Jeremiah 17 18

Jeremiah 17:18 kjv

Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.

Jeremiah 17:18 nkjv

Let them be ashamed who persecute me, But do not let me be put to shame; Let them be dismayed, But do not let me be dismayed. Bring on them the day of doom, And destroy them with double destruction!

Jeremiah 17:18 niv

Let my persecutors be put to shame, but keep me from shame; let them be terrified, but keep me from terror. Bring on them the day of disaster; destroy them with double destruction.

Jeremiah 17:18 esv

Let those be put to shame who persecute me, but let me not be put to shame; let them be dismayed, but let me not be dismayed; bring upon them the day of disaster; destroy them with double destruction!

Jeremiah 17:18 nlt

Bring shame and dismay on all who persecute me,
but don't let me experience shame and dismay.
Bring a day of terror on them.
Yes, bring double destruction upon them!

Jeremiah 17 18 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Jer 17:18Let them be confounded that persecute me; but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed:Jeremiah 1:19 (God promises protection)
Jer 17:18...let them be driven away...Psalm 6:10 (Prayer for confounding of enemies)
Jer 17:18...let them be driven away...Psalm 35:4 (Prayer for confounding and shame of enemies)
Jer 17:18Let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed:Psalm 112:7 (Righteous shall not be dismayed)
Jer 17:18let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed:Psalm 13:4 (Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him)
Jer 17:18...let them be struck down...Psalm 7:16 (He shall... bring down his own head)
Jer 17:18...let them be struck down...Psalm 35:26 (Let them be put to shame and brought to confusion)
Jer 17:18...let them be struck down...Psalm 40:14 (Let them be ashamed and confounded together)
Jer 17:18...let them be struck down...Isaiah 14:12 (How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!)
Jer 17:18...let them be consumed...Job 15:23 (He knoweth that the day of darkness is ready at his ready.)
Jer 17:18...let them be consumed...Psalm 83:17 (Let them be confounded and troubled for ever)
Jer 17:18...let them be consumed...Jeremiah 10:11 (Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish)
Jer 17:18...let them be consumed...Jeremiah 17:4 (shall burn all her trees with fire, and her gates with fire)
Jer 17:18and a fire that shall consume them.Leviticus 10:2 (fire went out from the LORD, and devoured them)
Jer 17:18and a fire that shall consume them.Numbers 16:35 (fire came out from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men)
Jer 17:18and a fire that shall consume them.Psalm 11:6 (Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone)
Jer 17:18and a fire that shall consume them.Jeremiah 4:4 (lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it)
Jer 17:18but let not me be dismayed:Jeremiah 15:20 (I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee)
Jer 17:18but let not me be dismayed:2 Corinthians 4:9 (Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed)
Jer 17:18but let not me be dismayed:Philippians 1:20 (that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body)

Jeremiah 17 verses

Jeremiah 17 18 Meaning

This verse describes Jeremiah's plea to God for retribution against his persecutors. It is a prayer for divine intervention to deal with those who have wronged him, specifically by allowing them to be struck down and consumed by the enemy. The underlying theme is seeking justice from God for severe suffering inflicted by adversaries.

Jeremiah 17 18 Context

Jeremiah 17 is a chapter rich with declarations about Judah's sin and impending judgment. The prophet has just described the ingrained sinfulness of the people, likening it to the indelible marks of a pen on parchment (v. 1). He laments their rejection of God and their reliance on human strength and wisdom, predicting desolation for the nation because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters (vv. 5-13).

The preceding verses (14-17) show Jeremiah's personal distress over this prophetic message and the persecution he faces from his own people. He expresses his pain, his confusion, and his reliance on God for protection, declaring that God alone is his hope and salvation.

Therefore, Jeremiah 17:18 is a direct continuation of Jeremiah's cry to God concerning his adversaries. It reflects the prophet's deep suffering and his unwavering faith that God will vindicate him and bring righteous judgment upon those who oppose His word.

Jeremiah 17 18 Word Analysis

  • "Let them be confounded": (Hebrew: bowsh) - signifies shame, disgrace, confusion, and being put to shame. It's a prayer for the enemy's public humiliation.
  • "that persecute me": (Hebrew: rôdêp̄îm) - describes active pursuit, oppression, and relentless antagonism.
  • "but let not me be confounded": This is a parallel plea for personal preservation from shame and disgrace in the face of persecution.
  • "let them be dismayed": (Hebrew: shammû) - meaning to be astonished, devastated, struck with terror or fear. It expresses a desire for their defeat and demoralization.
  • "but let not me be dismayed": Another plea for steadfastness and courage in the midst of fear.
  • "let them be driven away": (Hebrew: nāhaggêm) - implies being repelled, pushed back, or routed.
  • "with a second destruction" / "and let them be consumed": (Hebrew: šĕbĕr šĕnî wĕmeqalla - the exact phrasing here can be a point of study, with some translations rendering it differently, but the sense is of severe ruin and consumption. "With a second breach" or "and consume them," indicating total annihilation.) The idea of a consuming fire is strong imagery for divine judgment.

Jeremiah 17 18 Bonus Section

This verse is an example of imprecatory language in the Psalms and Prophets, where the sufferer calls down God's wrath upon their enemies. While it may seem harsh, scholars suggest it represents a form of honest prayer, bringing all emotions, including anger and a desire for justice, before God. The emphasis is on God's ultimate sovereignty and His role as the judge. The distinction Jeremiah makes—"let them be confounded, but let not me be confounded"—is crucial; he seeks God's justice against his enemies, but wants personal integrity and continued trust in God, not personal triumph over them in a human sense, but divine vindication through their defeat by God's power. The prayer is for the justice of God to be manifest, ultimately leading to a greater witness for God, not the prophet's personal vengeance.

Jeremiah 17 18 Commentary

Jeremiah's plea in this verse is an outcry born of intense personal suffering at the hands of those who opposed God's message. It reflects a lamentation and a desperate appeal for divine intervention, a common theme in the Psalms. The prophet desires that his persecutors experience shame, confusion, and defeat, while he himself remains unashamed and unwavering in his faith. The mention of "a fire that shall consume them" is a potent metaphor for God's judgment, indicating utter destruction for the wicked. This verse highlights the intense spiritual battle Jeremiah faced and his ultimate reliance on God's justice rather than his own strength to overcome opposition. It shows a human prophet wrestling with injustice but ultimately trusting in God's sovereign power to act.