Jeremiah 17:9 kjv
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Jeremiah 17:9 nkjv
"The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
Jeremiah 17:9 niv
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
Jeremiah 17:9 esv
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Jeremiah 17:9 nlt
"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,
and desperately wicked.
Who really knows how bad it is?
Jeremiah 17 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 17:9 | The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can know it? | Jeremiah 17:9 |
| Romans 3:10-12 | No one is righteous, not even one; no one understands; no one seeks God. | Moral depravity |
| Genesis 6:5 | The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth... | Original sin's pervasive nature |
| Genesis 8:21 | Every inclination of the heart of man is evil from his youth. | Pervasive corruption from youth |
| Proverbs 28:26 | Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool... | Folly of self-reliance |
| Mark 7:21-23 | From within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality... | Source of sin |
| Ecclesiastes 9:3 | ... madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they join the dead. | Heart's inclinations and death |
| 2 Chronicles 19:3 | ... the good is not found in you. | National sin and judgment |
| Jeremiah 17:10 | I the Lord search the heart and test the mind... | God's sovereign knowledge of heart |
| Psalm 139:23-24 | Search me, O God, and know my heart... | Prayer for God's examination |
| Isaiah 29:14 | ... their wisdom will perish, and their understanding will be hidden. | Judgment on human wisdom |
| 2 Timothy 3:2-4 | For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money... | Signs of last days and hearts |
| Hebrews 4:12 | For the word of God is living and active... discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. | Word's power to discern heart |
| Matthew 15:19 | For out of the heart come evil thoughts... | Heart as the wellspring of sin |
| Jeremiah 17:1-8 | Blessing for trusting in the Lord versus curse for trusting in man. | Contrast to the verse |
| Romans 1:21 | For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks... | Fallen hearts turn from God |
| Galatians 5:19-21 | Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality... | Manifestations of sinful heart |
| Proverbs 14:12 | There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. | Deceptive paths of the heart |
| Jeremiah 17:13 | O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you shall be put to shame. | Divine abandonment and shame |
| Psalm 52:7 | "See this man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his riches..." | Trust in self and riches |
Jeremiah 17 verses
Jeremiah 17 9 Meaning
The human heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. It cannot be fully understood or healed by human means, leaning towards a tendency for evil.
Jeremiah 17 9 Context
Jeremiah 17 is part of a larger discourse by the prophet Jeremiah addressed to the people of Judah. In the preceding verses (17:1-8), God declares that the sin of Judah is deeply engraved, marked by idol worship and trust in human strength rather than in God. This sin will lead to desolation. Verse 9 serves as a theological foundation for this judgment, explaining why such widespread sin and ultimate punishment are inevitable. It highlights the inherent nature of humanity, specifically the internal condition of the heart, as the source of their spiritual rebellion and ultimately their national downfall. The historical context is the looming threat of Babylonian exile due to Judah's persistent disobedience to God's covenant.
Jeremiah 17 9 Word Analysis
- מַה־ (mah): What, how; here, it emphasizes the degree or extent of the heart's deceitfulness.
- עָלֵ֣י ('alei): Upon, above, over. This preposition indicates that the heart's deceitfulness is pervasive and surpasses all other things.
- כָּל־ (kol): All, every. Reinforces the absolute nature of the heart's deceitfulness and sickness.
- דָּבָר (davar): Thing, matter, word. Refers to all affairs, circumstances, or creations; nothing escapes the heart's deceit.
- וְאָנֹכִ֥י (wə'ānōḵî): And I; connecting Jeremiah's statement to God's divine perspective.
- הוֹדָ֛ה (hōḏāh): From root יָדַע (yadaʿ - to know, understand). This form is challenging. Some scholars suggest it could relate to knowing or being known. However, a common and widely accepted view links it to the piel form of דּוּחַ (duwach - to be sick, weak) or a similar root, thus translating to "desperately wicked/sick" or "incurable." It speaks of extreme corruption.
- נִפְתָּ֖ה (niftaeh): From root פָּתָה (pataeh - to entice, deceive, be simple). In the Niphal stem, it signifies "to be deceived," "to be enticed," or "to be naive." It describes the heart as being easily led astray or being inherently misleading.
- וְאָנוּשׁ (wə'ānūš): And sick, incurable, dangerous. Amplifies the depth of the heart's depravity, suggesting a sickness that is hard to heal.
- מִ֥י (mî): Who. A rhetorical question that underscores the difficulty, if not impossibility, for humans to truly know or comprehend the heart's depths.
- יֹדְעָ֑ם (yōḏə‘ām): From root יָדַע (yadaʿ - to know, understand). It means "knows them," referring to the "things" or aspects of the heart previously mentioned.
Word-Group Analysis:
- "The heart is deceitful above all things": This phrase captures the inherent deceptive nature of human affections, intentions, and understanding. It suggests a fundamental flaw that misleads one from truth and righteousness.
- "and desperately sick": This intensifies the corruption, portraying the heart not merely as flawed but as afflicted with an incurable ailment that leads to sin and death.
- "Who can know it?": This question highlights human fallibility. Our self-understanding is limited; we cannot fully grasp the pervasive deceit and wickedness within our own hearts, let alone the hearts of others.
Jeremiah 17 9 Bonus Section
The concept of the "heart" (לֵב - lev) in the Old Testament is comprehensive, referring not only to emotions but also to the mind, will, conscience, and innermost being. It is the center of personality and moral disposition. This verse stands as a foundational statement about the pervasive impact of the Fall on humanity. Later, Jesus echoes this sentiment when teaching that sin originates from within the heart (Mark 7:21-23). The prophet's words here also serve as a stark contrast to the blessings promised to those who trust in the Lord in verses 17:5-8, highlighting the vital choice between trusting the deceitful human heart and relying on the unfailing God. It is also important to note that this declaration of human depravity is not a cause for despair, but rather a preface to God's redemptive promises that would eventually be fulfilled through the new covenant, where God promises to write His laws on His people's hearts (Jeremiah 31:33).
Jeremiah 17 9 Commentary
Jeremiah 17:9 presents a profound diagnosis of the human condition. It's not just about external actions, but the internal core—the heart—from which all thoughts and actions originate. The verse emphasizes that this internal seat of identity is deeply compromised, making it both unreliable and prone to great evil. This innate deceitfulness means that what seems right or harmless in our own estimation can be profoundly wrong in God's sight, leading us away from Him and towards destruction. The question "Who can know it?" implies that no human insight is sufficient to fathom the depths of this corruption; only God, who searches hearts, truly knows. This verse calls for humility and a recognition of our need for divine intervention and cleansing, rather than self-reliance or the belief that we can inherently manage our sinful tendencies. It underscores the need for God's power to transform and guide, as only He can truly address the "incurable" sickness of the heart.