores human inability to fix the core problem. The question "who can understand it?" highlights this human limitation. - The Divine Diagnostician: Verse 10 answers the question of verse 9. Though man cannot know the heart, the Lord can. God's knowledge is not passive; He actively "searches" (
chaqar
) the heart and "tests" (bachan
, like testing metals for purity) the mind/emotions. - Just Recompense: God's searching is for the purpose of perfect justice. He gives to each person based not on outward appearances but on the internal reality ("ways") and the resulting actions ("fruit of his deeds"). This connects back to the theme of fruitfulness in verses 7-8.
Bible references
- 1 Samuel 16:7: "...For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (The classic statement of God's unique ability to know the heart).
- Psalm 139:23-24: "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (The proper response to God's heart-searching ability).
- Revelation 2:23: "...and all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works." (Christ explicitly claims this divine prerogative).
- Romans 7:24: "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Paul’s cry captures the essence of the “desperately sick” heart).
Cross references
Gen 6:5 (heart's intent only evil), Psa 7:9, Prov 21:2, Mat 15:19 (out of the heart come evil thoughts), Heb 4:12-13 (Word of God judges thoughts and intentions of the heart).
Jeremiah 17:11
Like the partridge that gathers a brood that she did not hatch, so is he who gets riches but not by justice; in the midst of his days they will leave him, and at his end he will be a fool.
In-depth-analysis
- A Proverb of Injustice: This is a wisdom saying illustrating the folly of dishonest gain. The partridge incubates eggs not her own, only to have the chicks leave her for their true mother.
- Unstable Wealth: Similarly, a person who gains wealth unjustly (
lo’ b mishpat
) will find that it is not truly theirs. It is temporary and will abandon them, likely "in the midst of his days," not even lasting a full lifetime. - The Ultimate Folly: At his end, despite his temporary wealth, he is exposed as a "fool" (
naval
). This is not a lack of intelligence, but a moral and spiritual bankruptcy. This links directly to God's judgment in verse 10.
Bible references
- Luke 12:20-21: "But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you...’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God." (Jesus' parable of the Rich Fool perfectly illustrates this principle).
- Psalm 39:6: "...Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather it." (Reflects the transience of ill-gotten or hoarded wealth).
Cross references
Prov 13:11 (wealth gained hastily will dwindle), Prov 23:4-5 (riches sprout wings), 1 Tim 6:9-10 (love of money is a root of all evil).
Jeremiah 17:12-13
A glorious throne, set on high from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary. O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters.
In-depth-analysis
- Shift in Focus: After diagnosing the national sickness, Jeremiah turns his focus to the only source of hope: God. God's "glorious throne" represents his eternal, unshakable sovereignty and legitimate place of worship, contrasting with the sin-stained altars (v.1).
- Written in the Earth: This contrasts sharply with having one's name written in the Book of Life. To be "written in the earth" (or dust) signifies a curse, oblivion, and mortality. Their names will be wiped away like writing in the sand.
- The Fountain of Living Waters (
mqor mayim chayyim
): This is a key metaphor for God as the one true source of life. To forsake Him is to forsake life itself. This echoes God's earlier complaint in Jer 2:13, that his people had forsaken him, the fountain, for broken cisterns that hold no water. This imagery links back to the tree planted by the water (v.8).
Bible references
- Jeremiah 2:13: "for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water." (The original statement of this key metaphor).
- John 4:14: "...whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." (Jesus presents himself as the fulfillment of this, the source of living water).
- Revelation 21:6: "...To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment." (The ultimate fulfillment in the New Jerusalem).
Cross references
Psa 36:9 (with you is the fountain of life), Psa 73:27 (those far from you shall perish), Isa 1:28, Joh 7:37-38 (come to me and drink), Heb 12:2 (looking to Jesus, the founder).
Jeremiah 17:14-18
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise. Behold, they say to me, "Where is the word of the Lord? Let it come!" I have not run away from being your shepherd, nor have I desired the day of sickness... Release terror upon them, but let me not be terrified...
In-depth-analysis
- Personal Application: Jeremiah turns the chapter’s themes inward. He acknowledges his own need for healing and salvation, demonstrating the very trust in God he preached about in verses 7-8.
- A Taunt from the People: He is mocked because the judgment he prophesied has not yet occurred. "Where is the word of the Lord?" is a skeptical jeer, questioning his authority.
- Jeremiah’s Defense: He defends his ministry, stating he didn't flee his difficult calling but also did not desire the "day of sickness" (the day of disaster) to come upon his own people. His heart is torn.
- Imprecatory Prayer: His prayer for justice ("Release terror upon them") is not simply personal vengeance. It is a plea for God to vindicate His own word and His prophet against those who mock Him, thereby restoring divine honor. He prays that the terror meant for them will not fall on him.
Bible references
- Psalm 6:2: "Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled." (A classic psalm of lament seeking healing, similar to Jeremiah's cry).
- 2 Peter 3:3-4: "...scoffers will come in the last day with scoffing... They will say, ‘Where is the promise of his coming?’" (Shows that mocking the delay of God's judgment is a timeless sign of unbelief).
Cross references
Psa 31:1, Psa 109:26-31, Jer 1:4-10 (Jeremiah’s calling), Amos 5:18 (Woe to you who desire the day of the LORD!), Jer 20:7-12 (similar personal lament).
Jeremiah 17:19-27
... "Go and stand in the Gate of the People... and say to them: ‘Hear the word of the Lord... Thus says the Lord: Take care for the sake of your lives, and do not bear a burden on the Sabbath day... But if you do not listen to me, to keep the Sabbath day holy... then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem and shall not be quenched.’"
In-depth-analysis
- The Sabbath as a Test Case: After the deep theological diagnosis, God provides a concrete, public test: obedience to the Sabbath command. This wasn't just about rest; it was a sign of the covenant and a test of trust.
- An Act of Trust: To cease commerce ("do not bear a burden") for a day was a profound act of faith, trusting God's provision over one's own labor. Violating it demonstrated a trust in "flesh" (v. 5) and personal gain.
- Blessing or Curse: The consequences are presented in a classic covenantal structure.
- Obedience (vv. 24-25): The nation will prosper. The Davidic dynasty ("kings... sitting on the throne of David") will continue, and the city of Jerusalem "shall be inhabited forever."
- Disobedience (v. 27): An unquenchable fire will destroy the city's gates and palaces—a direct prophecy of the Babylonian destruction.
- Public Proclamation: This message is to be delivered in the "Gate of the People," a main public square, making this a direct, unavoidable challenge to the entire nation.
Bible references
- Exodus 20:8-11: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy... For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth... and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." (The foundational command).
- Nehemiah 13:15-22: "In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath... and I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, ‘What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day?’" (Shows the post-exilic community taking this command seriously as a key to national restoration).
- Isaiah 58:13-14: "If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath... and call the Sabbath a delight... then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth..." (Highlights the blessing associated with honoring the Sabbath).
Cross references
Deut 5:12-15 (Sabbath as a memorial of liberation), Eze 20:12-13 (Sabbath as a sign), Mark 2:27 (Sabbath was made for man).
Jeremiah Chapter 17 analysis
- The Centrality of the Heart (
lev
): The entire chapter can be viewed as an anatomy of the heart. It is the location of ingrained sin (v. 1), the source of misguided trust (v. 5), fundamentally deceitful and sick (v. 9), the object of God's perfect examination (v. 10), and the place where God's law should be written. - Trust as the Defining Issue: The theological core of the chapter is the contrast in verses 5-8. Where one places trust—in fragile "flesh" or in the eternal "Lord"—determines one's ultimate state: cursed and barren or blessed and fruitful. The rest of the chapter illustrates this choice. The Sabbath command (vv. 19-27) is not an arbitrary rule but the practical, national litmus test of this trust.
- Wordplay as Prophetic Tool: The use of
‘aqov
(deceitful) in verse 9 is a powerful wordplay on Israel's patriarchal name,Ya’aqov
(Jacob), suggesting the nation's spiritual sickness is tied to its foundational character of deception and self-reliance, a character that Jacob himself had to have "healed" at Peniel (Genesis 32). - Biblical Completion - Fountain of Life: Jeremiah establishes Yahweh as the "fountain of living waters" whom Israel forsook (v. 13). In John's Gospel, Jesus stands in the Temple (a fulfillment of the "glorious throne... place of our sanctuary" in v. 12) and declares, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink" (John 7:37). Jesus presents Himself as the personal embodiment of the life-giving God that Jeremiah’s audience had rejected.
Jeremiah 17 summary
The chapter diagnoses Judah's fatal condition: sin is engraved on their hearts, leading them to trust in fragile man, which results in a cursed, barren existence. The human heart itself is incurably deceitful. The only remedy is absolute trust in the Lord, which results in a blessed, fruitful life like a tree planted by water. God, who alone can search the heart, offers a choice through the Sabbath command: obey in trust and live, or disobey in self-reliance and be destroyed.
Jeremiah 17 AI Image Audio and Video
Jeremiah chapter 17 kjv
- 1 The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;
- 2 Whilst their children remember their altars and their groves by the green trees upon the high hills.
- 3 O my mountain in the field, I will give thy substance and all thy treasures to the spoil, and thy high places for sin, throughout all thy borders.
- 4 And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.
- 5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
- 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
- 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
- 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
- 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
- 10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
- 11 As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.
- 12 A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.
- 13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.
- 14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
- 15 Behold, they say unto me, Where is the word of the LORD? let it come now.
- 16 As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee.
- 17 Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil.
- 18 Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.
- 19 Thus said the LORD unto me; Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, whereby the kings of Judah come in, and by the which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem;
- 20 And say unto them, Hear ye the word of the LORD, ye kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates:
- 21 Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;
- 22 Neither carry forth a burden out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.
- 23 But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.
- 24 And it shall come to pass, if ye diligently hearken unto me, saith the LORD, to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the sabbath day, but hallow the sabbath day, to do no work therein;
- 25 Then shall there enter into the gates of this city kings and princes sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they, and their princes, the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall remain for ever.
- 26 And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD.
- 27 But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
Jeremiah chapter 17 nkjv
- 1 "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; With the point of a diamond it is engraved On the tablet of their heart, And on the horns of your altars,
- 2 While their children remember Their altars and their wooden images By the green trees on the high hills.
- 3 O My mountain in the field, I will give as plunder your wealth, all your treasures, And your high places of sin within all your borders.
- 4 And you, even yourself, Shall let go of your heritage which I gave you; And I will cause you to serve your enemies In the land which you do not know; For you have kindled a fire in My anger which shall burn forever."
- 5 Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the LORD.
- 6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited.
- 7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD.
- 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
- 9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
- 10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
- 11 "As a partridge that broods but does not hatch, So is he who gets riches, but not by right; It will leave him in the midst of his days, And at his end he will be a fool."
- 12 A glorious high throne from the beginning Is the place of our sanctuary.
- 13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You shall be ashamed. "Those who depart from Me Shall be written in the earth, Because they have forsaken the LORD, The fountain of living waters."
- 14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.
- 15 Indeed they say to me, "Where is the word of the LORD? Let it come now!"
- 16 As for me, I have not hurried away from being a shepherd who follows You, Nor have I desired the woeful day; You know what came out of my lips; It was right there before You.
- 17 Do not be a terror to me; You are my hope in the day of doom.
- 18 Let them be ashamed who persecute me, But do not let me be put to shame; Let them be dismayed, But do not let me be dismayed. Bring on them the day of doom, And destroy them with double destruction!
- 19 Thus the LORD said to me: "Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, by which the kings of Judah come in and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem;
- 20 and say to them, 'Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter by these gates.
- 21 Thus says the LORD: "Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;
- 22 nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.
- 23 But they did not obey nor incline their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear nor receive instruction.
- 24 "And it shall be, if you heed Me carefully," says the LORD, "to bring no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work in it,
- 25 then shall enter the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, accompanied by the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall remain forever.
- 26 And they shall come from the cities of Judah and from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin and from the lowland, from the mountains and from the South, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and incense, bringing sacrifices of praise to the house of the LORD.
- 27 "But if you will not heed Me to hallow the Sabbath day, such as not carrying a burden when entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched." ' "
Jeremiah chapter 17 niv
- 1 "Judah's sin is engraved with an iron tool, inscribed with a flint point, on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars.
- 2 Even their children remember their altars and Asherah poles beside the spreading trees and on the high hills.
- 3 My mountain in the land and your wealth and all your treasures I will give away as plunder, together with your high places, because of sin throughout your country.
- 4 Through your own fault you will lose the inheritance I gave you. I will enslave you to your enemies in a land you do not know, for you have kindled my anger, and it will burn forever."
- 5 This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
- 6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.
- 7 "But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
- 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
- 9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
- 10 "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve."
- 11 Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay are those who gain riches by unjust means. When their lives are half gone, their riches will desert them, and in the end they will prove to be fools.
- 12 A glorious throne, exalted from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary.
- 13 LORD, you are the hope of Israel; all who forsake you will be put to shame. Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living water.
- 14 Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.
- 15 They keep saying to me, "Where is the word of the LORD? Let it now be fulfilled!"
- 16 I have not run away from being your shepherd; you know I have not desired the day of despair. What passes my lips is open before you.
- 17 Do not be a terror to me; you are my refuge in the day of disaster.
- 18 Let my persecutors be put to shame, but keep me from shame; let them be terrified, but keep me from terror. Bring on them the day of disaster; destroy them with double destruction.
- 19 This is what the LORD said to me: "Go and stand at the Gate of the People, through which the kings of Judah go in and out; stand also at all the other gates of Jerusalem.
- 20 Say to them, 'Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah and all people of Judah and everyone living in Jerusalem who come through these gates.
- 21 This is what the LORD says: Be careful not to carry a load on the Sabbath day or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem.
- 22 Do not bring a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your ancestors.
- 23 Yet they did not listen or pay attention; they were stiff-necked and would not listen or respond to discipline.
- 24 But if you are careful to obey me, declares the LORD, and bring no load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath, but keep the Sabbath day holy by not doing any work on it,
- 25 then kings who sit on David's throne will come through the gates of this city with their officials. They and their officials will come riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by the men of Judah and those living in Jerusalem, and this city will be inhabited forever.
- 26 People will come from the towns of Judah and the villages around Jerusalem, from the territory of Benjamin and the western foothills, from the hill country and the Negev, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and incense, and bringing thank offerings to the house of the LORD.
- 27 But if you do not obey me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying any load as you come through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in the gates of Jerusalem that will consume her fortresses.'?"
Jeremiah chapter 17 esv
- 1 "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with a point of diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of their altars,
- 2 while their children remember their altars and their Asherim, beside every green tree and on the high hills,
- 3 on the mountains in the open country. Your wealth and all your treasures I will give for spoil as the price of your high places for sin throughout all your territory.
- 4 You shall loosen your hand from your heritage that I gave to you, and I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever."
- 5 Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD.
- 6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.
- 7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.
- 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
- 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
- 10 "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
- 11 Like the partridge that gathers a brood that she did not hatch, so is he who gets riches but not by justice; in the midst of his days they will leave him, and at his end he will be a fool.
- 12 A glorious throne set on high from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.
- 13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame; those who turn away from you shall be written in the earth, for they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water.
- 14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.
- 15 Behold, they say to me, "Where is the word of the LORD? Let it come!"
- 16 I have not run away from being your shepherd, nor have I desired the day of sickness. You know what came out of my lips; it was before your face.
- 17 Be not a terror to me; you are my refuge in the day of disaster.
- 18 Let those be put to shame who persecute me, but let me not be put to shame; let them be dismayed, but let me not be dismayed; bring upon them the day of disaster; destroy them with double destruction!
- 19 Thus said the LORD to me: "Go and stand in the People's Gate, by which the kings of Judah enter and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem,
- 20 and say: 'Hear the word of the LORD, you kings of Judah, and all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, who enter by these gates.
- 21 Thus says the LORD: Take care for the sake of your lives, and do not bear a burden on the Sabbath day or bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem.
- 22 And do not carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath or do any work, but keep the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers.
- 23 Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck, that they might not hear and receive instruction.
- 24 "'But if you listen to me, declares the LORD, and bring in no burden by the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but keep the Sabbath day holy and do no work on it,
- 25 then there shall enter by the gates of this city kings and princes who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their officials, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And this city shall be inhabited forever.
- 26 And people shall come from the cities of Judah and the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the Shephelah, from the hill country, and from the Negeb, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and frankincense, and bringing thank offerings to the house of the LORD.
- 27 But if you do not listen to me, to keep the Sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter by the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem and shall not be quenched.'"
Jeremiah chapter 17 nlt
- 1 "The sin of Judah
is inscribed with an iron chisel ?
engraved with a diamond point on their stony hearts
and on the corners of their altars. - 2 Even their children go to worship
at their pagan altars and Asherah poles,
beneath every green tree
and on every high hill. - 3 So I will hand over my holy mountain ?
along with all your wealth and treasures
and your pagan shrines ?
as plunder to your enemies,
for sin runs rampant in your land. - 4 The wonderful possession I have reserved for you
will slip from your hands.
I will tell your enemies to take you
as captives to a foreign land.
For my anger blazes like a fire
that will burn forever." - 5 This is what the LORD says:
"Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
who rely on human strength
and turn their hearts away from the LORD. - 6 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,
with no hope for the future.
They will live in the barren wilderness,
in an uninhabited salty land. - 7 "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD
and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. - 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit. - 9 "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
and desperately wicked.
Who really knows how bad it is? - 10 But I, the LORD, search all hearts
and examine secret motives.
I give all people their due rewards,
according to what their actions deserve." - 11 Like a partridge that hatches eggs she has not laid,
so are those who get their wealth by unjust means.
At midlife they will lose their riches;
in the end, they will become poor old fools. - 12 But we worship at your throne ?
eternal, high, and glorious! - 13 O LORD, the hope of Israel,
all who turn away from you will be disgraced.
They will be buried in the dust of the earth,
for they have abandoned the LORD, the fountain of living water. - 14 O LORD, if you heal me, I will be truly healed;
if you save me, I will be truly saved.
My praises are for you alone! - 15 People scoff at me and say,
"What is this 'message from the LORD' you talk about?
Why don't your predictions come true?" - 16 LORD, I have not abandoned my job
as a shepherd for your people.
I have not urged you to send disaster.
You have heard everything I've said. - 17 LORD, don't terrorize me!
You alone are my hope in the day of disaster. - 18 Bring shame and dismay on all who persecute me,
but don't let me experience shame and dismay.
Bring a day of terror on them.
Yes, bring double destruction upon them! - 19 This is what the LORD said to me: "Go and stand in the gates of Jerusalem, first in the gate where the king goes in and out, and then in each of the other gates.
- 20 Say to all the people, 'Listen to this message from the LORD, you kings of Judah and all you people of Judah and everyone living in Jerusalem.
- 21 This is what the LORD says: Listen to my warning! Stop carrying on your trade at Jerusalem's gates on the Sabbath day.
- 22 Do not do your work on the Sabbath, but make it a holy day. I gave this command to your ancestors,
- 23 but they did not listen or obey. They stubbornly refused to pay attention or accept my discipline.
- 24 "'But if you obey me, says the LORD, and do not carry on your trade at the gates or work on the Sabbath day, and if you keep it holy,
- 25 then kings and their officials will go in and out of these gates forever. There will always be a descendant of David sitting on the throne here in Jerusalem. Kings and their officials will always ride in and out among the people of Judah in chariots and on horses, and this city will remain forever.
- 26 And from all around Jerusalem, from the towns of Judah and Benjamin, from the western foothills and the hill country and the Negev, the people will come with their burnt offerings and sacrifices. They will bring their grain offerings, frankincense, and thanksgiving offerings to the LORD's Temple.
- 27 "'But if you do not listen to me and refuse to keep the Sabbath holy, and if on the Sabbath day you bring loads of merchandise through the gates of Jerusalem just as on other days, then I will set fire to these gates. The fire will spread to the palaces, and no one will be able to put out the roaring flames.'"
- Bible Book of Jeremiah
- 1 The Call of Jeremiah
- 2 Israel Forsakes the Lord
- 3 Faithless Israel Called to Repentance
- 4 Disaster from the North
- 5 Jerusalem Refused to Repent
- 6 Impending Disaster for Jerusalem
- 7 Evil in the Land
- 8 Sin and Treachery
- 9 Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep
- 10 Idols and the Living God
- 11 The Broken Covenant
- 12 Jeremiah's Complaint
- 13 The Ruined Loincloth
- 14 Famine, Sword, and Pestilence
- 15 The Lord Will Not Relent
- 16 Famine, Sword, and Death
- 17 The Sin of Judah
- 18 The Potter and Clay
- 19 The Broken Flask
- 20 Jeremiah Persecuted by Pashhur
- 21 Jerusalem Will Fall to Nebuchadnezzar
- 22 Message to the evil Kings
- 23 The Righteous Branch
- 24 The Good Figs and the Bad Figs
- 25 Seventy Years of Captivity
- 26 Jeremiah Threatened with Death
- 27 The Yoke of Nebuchadnezzar
- 28 Hananiah the False Prophet
- 29 Jeremiah's Letter to the Exiles
- 30 Restoration for Israel and Judah
- 31 The Lord Will Turn Mourning to Joy
- 32 Jeremiah Buys a Field During the Siege
- 33 The Lord Promises Peace
- 34 Zedekiah to Die in Babylon
- 35 The Faithful Rechabites
- 36 Jehoiakim Burns Jeremiah's Scroll
- 37 King Zedekiah's vain hope
- 38 Jeremiah Cast into the Cistern
- 39 The Fall of Jerusalem
- 40 Jeremiah Remains in Judah
- 41 Gedaliah Murdered
- 42 Warning Against Going to Egypt
- 43 Jeremiah Taken to Egypt
- 44 Judgment for Idolatry
- 45 Message to Baruch
- 46 Judgment on Egypt
- 47 Judgment on the Philistines
- 48 Judgment on Moab
- 49 Judgment on Ammon
- 50 Judgment on Babylon
- 51 The Utter Destruction of Babylon
- 52 The Fall of Jerusalem Recounted