Jeremiah 16:17 kjv
For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.
Jeremiah 16:17 nkjv
For My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity hidden from My eyes.
Jeremiah 16:17 niv
My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes.
Jeremiah 16:17 esv
For my eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from me, nor is their iniquity concealed from my eyes.
Jeremiah 16:17 nlt
I am watching them closely, and I see every sin. They cannot hope to hide from me.
Jeremiah 16 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 16:17 | For my eyes are upon all their ways: | God sees all deeds (Job 34:21, Prov 5:21) |
| Jer 16:17 | they are not hidden from me, | Nothing hidden from God (Ps 139:1-4) |
| Jer 16:17 | nor is their iniquity concealed from my sight. | God knows iniquity (Jer 11:20, Heb 4:13) |
| Jer 16:17 | God's eyes are on all their ways: | God's omnipresence and omniscience (Prov 15:3) |
| Jer 16:17 | nothing hidden from him, | No thought hidden from God (Ps 94:11) |
| Jer 16:17 | nor their iniquity concealed: | God sees sin (1 Sam 16:7) |
| Ps 139:1-4 | O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit and when I rise; you discern my thoughts from afar. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! | God's knowledge of man |
| Prov 5:21 | For a man's ways are before the LORD, and he makes straight all his paths. | God's surveillance of human paths |
| Prov 15:3 | The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. | God's constant watchfulness |
| Heb 4:13 | And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. | All is revealed to God |
| Jer 2:22 | Though you wash yourself with lye and use much soap, the stain of your iniquity is before me, declares the Lord GOD. | God sees the stain of sin |
| Jer 3:20 | ...but as a treacherous wife forsakes her husband, so have you dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, declares the LORD. | God's awareness of betrayal |
| Jer 7:23-24 | But this command I gave them, ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in thestubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward. | God's knowledge of disobedience |
| Jer 11:20 | But, O LORD of hosts, you judge righteously; you test the heart and the mind, O righteous God. | God's testing of heart and mind |
| Jer 17:9-10 | The heart is more deceitful than all else, and is 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. | God's deep knowledge of the heart |
| Jer 32:19 | great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, to give to each according to his way and according to the fruit of his deeds. | God's all-seeing knowledge and justice |
| Eze 9:4-6 | and the LORD said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are done in it.” And to the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him, and strike. Let not your eye spare, nor your pity be for the elders, the young men, and the young women, the mothers and the children. But touch no one on whom is the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the elders. | God distinguishing those who lament sin |
| Mt 6:4 | but when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, | Secret good deeds recognized by God |
| Mt 6:18 | so that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who is in secret will reward you. | Secret devotion rewarded by God |
| Lk 8:17 | For nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. | All hidden things will be revealed |
| 1 Cor 4:5 | Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the hearts. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. | God disclosing hidden purposes |
| Rev 2:23 | I will put her children to death, and all the churches the churches shall know that I am he who searches hearts, and I will give to each of you according to your works. | God's searching of hearts and judgment based on works |
Jeremiah 16 verses
Jeremiah 16 17 Meaning
My eyes are upon all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their iniquity concealed from my sight. This verse emphasizes God's omniscience. His gaze penetrates all human actions and intentions, leaving nothing hidden or secret from His perfect knowledge.
Jeremiah 16 17 Context
Jeremiah 16:17 is part of a broader message of judgment and eventual restoration for Israel. In chapter 16, Jeremiah is commanded to refrain from marriage, funerals, and feasts, symbolizing the coming desolation of Jerusalem and the exiles of its people due to their pervasive sin. This specific verse serves as the underlying reason for God’s severe judgment: His perfect knowledge of their transgressions. He sees all their hidden iniquity and ways, meaning no sin, no matter how secretive, escapes His notice or judgment. This foreknowledge and observation is the foundation upon which the subsequent pronouncements of divine action are based.
Jeremiah 16 17 Word Analysis
כִּי (ki) - "for," "because," "that." Introduces the reason or explanation for God's actions or His absolute knowledge.
עֵינַי (einai) - "my eyes." Refers to God's constant and attentive perception. It implies more than mere sight; it suggests active observation, scrutiny, and awareness.
עַל (al) - "upon," "on," "over." Indicates the direction of God's gaze and attention.
כָּל (kol) - "all," "every." Emphasizes the comprehensiveness of God's sight. No part of human conduct is excluded.
דַּרְכָּם (darkam) - "their way," "their paths," "their conduct." This refers to their lifestyle, their deeds, their moral and spiritual course.
כִּי (ki) - "for," "that," "indeed." Continues the statement of certainty about God's knowledge.
לֹא (lo) - "not." A strong negation.
יִסָּתְרוּ (yistattru) - "they are hidden," "they may be hidden" (niphal, imperfect). From the root סתר (satar), meaning "to hide" or "be hidden." This speaks to the futility of human attempts to conceal actions or motives from God.
מִמֶּנִּי (mimmeni) - "from me." Direct prepositional phrase indicating the source from which their ways are not hidden.
וְ (ve) - "and." A conjunction connecting the previous statement to the next.
עֲוֹנָם (avonam) - "their iniquity," "their guilt," "their transgression." This word carries a sense of moral perversity and the resultant guilt. It points to a deeper, habitual sinfulness.
לֹא (lo) - "not." Another strong negation.
יְכֻסּוּ (yekhusshu) - "they are concealed," "they may be concealed" (niphal, imperfect). From the root כסה (kasah), meaning "to cover" or "conceal." Similar to "yistattru," it highlights the impossibility of hiding sin from God.
מִ (mi) - "from," "out of." Used here with "my sight."
עֵינַי (einai) - "my eyes." Reiterates the source of this comprehensive perception.
Groups of words:
- "My eyes are upon all their ways" - This phrase captures God's pervasive surveillance, observing not just overt actions but the totality of their life's path and choices.
- "they are not hidden from me" - Emphasizes God's omnipresent knowledge, indicating that human attempts to shield actions or motives from His sight are utterly ineffective.
- "nor is their iniquity concealed from my sight" - Specifically addresses their sinfulness, assuring that even the most secret or perverse acts of their rebellion are fully exposed to God's view.
Jeremiah 16 17 Bonus Section
This verse connects deeply with the concept of divine accountability and judgment, a recurring theme in Jeremiah. God's eyes being on all their ways signifies that no outward piety can hide inner rebellion, nor can hidden sins remain undetected. This omniscience is also the basis for God's promise of future restoration; because He knows their present state completely, He can accurately address their needs in the future. The specific Hebrew verbs for "hidden" and "concealed" (yistattru, yekhusshu) suggest a willful intent to keep their sin secret, which makes the unassailability of God's sight even more impactful. The use of "iniquity" (avon) points to a deep-seated corruption, not just isolated acts, which God is fully aware of.
Jeremiah 16 17 Commentary
Jeremiah 16:17 powerfully conveys the doctrine of God's omniscience. The prophet assures the people of Israel that their hidden sins and the patterns of their rebellion are fully known to God. This is not just an abstract theological statement; it is the foundational justification for the coming judgment announced in this chapter. God's detailed awareness of their ways and iniquity means that His retribution is just and inevitable. The verse is echoed in the New Testament with Christ's teachings that nothing is truly hidden and all will be revealed (Luke 8:17) and that God searches the heart (1 Cor 4:5, Rev 2:23). This comprehensive knowledge underscores God's unwavering faithfulness to judge sin and His ultimate understanding of human affairs. It's a call to acknowledge God's sovereignty and the accountability that comes with it, reminding believers that even private actions have divine witnesses.