Jeremiah 17:11 kjv
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.
Jeremiah 17:11 nkjv
"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."
Jeremiah 17:11 niv
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.
Jeremiah 17:11 esv
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.
Jeremiah 17:11 nlt
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.
Jeremiah 17 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 17:11 | "As a partridge sits on eggs which she did not lay, So is he who gets riches, but not by right; They will leave him in the midst of his days, And at his end he will be a fool." | Primary Verse |
| Proverbs 28:20 | "A faithful man abounds with blessings, But he who hastens to be rich will not be innocent." | Warning against hasty wealth |
| Proverbs 13:11 | "Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished, but he that gathereth by the hand shall increase it." | Futility of ill-gotten gain |
| Habakkuk 2:6-8 | "Shall not all these take up a proverb against him, And a taunting riddle against him, and say, 'Woe to him who increases What is not his— How long? And to him who heaps up for himself what he does not owe! …'" | Woe to the exploiter |
| Luke 12:15 | "And He said to them, 'Take heed and beware of [c]covetousness, for no one’s life is in the abundance of the things he possesses.'" | Warning against covetousness |
| Ecclesiastes 5:10 | "He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver, Nor he who loves abundance with increase. This also is vanity." | Insatiable desire for wealth |
| Psalm 107:42 | "The righteous see it and rejoice, And all iniquity stops its mouth." | Wickedness brought to an end |
| Job 20:19-20 | "Because he has oppressed and forsaken the poor, Because he has violently taken a house which he did not build, 'His riches will he not restore, Nor will he be content with all his treasure, Because of all his plunder he cannot bear anything...'" | Repercussions of oppression |
| Matthew 6:19-20 | "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven..." | Heavenly treasure versus earthly |
| 1 Timothy 6:10 | "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." | Dangers of loving money |
| 1 Timothy 6:17-19 | "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be high-minded, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." | Righteous use of riches |
| Deuteronomy 8:18 | "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day." | God as the source of wealth |
| Hosea 12:7-8 | "He is a merchant; the scales of deceit are in his hand; He loves to oppress. Yet he says, 'Surely I have become rich; I have found treasure for myself; In all my labor they can find no iniquity in me which would be sin.'" | Deception and oppression |
| James 5:1-3 | "Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a testimony against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days." | Judgment on the wealthy oppressor |
| Psalm 37:16 | "A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked." | Righteousness over abundance |
| Malachi 3:5 | "And I will come near to you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and their widows and the fatherless, and against those who turn aside the righteous unjustly, because they do not fear Me,' says the LORD of hosts." | Judgment on injustice |
| Luke 6:20b | "... Blessed are you who are poor, For yours is the kingdom of God." | Blessing on the poor |
| Proverbs 1:19 | "So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners." | Greed taking life |
| Isaiah 5:8 | "Woe to those who join house to house; who lay field to field; till there is no room left, and you are made to dwell alone in the midst of the land!" | Greed for land/property |
| Amos 8:4-6 | "Hear this, you who swallow the needy, To make the poor of the land fail... That we may buy the weak for silver, And the needy for a pair of sandals, Even the refuse of the wheat we will sell." | Exploiting the vulnerable |
Jeremiah 17 verses
Jeremiah 17 11 Meaning
The verse speaks of acquiring ill-gotten wealth, comparing it to eggs left uncovered by a bird. Such gains are temporary and ultimately leave the one who possesses them empty and lacking true security. This describes a fleeting prosperity that will ultimately be lost.
Jeremiah 17 11 Context
Jeremiah 17 is part of the prophetic message of judgment against Judah for their persistent sin and idolatry. Chapter 17 highlights the deeply ingrained corruption of the people, particularly their reliance on human strength and apostasy from God. The verse is embedded within a section where Jeremiah is addressing the "house of Judah," and it serves as a potent illustration of the consequences of seeking prosperity through unrighteous means, contrasting it with the true blessedness found in trusting the Lord. Historically, this period was marked by Judah's unfaithfulness, even during times of external pressure from powerful empires. The prophet’s words would have been understood by an audience deeply familiar with agricultural life and the predictable, yet often vulnerable, nature of birds' nests.
Jeremiah 17 11 Word analysis
“As a partridge sits on eggs which she did not lay”:
- Partridge: The Hebrew word is qōrē (קֹרֵא), related to qārā' (קָרָא), meaning "to call" or "to cry." Partridges were known for their habit of stealing other birds' eggs and sitting on them as if they were their own. This evokes imagery of illegitimacy and deceit.
- “Sits on eggs”: This signifies taking possession or control.
- “Which she did not lay”: Emphasizes illegitimacy, unearned possession, and stolen gain.
“So is he who gets riches, but not by right”:
- “So is he”: A direct comparison, making the simile applicable to people.
- “gets riches”: Hebrew kōnes (כֹּנֵס), meaning "gatherer" or "one who amasses wealth."
- “not by right”: The Hebrew is bə-lōʿāśûm (בְּלֹא־עֹשֶׁם). ʿĀśá (עָשַׂם) can mean "to enrich," "to gather wealth." Lə-bəlo (לְבִלְתִּי or בְּלֹא) means "not." The phrase denotes wealth obtained unjustly, unlawfully, or through deceitful means.
“They will leave him in the midst of his days”:
- “They”: Refers to the riches.
- “will leave him”: Implies abandonment and loss.
- “in the midst of his days”: Suggests premature loss, dying before one's time, or being deprived of the enjoyment of wealth during the prime of life.
“And at his end he will be a fool”:
- “at his end”: Referring to his ultimate demise or final outcome.
- “fool”: Hebrew kesîl (כְּסִיל), which denotes someone lacking wisdom, foolishness, obstinacy. The foolishness lies in trusting and accumulating that which cannot ultimately sustain or satisfy.
Word-group analysis: The verse contrasts legitimate stewardship and God-given prosperity with ill-gotten and fleeting gain. The image of the partridge emphasizes the inherent deceit and illegitimate nature of such wealth, leading to eventual desolation and a recognition of ultimate folly.
Jeremiah 17 11 Bonus Section
The imagery of the partridge highlights an important aspect of ancient Near Eastern beliefs regarding ownership and prosperity. Often, success in agriculture and wealth was tied to divine favor. To gain wealth unjustly was to defy the natural order and the decreed favor of God. The prophecy reflects a moral accountability that undergirds the covenant relationship between God and His people. The contrast implies that while God is the source of legitimate increase (Deuteronomy 8:18), His blessings are contingent upon righteous behavior. The foolishness of the man in the verse is a spiritual foolishness—a misunderstanding of what constitutes true value and lasting security, placing faith in fleeting material wealth instead of the eternal God.
Jeremiah 17 11 Commentary
Jeremiah 17:11 offers a profound insight into the nature of true prosperity versus superficial accumulation. The analogy of the partridge is powerful: it claims eggs it did not produce, a stark representation of wealth obtained through unfair means, deceit, or exploitation. Such riches are ultimately unstable and temporary, like the stolen eggs, and will be lost, leaving the individual devoid of substance. The verse warns that attempting to secure one's life and comfort through such dishonest acquisitions results in a premature loss and a final accounting that reveals utter foolishness. True wealth, as illuminated by broader biblical themes, comes from obedience to God, righteous living, and a dependence on Him, rather than illicit gain. It is a call to a wisdom that understands true security is not in material possessions but in one's relationship with God.
- Practical application: Individuals are cautioned against prioritizing financial gain over ethical conduct. Pursuing wealth through shortcuts, dishonesty, or exploiting others leads to eventual emptiness, despite any perceived immediate success. True contentment and lasting security are found in integrity and trusting God's provision.