Jeremiah 15 17

Jeremiah 15:17 kjv

I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.

Jeremiah 15:17 nkjv

I did not sit in the assembly of the mockers, Nor did I rejoice; I sat alone because of Your hand, For You have filled me with indignation.

Jeremiah 15:17 niv

I never sat in the company of revelers, never made merry with them; I sat alone because your hand was on me and you had filled me with indignation.

Jeremiah 15:17 esv

I did not sit in the company of revelers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because your hand was upon me, for you had filled me with indignation.

Jeremiah 15:17 nlt

I never joined the people in their merry feasts.
I sat alone because your hand was on me.
I was filled with indignation at their sins.

Jeremiah 15 verses

Jeremiah 15 17 Meaning

Jeremiah 15:17 describes the prophet's profound social and emotional isolation, stating he deliberately avoided the gatherings of lighthearted revelers and celebrations. This separation was not self-chosen preference but a direct consequence of God's influence ("Your hand") upon him, which had filled him with a strong, righteous displeasure and sorrow ("indignation") over the prevalent sin and impending judgment on Judah. His aloneness signified his complete absorption in his prophetic calling and identification with God’s burden and sorrow.

Jeremiah 15 17 Context

Jeremiah 15:17 is a pivotal verse within a section (15:10-21) where the prophet deeply laments his call and ministry to God. Immediately prior, Jeremiah expresses profound distress, wishing he had never been born due to the constant strife and rejection he faces for delivering God's message (v. 10). He then recounts God's assurance (v. 11-14) before crying out again for God to remember and vindicate him, acknowledging his suffering is for God’s sake (v. 15). Verse 17 articulates a specific aspect of this suffering: his compelled social isolation. He recounts his embrace of God's word (v. 16), which brought him joy but also isolated him. Historically, this period was characterized by the spiritual and political decline of Judah leading up to the Babylonian exile, a time when most people chose superficial piety and revelry over genuine repentance, making Jeremiah’s prophetic stance inherently counter-cultural and isolating. His prophetic work placed him firmly against the tide of contemporary beliefs and societal norms, distinguishing him as God's separated messenger.

Jeremiah 15 17 Word analysis

• I did not sit (לֹא יָשַׁבְתִּי, lo' yashavti): The verb yashav (to sit) implies resting, settling, taking one's place, or joining an assembly. The negation lo' signifies a deliberate choice of non-participation. This was not a passive observation but an active abstention from engaging with certain social groups, a foundational act of separation for a prophet.
• in the company (בְּסוֹד, bᵉsod): Sod refers to an intimate counsel, private gathering, or secret assembly. It denotes a circle of close fellowship where shared beliefs and attitudes flourish. Jeremiah states he did not enter this deep fellowship with specific people.
• of revelers (מְשַׂחֲקִים, mesahªqim): From the verb sahaq (to laugh, play, mock, make sport). This term can denote lighthearted amusement, but in a prophetic context, it often takes on a pejorative sense, referring to those who are thoughtlessly frivolous, mock serious matters, or are engaged in worldly merriment insensitive to spiritual realities. Scholars suggest it refers to those celebrating or finding amusement in things contrary to God’s will, likely mocking God’s prophets or word.
• nor did I rejoice (וְלֹא אֶעֱלֹז, vᵉlo' 'e'eloze): The verb 'alaz means "to exult, be joyful, triumph, rejoice." It intensifies the prior statement, explicitly confirming that his non-participation extended to not sharing in their merriment, underscoring a complete emotional and spiritual detachment.
• I sat alone (בָּדָד יָשָׁבְתִּי, badad yashavti): Badad is a powerful word meaning "alone, solitary, isolated." It contrasts sharply with "in the company." This isn't just about not joining a group but actively being in a state of solitude. This emphasizes a deep, even painful, sense of distinction and loneliness stemming from his calling.
• because of your hand (כִּידְךָ, ki yadekha): Yad (hand) of God is a common biblical metaphor for divine power, action, authority, or influence. Here, "Your hand" is the direct causal agent for his isolation. It implies a divine compulsion, burden, or spiritual marking by God that profoundly affected his life and separated him from the worldly.
• for you filled me (כִּי מִלֵּאתַנִי, ki millaeatanii): The verb millae means "to fill, satisfy, complete." This strong verb suggests being thoroughly permeated or saturated. God actively and completely imbued Jeremiah with what follows.
• with indignation (זָעַם, za'am): Za'am refers to a fierce anger, wrath, or indignation, often used in scripture for God's righteous anger and judgment against sin. Here, it signifies that Jeremiah was so deeply attuned to God's heart that he internalized God's own sorrow and profound displeasure concerning the sinfulness of the people. This "indignation" was not mere personal irritation but a holy, overwhelming sense of grief and strong disapprobation that rendered worldly mirth incompatible with his inner state.

• "I did not sit... nor did I rejoice... I sat alone": This progression highlights a movement from a refusal of worldly fellowship to a compelled solitude. The initial "did not sit" signifies avoidance, while "sat alone" emphasizes the reality of his solitary state, demonstrating the depth of his isolation as a prophet.
• "in the company of revelers... because of your hand": This directly links Jeremiah’s social avoidance and emotional separation from superficial joy to divine imposition. It shows that his spiritual posture was dictated by God, making his life a walking testimony against the prevalent frivolity and ungodliness.
• "because of your hand, for you filled me with indignation": This phrase clarifies the nature of God’s "hand" in this context: it was the divine instrument through which God imparted to Jeremiah a profound, internal za'am. His spiritual and emotional state was therefore a reflection of God's own sentiment toward a sinful nation, making him a unique vessel of divine emotion and truth.

Jeremiah 15 17 Bonus section

The motif of Jeremiah's social isolation and suffering resonates deeply with the "Suffering Servant" passages in Isaiah (especially Isaiah 53). Like the servant, Jeremiah bore a burden for his people that set him apart, encountering rejection and scorn. His celibacy (commanded in Jer 16:2) and avoidance of feasts further underlined his living sermon—his life was a testament to the coming desolation, indicating that soon there would be no occasion for joy, marriage, or feasting in Judah. The prophet became a walking sign of God's judgment and mourning, distinguishing him sharply from his contemporaries who chose denial and escapism. This commitment to the divine perspective, to be filled with God's za'am, positioned Jeremiah as a man spiritually outside the camp, sharing in God's solitary lament over His wayward people.

Jeremiah 15 17 Commentary

Jeremiah 15:17 powerfully encapsulates the prophet's unique and arduous calling, where his personal life became an embodiment of his message. His deliberate separation from common social gatherings, particularly those of thoughtless merriment or revelry, was not an act of self-righteous asceticism or personal melancholia. Instead, it was a divinely ordained state of existence, a direct consequence of "God's hand" upon him. This "hand" signifies divine compulsion, burden, and commissioning, which saturated Jeremiah with za'am, God’s own righteous indignation against sin. This made him incapable of finding joy in a society heedless of impending judgment. His forced isolation, or "sitting alone," profoundly illustrates the cost of authentic prophecy—a deep, internal alignment with God's grief over human rebellion, which inherently isolates one from worldly complacency. His experience shows that being a true messenger often requires a radical break from societal norms and personal comforts, adopting God’s perspective and emotions to such a degree that typical human joys become irrelevant or inappropriate.