Jeremiah 17 4

Jeremiah 17:4 kjv

And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.

Jeremiah 17:4 nkjv

And you, even yourself, Shall let go of your heritage which I gave you; And I will cause you to serve your enemies In the land which you do not know; For you have kindled a fire in My anger which shall burn forever."

Jeremiah 17:4 niv

Through your own fault you will lose the inheritance I gave you. I will enslave you to your enemies in a land you do not know, for you have kindled my anger, and it will burn forever."

Jeremiah 17:4 esv

You shall loosen your hand from your heritage that I gave to you, and I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever."

Jeremiah 17:4 nlt

The wonderful possession I have reserved for you
will slip from your hands.
I will tell your enemies to take you
as captives to a foreign land.
For my anger blazes like a fire
that will burn forever."

Jeremiah 17 verses

Jeremiah 17 4 Meaning

Jeremiah 17:4 is a powerful declaration of divine judgment against Judah. It foretells that as a consequence of their persistent unfaithfulness and idolatry, the people of Judah will be forcefully separated from their divinely-granted inheritance – the land of Israel. They will be compelled to serve their enemies in an unfamiliar foreign land. This severe punishment is directly attributed to their actions which have provoked God's righteous anger, igniting a judgment that carries lasting and profound consequences. The verse underscores God's justice in responding to covenant violations with severe, yet warranted, disciplinary action.

Jeremiah 17 4 Context

Jeremiah 17:4 sits within a larger prophetic indictment against Judah and Jerusalem, particularly addressing their pervasive sin of idolatry and lack of genuine trust in God. The chapter begins by detailing how Judah's sin is deeply ingrained, "engraved with an iron pen" (Jer 17:1), even on their altars. The people have effectively forgotten God, pursuing false gods and setting up Asherim (Jer 17:2). This deep-seated spiritual apostasy leads to a vivid contrast in Jeremiah 17:5-8, where a cursed state for those who trust in man is compared to a blessed state for those who trust in the Lord. Judah has clearly chosen the former path. Thus, verse 4 functions as the direct pronouncement of the inevitable divine punishment that stems from such unfaithfulness. Historically, Jeremiah ministered during the tumultuous final decades of the Kingdom of Judah, predicting the looming Babylonian exile—a catastrophic event that would indeed strip Judah of its land, Temple, and sovereignty. The verse serves as a chilling preview of the ultimate historical outcome of their national idolatry and covenant breaking.

Jeremiah 17 4 Word analysis

• You shall loosen your hand: The Hebrew verb וְשָׁמַטְתָּ (yə·šā·maṭ·tā) is Hiphil and relates to letting go, releasing, or allowing something to fall. It implies not merely losing something, but being forced to release one's grip, emphasizing an involuntary act driven by a higher power (God). It also resonates with the concept of the shemitah year, where land is "let go" for rest. Here, it is the land of inheritance that must be let go.

• from your heritage: The Hebrew word מִנַּחֲלָתְךָ (min·na·ḥă·lā·ṯə·ḵā), naḥalah, is crucial. It signifies a divinely-bestowed inheritance, specifically the Promised Land of Canaan given by God to Israel through Abraham. It's more than just property; it's central to their national and spiritual identity as God's covenant people.

• that I gave to you: This phrase highlights God's ownership and benevolence. The land was not earned but was a sovereign gift, making its loss all the more profound as a direct revocation of divine favor due to unfaithfulness.

• and I will make you serve: The Hebrew וְהַעֲבַדְתִּיךָ (wə·ha·‘ă·ḇaḏ·tî·ḵā) is a Hiphil form of 'ābad ("to serve"). This active causation by God signifies that the subjugation by enemies is not merely misfortune but a direct, deliberate act of divine judgment. God actively orchestrated their enslavement as part of the covenant curses.

• your enemies: The clear identification of "enemies" underlines the precise nature of the judgment – humiliation and oppression by foreign powers, fulfilling covenant warnings.

• in a land that you do not know: This emphasizes the dislocation and foreignness of their impending exile. It represents a complete loss of cultural, religious, and personal security, thrusting them into an unfamiliar and often hostile environment, reminiscent of the Abrahamic promise being reversed.

• for you have kindled: The Hebrew כִּי־אַתֶּם הִבְעַרְתֶּם (kî-’at·tem hiḇ·‘ar·tem) functions as a causal conjunction, directly attributing the consequence to the actions of the people ("you"). The verb הִבְעַרְתֶּם (hiḇ·‘ar·tem) means to cause to burn, to kindle a fire. It powerfully illustrates their active role in provoking God's anger.

• a fire in my anger: The metaphor of "fire in my anger" (אֵשׁ בְּאַפִּי, ’êš bə·’ap·pî) vividly portrays God's wrath as a destructive, consuming force. ‘ap (אף) literally means "nose" and metaphorically signifies intense anger (flaring nostrils).

• that will burn forever: The phrase תּוּקַד עַד־עוֹלָם (tū·qaḏ ‘aḏ-‘ō·lām) uses ‘olam, which can denote eternity, perpetual duration, or a long, complete period, depending on context. In this prophetic warning, it signifies a judgment that is not fleeting but carries profound, irreversible, and enduring consequences that will fundamentally reshape Israel's existence for an indefinite and complete historical period, even though the literal exile eventually ended. It highlights the depth and seriousness of God's righteous judgment and its permanent effect on the covenant relationship as previously known.

• You shall loosen your hand from your heritage: This grouping powerfully depicts an involuntary, painful relinquishment of something profoundly cherished and divinely given, not as a willing act but as a forceful outcome.

• I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know: This describes the complete reversal of God's covenant blessings (freedom from slavery, possession of the land) into curses (enslavement, exile to an unknown land), explicitly stating God's active hand in this judgment.

• for you have kindled a fire in my anger that will burn forever: This emphasizes the direct cause-and-effect relationship, establishing that Judah's actions of idolatry and covenant breach directly resulted in provoking God's consuming wrath, whose consequences would be devastating and long-lasting.

Jeremiah 17 4 Bonus section

• The collective "you" (second-person plural in Hebrew) throughout the verse addresses the entire nation of Judah, emphasizing their corporate responsibility and shared fate in judgment.
• The pronouncement of losing their naḥalah (heritage) stands as a profound theological irony and reversal. The very land promised and granted through divine grace and faithfulness is revoked due to human unfaithfulness, demonstrating God's consistent character rather than any change in His nature.
• The phrase "a land that you do not know" resonates deeply with the early narratives of Abraham, who was called to leave a familiar land for a promised, unknown one (Gen 12:1). Here, the nation of Judah is forced back into a state of unfamiliarity, a painful undoing of the foundational promise, symbolizing complete alienation from their covenant blessings.

Jeremiah 17 4 Commentary

Jeremiah 17:4 serves as a stern theological cornerstone in the prophetic understanding of judgment. It highlights God's unyielding commitment to justice and His covenant. The divine gift of the land, central to Israel's identity, was conditional upon obedience. When Judah repeatedly chose to violate this covenant through idolatry, trusting in human strength, and spiritual apostasy, the consequence was the reversal of blessings. God, who gave the inheritance, also possesses the right and power to remove it. The active language of "I will make you serve" underscores that this exile and servitude are not random misfortunes but purposeful acts of God's sovereign hand, responding to their sin. The notion that they "kindled a fire in my anger" unequivocally places responsibility on Judah's choices. This "fire" of anger, burning "forever," indicates not an unending physical flame for the historical exile, but a judgment so complete, so profound, and so impactful that its consequences would permanently alter the course of their national and spiritual history, setting a precedent for future generations. This verse teaches that God's covenant blessings are tied to faithful adherence, and disobedience elicits a severe, lasting divine response that fulfills ancient curses. It stands as a stark warning: God will not tolerate chronic sin, even among His chosen people, without enacting profound discipline.