Jeremiah 17 1

Jeremiah 17:1 kjv

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;

Jeremiah 17:1 nkjv

"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,

Jeremiah 17:1 niv

"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.

Jeremiah 17:1 esv

"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,

Jeremiah 17:1 nlt

"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.

Jeremiah 17 verses

Jeremiah 17 1 Meaning

Jeremiah 17:1 conveys that the sin of Judah is so deeply ingrained and profoundly pervasive that it is permanently etched into the very core of their being—their "heart"—and visibly manifested through their idolatrous practices on the "horns of their altars." This imagery emphasizes an indelible, undeniable record of their transgression, signaling a profound state of spiritual apostasy and impending judgment.

Jeremiah 17 1 Context

Jeremiah 17:1 stands at the opening of a significant section detailing Judah's deep-seated apostasy and the consequences thereof. Chapters 16-20 extensively discuss Judah's guilt and impending judgment, directly linked to their persistent idolatry and refusal to trust Yahweh alone. Historically, Jeremiah prophesied during a period of spiritual decline in Judah, particularly under kings like Jehoiakim, who reversed Josiah's earlier reforms. The people's religious practices were syncretistic, mixing the worship of Yahweh with pagan cults like Baal and Asherah, evident even within the temple precincts. This verse underscores that Judah's sin isn't merely external action but an internalized rebellion, woven into the fabric of their identity and publicly expressed in their distorted worship, leaving no room for denial. It contrasts starkly with God's original intention for His law to be written on their hearts (Deut 6:6).

Jeremiah 17 1 Word analysis

• The sin (חַטָּאת, ḥaṭṭaʾt): Signifies not just a single act, but the accumulated moral failure, guilt, and the very condition of alienation from God. It refers to missing the mark of God's covenant expectations, a deliberate transgression that defines Judah's state.

• of Judah (יְהוּדָה, yəhūdāh): Specifically points to the southern kingdom, God's chosen covenant people. This emphasizes their heightened responsibility and the tragedy of their departure from Him.

• is written (כְּתוּבָה, kəṯūḇāh): Indicates that the act of recording is complete and established. The verb implies a permanent and undeniable record, not something that can be erased or forgotten.

• with a pen of iron (בְּעֵט בַּרְזֶל, bəʿēṭ barzel): A stylus made of iron, an exceptionally hard instrument used for engraving on stone or metal. This signifies the strength, force, and absolute permanence with which the sin is inscribed. It cannot be altered or removed.

• with a point of diamond (בְּצִפֹּרֶן שָׁמִיר, bəṣippōren šāmîr): Ṣippōren can mean 'fingernail', 'claw', or 'point/stylus tip'. Šāmîr refers to a hard, crystalline stone, like diamond or adamantine, known for its cutting properties. This hyperbolic imagery underscores the unparalleled hardness and cutting power, ensuring the engraving is maximally deep and utterly impossible to erase.

• it is engraved (חֲרוּשָׁה, ḥarûšâ): A stronger term than "written," implying a deep cutting, carving, or furrowing. It emphasizes an indelible, sunk-in mark, distinct from mere surface writing.

• on the tablet of their heart (עַל-לוּחַ לִבָּם, ʿal-lûaḥ libbām): Metaphorically, the "heart" (lēḇ) in biblical thought is the center of one's intellect, will, emotions, and moral decision-making—the entire inner being. A "tablet" is a surface for permanent inscription. This imagery signifies that Judah's sin isn't merely external, but is internal, deeply ingrained in their identity, and dictates their desires and actions.

• and on the horns of your altars (וְעַל קַרְנוֹת מִזְבְּחוֹתֵיכֶם, wəʿal qarnôt mizbəḥôṯêḵem): The "horns" were prominent, often projecting corners of an altar, central to sacrificial rituals and places of asylum. Smeared with blood in atonement, here they become places for engraving sin. This represents the public, physical, and ritual manifestation of their sin, particularly their pervasive idolatry, where the altars themselves bear the mark of their apostasy.

• Words-group by words-group analysis

  • "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with a point of diamond it is engraved": This parallelism, employing both "pen of iron" and "point of diamond," alongside "written" and "engraved," creates an exceptionally potent image of an absolutely permanent and undeniable record. It doubles the emphasis on the unerasable nature of Judah's guilt. The tools highlight deliberate and profound inscription, ensuring that their transgression is forever fixed.
  • "on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of your altars": This phrase details the two crucial locations of this permanent inscription. The "tablet of their heart" points to the internalization and spiritual corruption—their inner being is defiled. The "horns of your altars" points to the external, public, and religious manifestation—their very acts of worship (or false worship) stand as undeniable evidence against them. This juxtaposition shows the totality of their sin, encompassing both their inward character and their outward religious expression.

Jeremiah 17 1 Bonus section

• Polemics Against False Piety: This verse acts as a severe polemic against any notion of superficial repentance or relying on outward religious forms while the heart remains uncommitted. Judah’s "altars," intended for propitiation, become symbols of their very rebellion, directly challenging the efficacy of their cultic practices without true inward devotion.
• Contrast to Covenant Ideals: The "tablet of their heart" is a striking perversion of a key Deuteronomic concept (Deut 6:6-9), where God commanded His law to be cherished and internalized. Instead of God's commands, their own sin has taken root, setting up the profound necessity for a new covenant (Jer 31:33) where God would sovereignly write His law anew upon cleansed hearts.
• Material Culture Significance: The mention of precise tools like an "iron pen" and "diamond point" would have resonated with an ancient audience familiar with various writing and engraving technologies, understanding the distinct implications of permanence for each. It underscored that this was not merely ink that could fade but a deep, irreversible mark.

Jeremiah 17 1 Commentary

Jeremiah 17:1 delivers a powerful indictment of Judah, illustrating the gravity and pervasiveness of their sin. The imagery of "iron pen" and "diamond point" relentlessly inscribing their transgressions is one of absolute permanence; this record cannot be erased by superficial rituals or feigned repentance. The twin locations for this inscription—the "tablet of their heart" and "horns of your altars"—reveal the comprehensive nature of their apostasy. Their sin is not just external acts but an internal, core condition, guiding their thoughts and desires, directly contradicting the ideal of God's law being written on the heart. Simultaneously, it manifests publicly and unapologetically on the very altars intended for sacred worship, which have become polluted with pagan rites. Thus, their religious life itself bears witness to their rebellion. This verse sets the stage for Jeremiah's subsequent prophecies of judgment, highlighting that Judah's unfaithfulness is deeply rooted, systemic, and utterly undeniable before God.