Jeremiah 17:17 kjv
Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil.
Jeremiah 17:17 nkjv
Do not be a terror to me; You are my hope in the day of doom.
Jeremiah 17:17 niv
Do not be a terror to me; you are my refuge in the day of disaster.
Jeremiah 17:17 esv
Be not a terror to me; you are my refuge in the day of disaster.
Jeremiah 17:17 nlt
LORD, don't terrorize me!
You alone are my hope in the day of disaster.
Jeremiah 17 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Psa 46:1 | God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. | God as present refuge in trouble. |
| Psa 91:2 | I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress..." | Confession of God as personal refuge. |
| Psa 62:7-8 | On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. | God as personal salvation, strength, and refuge. |
| Deut 33:27 | The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. | God as an eternal and secure dwelling. |
| Prov 18:10 | The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run into it and are safe. | The Lord's name as a secure refuge. |
| Psa 20:1 | May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob protect you. | Prayer for deliverance in trouble. |
| Psa 50:15 | Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you will honor Me. | God's promise to deliver when called upon. |
| Zeph 1:15 | That day is a day of wrath, A day of trouble and distress... | Description of a coming day of calamity. |
| Lam 3:57-58 | You came near when I called You... You, O Lord, have pleaded my soul's cause... | God's help when facing overwhelming fear. |
| Psa 71:1 | In You, O LORD, I take refuge; Let me never be put to shame. | Plea for refuge to avoid shame. |
| Psa 143:9 | Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; I take refuge in You. | Plea for deliverance, acknowledging God as refuge. |
| Jer 15:15-18 | O LORD, You understand; Remember me... for Your sake I endure insult. | Jeremiah's earlier personal lament and plea for remembrance. |
| 2 Tim 3:12 | Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. | Expectation of persecution for godliness. |
| Psa 69:7 | For Your sake I have borne reproach; Dishonor has covered my face. | Suffering for God's sake. |
| Rom 5:5 | And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out... | The certainty of hope in God. |
| Heb 6:18-19 | ...we who have taken refuge in Him will have strong encouragement... our hope as an anchor... | Finding strong encouragement and an anchor in God as refuge. |
| Isa 41:10 | Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. | God's command not to fear, promising His presence. |
| Isa 43:2 | When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. | God's promised presence and protection in trials. |
| 2 Cor 1:3-4 | Blessed be... God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction. | God as the source of comfort in affliction. |
| Psa 118:8 | It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. | Contrasting God's reliability with human unreliability. |
| Psa 39:7 | And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You. | Expressing hope in God as the only expectation. |
| Psa 130:5-6 | I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I hope. | Patient hope anchored in God's word. |
| Psa 77:2 | In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord... | Seeking God directly in times of distress. |
Jeremiah 17 verses
Jeremiah 17 17 Meaning
The prophet Jeremiah earnestly entreats the Lord not to appear as a source of dread or dismay to him. Amidst his profound personal suffering and public scorn for delivering God's message, he affirms that God remains his absolute sanctuary and protective shelter in every time of intense adversity and calamity.
Jeremiah 17 17 Context
Jeremiah chapter 17 predominantly addresses Judah's pervasive sinfulness, especially their idolatry and reliance on human strength, contrasting it with the blessings of trusting the Lord (vv. 1-13). Verses 14-18 transition into a deeply personal prayer of Jeremiah. He is acutely aware of the imminent judgment upon Judah and faces intense mockery and persecution ("Where is the word of the LORD? Let it come now!" v.15) because of his unwavering faithfulness in delivering God's stern messages. The "day of evil" mentioned in this verse is multi-faceted, encompassing both the impending national catastrophe and Jeremiah's immediate, painful experience of rejection, isolation, and physical threats from his own people. In this distress, Jeremiah pours out his heart, desperately pleading that God, his ultimate hope, not seem to abandon him or contribute to his already profound terror.
Jeremiah 17 17 Word analysis
- אַל-תִּהְיֵה (al-tihyeh): This is a negative imperative, meaning "Do not be." It's a direct, earnest plea or command directed at God, reflecting Jeremiah's profound emotional state and crisis. The prophet is in such distress that he speaks forthrightly to his Creator, urging Him not to take on a perceived negative role.
- לִּי לְמְחִתָּה (li l'm'chittah): This translates as "a terror to me" or "for me for breaking/dread."
- לִּי (li): "to me," or "for me," emphasizing the personal impact on Jeremiah.
- לְמְחִתָּה (l'm'chittah): from the root חָתַת (chatath), meaning "to be shattered," "dismayed," "terrified." M'chittah refers to that which causes dismay, terror, ruin, or a source of shattering. Jeremiah is not accusing God of being evil, but he is expressing a plea that God does not become, or appear to be, a source of his undoing, adding to the overwhelming dread and fear already consuming him from the hostility of the people. It implies a struggle where God’s seeming absence or severity might be misconstrued as being against him.
- אַתָּה (attah): This is the emphatic personal pronoun, "You." By stating "You," Jeremiah strongly asserts God's identity as distinct from his fears, even as he articulates his struggle.
- מַחְסִי (machsi): "my refuge." This noun derives from חָסָה (chasah), "to seek shelter, take refuge." It signifies a personal, protective shelter, a place of safety and secure dwelling from danger or distress. The suffix "-i" makes it possessive: "my" refuge, highlighting a personal claim on God's protection.
- בְּיוֹם רָעָה (b'yom ra'ah): "in the day of evil/calamity."
- בְּיוֹם (b'yom): "in the day of," indicating a specific time or period.
- רָעָה (ra'ah): "evil," "calamity," "adversity," "misfortune," "distress." This word encapsulates all forms of suffering—wickedness, disaster, and profound trouble. For Jeremiah, this specifically refers to the national crisis of impending judgment, as well as his intense personal persecution, isolation, and anguish directly resulting from his prophetic mission.
- Words-Group Analysis:
- "Do not be a terror to me": This phrase captures the prophet’s human vulnerability and transparent honesty before God. Despite his knowledge of God's unchanging nature, his profound suffering leads him to cry out, not wanting to perceive God as an additional cause of his dread amidst persecution. It reflects the struggle to reconcile personal pain with divine faithfulness.
- "You are my refuge in the day of evil": This statement, following immediately, showcases Jeremiah's foundational faith and theological grounding. It serves as a declaration of absolute trust and an affirmation of God's unchanging character as the ultimate protector, regardless of current terrifying circumstances. This juxtaposition highlights a robust faith that expresses doubt and yet firmly anchors itself in ultimate truth.
Jeremiah 17 17 Bonus section
The structure of Jeremiah's plea in this verse—a negative imperative followed by an emphatic affirmative statement—reveals a theological paradox often encountered in deep faith. He appeals to God to not become something, yet simultaneously affirms what God truly is. This showcases a robust, mature faith that is capable of expressing profound personal struggle and fear, even the fear of divine displeasure or seeming abandonment, while holding firmly to an ultimate truth about God's protective and sustaining character. This reflects a relationship with God marked by candidness, rather than superficial piety. It is a powerful example of spiritual wrestling that does not deny distress but anchors itself in the unfailing nature of God.
Jeremiah 17 17 Commentary
Jeremiah 17:17 articulates a pivotal moment in the prophet's personal prayer life, revealing the intense spiritual tension experienced by one fully committed to God. Burdened by his unpopular, often grim, prophetic message, Jeremiah endured scorn, persecution, and isolation. His plea, "Do not be a terror to me," is a raw, honest expression of his deepest fear—that in his time of extreme need, God might seem to turn against him or add to his suffering, or perhaps that His very judgments feel overwhelming even to His loyal servant. Yet, this cry of vulnerability is immediately followed by a profound assertion of faith: "You are my refuge in the day of evil." This isn't mere hope; it's a declaration of God's unchanging character, a statement of unwavering conviction that even when God's ways are perceived as terrifying or inscrutable, He remains the steadfast sanctuary. The verse encourages believers to wrestle honestly with God during overwhelming distress, always returning to the core truth of His nature as an unwavering protector, particularly when the external "day of evil" presses in. It demonstrates that faith doesn't deny pain or fear but channels it towards the ultimate Source of security.