Jeremiah 17 9

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 verses

Jeremiah 17 9 Meaning

Jeremiah 17:9 states a profound truth about the fallen human condition: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" This verse reveals that the innermost core of human personality—our will, intellect, emotions, and moral compass—is fundamentally corrupt and inclined towards self-deception and evil. It highlights the pervasive, radical nature of sin, indicating that our internal state is beyond human diagnosis or self-comprehension, thus necessitating divine intervention and revelation to truly know its depth and heal its sickness.

Jeremiah 17 9 Context

Jeremiah 17:9 is situated within a broader passage (17:5-11) that contrasts reliance on humanity with trust in the Lord. Verses 5-8 explicitly paint a picture of curses for those who trust in "flesh" (human strength, wisdom, alliances, or self) versus blessings for those who trust in the Lord, likened to a tree by water. Verse 9 then serves as a critical bridge, explaining why trusting in the human heart is so perilous: it is utterly untrustworthy and incomprehensible even to itself. The verse justifies the preceding warning against human reliance by exposing the fundamental internal flaw. It also sets up the next verse (17:10), where God declares His unique ability to search and know the heart, thereby positioning Him as the only reliable object of trust and source of true understanding and healing. Historically, Jeremiah preached this message to Judah as they faced external threats (Babylonia) but stubbornly refused to genuinely repent and return to God, instead relying on political maneuvering and superficial religiosity while their hearts remained disloyal.

Jeremiah 17 9 Word analysis

• The heart: (Hebrew: lev, לֵב) - In biblical thought, the "heart" is not merely the organ, nor is it exclusively associated with emotions as in modern Western usage. Instead, lev refers to the very center of a person's inner being: the seat of intellect, will, reason, conscience, and moral character. It encompasses the totality of one's thoughts, intentions, motives, and decision-making processes. It is the core of who a person truly is before God.
• is deceitful: (Hebrew: ‘aqov, עָקֹב) - This term comes from a root meaning "to twist, supplant, be crooked, or devious." It implies being insidious, crafty, and capable of trickery. The word carries a strong connotation of moral crookedness and intentional misleading, even of oneself. It is not merely mistaken; it is inherently deceptive, like a winding, hidden path. It speaks to a deep, ingrained perversion.
• above all things: (Hebrew: mikkōl, מִכֹּל) - This emphasizes the superlative degree of the heart's deceit. It suggests that the human heart is more treacherous and unreliable than any other entity or factor in existence. Its capacity for self-deception and misguidance exceeds all external threats or challenges.
• and desperately sick: (Hebrew: ’ānûsh, אֱנוּשׁ) - This word often describes a sickness that is incurable, fatal, or beyond human remedy. It means "mortally sick," "incurable," or "desperate." It highlights the heart's diseased state, its profound moral illness that cannot be healed by human effort, wisdom, or self-help. It speaks to a terminal condition without divine intervention.
• who can understand it?: (Hebrew: yēda'ennû, יְדָעֶנּוּ - "to know it") - This is a rhetorical question that powerfully underscores the incomprehensible nature of the heart's deceit and sickness. The implication is that no human, not even oneself, possesses the capacity to fully grasp, comprehend, or accurately diagnose the depth of its depravity and its myriad insidious workings. It remains a mystery, hidden even to the individual.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• The heart is deceitful: This phrase immediately establishes the nature of the human core. It's not just prone to error, but actively devious, prone to misrepresent reality to itself and others. This inner crookedness prevents clear self-assessment.
• deceitful above all things: This superlative elevates the heart's perfidy beyond measure. It signifies that the heart's tendency to mislead is paramount, more so than external pressures, temptations, or even conscious lies. This deepens the problem, suggesting a profound internal flaw.
• and desperately sick: This adds a layer of terminality and helplessness to the heart's condition. The "sickness" is not a minor ailment but an incurable disease. It means the core essence of our being is compromised to a point of fatal brokenness, leaving us without hope for self-cure.
• who can understand it?: This rhetorical question underlines the inscrutability of the human heart, particularly its corrupt nature. It emphasizes human limitations in self-diagnosis and spiritual awareness. Because of its inherent deceit and profound sickness, no one—especially the individual themselves—can fully comprehend its depths. This sets up the critical need for divine insight, which God alone possesses, as detailed in the following verse.

Jeremiah 17 9 Bonus section

This verse challenges modern psychological approaches that prioritize self-discovery and self-actualization as sufficient paths to moral growth without addressing the core issue of a fundamentally deceitful and sick heart. While introspection can be valuable, Jeremiah 17:9 posits its inherent limitations; one cannot truly understand what is designed to deceive, especially oneself. The prophet is speaking to an audience that was outwardly performing religious rites (Jer 7) but whose inner devotion was compromised by idolatry and self-reliance, creating a significant tension between their self-perception and their true spiritual state. This radical statement from Jeremiah also functions as a powerful theological cornerstone for the doctrine of total depravity, highlighting that sin is not merely behavioral but rooted in the very nature and core of fallen humanity, affecting intellect, will, and affections alike.

Jeremiah 17 9 Commentary

Jeremiah 17:9 serves as a devastating diagnosis of the human condition, foundational to biblical anthropology. It shatters any illusions of innate goodness or the capacity for true self-knowledge and moral rectitude apart from God. The heart, as the nexus of human personality, is declared to be "deceitful" (‘aqov), suggesting not just error but active, pervasive craftiness that can fool even its owner. This deceitfulness is "above all things," indicating that its perfidy exceeds every other known deceit, making genuine self-assessment impossible. Further, it is "desperately sick" (’ānûsh), a term for a fatal, incurable illness. This signifies a moral disease that renders the heart inherently corrupted and beyond human remedy, leading ultimately to spiritual death. The rhetorical question, "who can understand it?", encapsulates human helplessness. It affirms that the heart's convoluted workings, its motivations, and its capacity for self-deception are impenetrable to human introspection or external analysis. This truth undergirds the entire biblical narrative of redemption, explaining why humanity cannot save itself and must rely entirely on God for understanding, diagnosis, and ultimately, a new heart (Jer 31:33; Eze 36:26).

Practical examples:

• A person consistently rationalizes their own flaws while readily criticizing others.
• Someone believes they are serving God faithfully, but their hidden motives are for personal gain or recognition.
• Individuals convinced of their moral superiority fail to see their own prejudices and judgmentalism.
• An addict genuinely resolves to change, yet continually relapses, caught by internal desires they cannot fully control or comprehend.