Jeremiah 18 17

Jeremiah 18:17 kjv

I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.

Jeremiah 18:17 nkjv

I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back and not the face In the day of their calamity."

Jeremiah 18:17 niv

Like a wind from the east, I will scatter them before their enemies; I will show them my back and not my face in the day of their disaster."

Jeremiah 18:17 esv

Like the east wind I will scatter them before the enemy. I will show them my back, not my face, in the day of their calamity."

Jeremiah 18:17 nlt

I will scatter my people before their enemies
as the east wind scatters dust.
And in all their trouble I will turn my back on them
and refuse to notice their distress."

Jeremiah 18 verses

Jeremiah 18 17 Meaning

Jeremiah 18:17 declares God's decisive judgment against unrepentant Judah. It outlines two primary aspects of this divine wrath: a forceful and humiliating dispersion of the people by their adversaries, likened to the destructive east wind, and a complete withdrawal of God's favorable presence and help during their time of extreme distress. This signifies a reversal of divine blessing into punitive absence, marking a dire consequence for their continued rebellion.

Jeremiah 18 17 Context

Jeremiah 18 opens with the "potter and clay" metaphor, illustrating God's sovereign right to shape nations according to their responsiveness to His word. He demonstrates His power to build up or tear down, depending on whether a nation repents or persists in evil (Jer 18:7-10). God then directly applies this to Judah, declaring His intention to bring disaster upon them (Jer 18:11). In response, Judah defiantly rejects God's call to repentance, stating, "It is hopeless! For we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one of us do the stubbornness of his evil heart" (Jer 18:12). This persistent rejection and unparalleled idolatry, even among pagan nations (Jer 18:13-16), solidify God's judgment. Verse 17 directly follows this declaration of unrepentant rebellion, pronouncing the specific punitive actions God will take as a consequence, directly mirroring their choice to turn their "back" on God. Historically, this occurs during the decline of the Kingdom of Judah, facing imminent threat from Babylon.

Jeremiah 18 17 Word analysis

• Like the east wind (כְּרוּחַ קָדִים - kə·rû·aḥ qā·ḏîm):

  • East wind: קָדִים (qadim) specifically refers to the hot, dry, often violent desert wind from the east. It's notoriously destructive, carrying sandstorms, withering crops, and signifying ruin.
  • Significance: This is not just any wind; it's an agent of severe, swift, and widespread destruction. It conveys an image of power and irresistibility, completely overwhelming any resistance. Its natural harshness serves as a metaphor for the severity of God's judgment.

• I will scatter them (אֲפִיצֵם - ’ă·p̄î·ṣêm):

  • Scatter: פִיצ (pīts) implies violent dispersion, breaking into pieces, or routing an army.
  • Significance: Denotes a comprehensive and forceful dispersion. The people will not just move; they will be violently broken apart and dispersed across foreign lands, losing their cohesion, identity, and homeland. It underlines the extent of their loss of national unity and security.

• before the enemy (לִפְנֵי אֹיֵב - lip̄·nê ’ō·yêḇ):

  • Enemy: אֹיֵב (oyev) refers to an adversary, foe.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the helplessness and humiliation of the scattered people. Their dispersion is not random but occurs at the hands of their enemies, indicating defeat, conquest, and subjugation. It highlights the agency through which God's judgment will be executed.

• I will show them My back (וְעֹרֶף אֶפְנֵה לָהֶם - wə·‘ō·ref ’ep̄·neh lā·hem):

  • My back: עֹרֶף (oref) literally means "neck" or "nape of the neck." In ancient Near Eastern cultures, turning one's back was a gesture of utter rejection, disdain, and lack of favor.
  • Significance: This is a powerful anthropomorphism illustrating God's complete abandonment. Instead of facing them with grace and favor (Num 6:25-26), God actively turns away, withholding all divine assistance, guidance, and protection. It's a statement of absolute disfavor and abandonment.

• and not My face (וְלֹא פָּנִים - wə·lō’ pā·nîm):

  • My face: פָּנִים (panim) refers to the presence or countenance. God's face shining upon someone signified favor, blessing, light, and protection.
  • Significance: This directly contrasts with divine blessing and intervention. It explicitly negates the possibility of God's favor or help. By turning His back and not His face, God is declaring an active cessation of His benevolent presence. The source of their very life and prosperity (God's presence) is now completely withheld.

• in the day of their calamity (בְּיוֹם אֵידָם - bə·yōm ’ê·ḏām):

  • Calamity: אֵיד (ayd) signifies disaster, ruin, distress, or sudden destruction.
  • Significance: Points to the precise moment when they will most desperately need divine intervention. God is declaring His absence during their most critical hour of need, ensuring the full force of their self-inflicted judgment. It underlines the finality and inevitability of their punishment.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Like the east wind I will scatter them before the enemy": This phrase graphically portrays the method and outcome of God's judgment as an irresistible force, using a powerful natural metaphor. The scattering will be thorough, widespread, and lead to utter subjugation to their foes. It’s an act of violent displacement, making them rootless.
  • "I will show them My back and not My face": This pairing underscores the total withdrawal of divine presence and favor. It's an active act of rejection, a complete reversal from God being a benevolent provider and protector to one who ignores and abandons. It implies a total severing of the relationship, at least from God's active, helping side.
  • "in the day of their calamity": This clause acts as a poignant qualifier, emphasizing that this divine abandonment will occur precisely when they are most vulnerable and in dire need. Their ultimate suffering will be exacerbated by the absence of their God.

Jeremiah 18 17 Bonus section

The imagery in Jeremiah 18:17 starkly contrasts with many Old Testament expressions of divine care and interaction. For instance, the High Priestly Blessing in Numbers 6:25-26 explicitly seeks for God to "make His face shine upon you... lift up His countenance upon you." This verse in Jeremiah reveals the exact opposite: not only is God's face not shining, but He is actively showing His back, indicating not just absence, but a complete posture of disdain and rejection. This active turning away represents the most profound state of divine displeasure short of complete annihilation. It underscores that God is not merely passive when His people rebel but takes specific actions that manifest His justice.

Furthermore, this verse serves as a polemic against the idea that God is automatically bound to defend Israel regardless of their conduct, a popular but erroneous belief held by some during Jeremiah's time. The false prophets preached peace and security (Jer 6:14, 8:11), but Jeremiah consistently countered this by showing God's judgment. The "showing of the back" dramatically disproves any notion of an unconditional, passive divine patronage, instead affirming that covenant blessings are tied to covenant obedience. The severity of the image reflects God's sorrowful yet resolute response to His beloved people's obstinate unfaithfulness.

Jeremiah 18 17 Commentary

Jeremiah 18:17 articulates a chilling pronouncement of divine judgment, painting a vivid picture of the consequences of unyielding rebellion. The initial image of God scattering Judah "like the east wind" is deeply significant. The qadim, the desert east wind, was known in ancient Israel for its desiccating and destructive power, capable of devastating crops and bringing forth plague or the scorching heat of the desert (e.g., Ex 10:13, Jon 4:8). This powerful metaphor indicates a judgment that is irresistible, sweeping, and thoroughly devastating, leaving no aspect of national life untouched. They will be dispersed not randomly, but specifically "before the enemy," highlighting their utter helplessness and the humiliation of falling into the hands of those who hate them, confirming the covenant curses.

The latter part of the verse, "I will show them My back and not My face," is an anthropomorphic expression conveying absolute divine disfavor and abandonment. The "face" of God in Scripture consistently represents His favor, blessing, protection, and life-giving presence (e.g., Num 6:25-26). To have God turn His "back" is to experience a complete cessation of His benevolent attention. It's an active rejection, signifying that their pleas will go unheard, their suffering will elicit no compassion, and their desperate situation will find no divine intervention. This withdrawal of divine presence is particularly cruel "in the day of their calamity"—the precise moment they will most urgently require His help. It signifies a profound covenantal rupture, where God withdraws His saving hand from those who consistently turned their backs on His law and grace, making their self-chosen path of destruction complete and unavoidable. This is not simply a passive absence but an active and punitive turning away, an act of righteous indignation for their deep-seated spiritual apostasy and rejection of the Potter's hand.

• Practical Example: A nation that continually defies established laws, embracing corruption and self-serving policies, may eventually face international sanctions, economic collapse, and social unrest without the previously enjoyed diplomatic support or external aid. Just as a parent might eventually allow a persistently rebellious child to face the consequences of their actions to teach them a harsh lesson, God allows Judah to suffer the natural results of their rebellion amplified by His judicial withdrawal.