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 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 18:17 | ...I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; | Justice declared against disobedience |
| Jer 51:2 | ...I will winnow Babylon and fan her with the east wind. | Judgment compared to winnowing |
| Eze 17:21 | And all his fugitives in all his troops shall fall by the sword, and those who remain shall be scattered to every wind; and you shall know that I the LORD have spoken. | Prophetic scattering |
| Isa 5:26 | He will lift up a signal for the nations from afar, and whistle for them from the ends of the earth; and behold, they will come with speed and eagerness. | Nations called by God's signal |
| Zec 2:6 | "Ho, ho, and flee from the land of the north, declares the LORD. For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the LORD. | God's spreading of His people |
| Hos 10:12 | Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap according to steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. | Spiritual sowing and reaping |
| Ps 1:3 | He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. | Fruitfulness through righteousness |
| Matt 13:3 | And he told them many things in parables... | Parables about scattering seed |
| Matt 13:37 | He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. | Son of Man as the sower |
| Mark 4:3 | Listen! A sower went out to sow. | The sower of the Word |
| Mark 4:4 | And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path... | Seeds falling on different grounds |
| Luke 8:5 | "A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed... | The parable of the sower explained |
| Luke 8:11 | Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. | The meaning of the seed |
| Acts 1:8 | but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses... | Witnesses empowered by the Spirit |
| 1 Cor 3:6 | I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. | God causes growth |
| Gal 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. For whatever one sows, that will he also reap. | Principle of sowing and reaping |
| Gal 6:8 | For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. | Sowing to flesh vs. Spirit |
| Gen 15:5 | And he brought him outside and said, "What are you looking at? Count the stars, if you are able to number them." So shall your offspring be. | Abraham's descendants like stars |
| Deut 28:64 | And the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other... | Deuteronomy's warning of scattering |
| Ps 44:11 | You have scattered us among the nations and You have sold us for no price; You have made us a byword among the nations. | National scattering and shame |
| Acts 11:19 | Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews only. | Early church scattered, spreading the Word |
| Jer 18:10 | and if they do not seek my face, and I find out their transgression, I will visit their transgressions with a rod and their iniquities with stripes. | God's judgment on disobedience |
Jeremiah 18 verses
Jeremiah 18 17 Meaning
The verse signifies that the scattering of the people will be widespread. Their enemies will spread them like seed. God's justice will reach them even in their dispersed state.
Jeremiah 18 17 Context
Jeremiah chapter 18 is part of God's ongoing message to Judah during a time of impending Babylonian invasion. In this chapter, God uses the analogy of the potter and the clay to illustrate His sovereign power to both create and destroy, to build up and to tear down. He shows how His plans for a nation can change based on their obedience or disobedience. The people of Judah have repeatedly turned away from God and embraced idolatry and injustice. This verse, 18:17, describes the consequence of their persistent sin: they will be scattered like seed before an east wind by their enemies, and God will not show them pity. This reinforces the themes of divine judgment and the inevitable outcome of turning away from the LORD. The "east wind" is often associated with a hot, dry, and destructive wind, symbolizing a fierce and relentless enemy.
Jeremiah 18 17 Word Analysis
- כְּמִטַּר (kemit tar): This phrase literally means "like a scattering" or "like seed scattered." It evokes the image of seeds being thrown loosely, implying a dispersal without order or care. It also carries the connotation of being blown about, suggesting a lack of stability and control for those being scattered.
- קֵדִם (qedem): Meaning "east." The east wind is often associated in the ancient Near East with destructive, dry, and hot winds, like those coming from the Arabian desert. Thus, "east wind" here signifies a powerful and destructive force.
- בִּפְנֵי (bifnei): Meaning "before" or "in the face of." This preposition indicates that the scattering will occur in the presence of or in front of the enemy, emphasizing their active pursuit and overpowering dominance.
- אִיֵּב (iyyev): A rare verb form meaning "enemy." It denotes an active antagonist or foe.
Words Group Analysis:
- "Scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy": This grouping emphasizes a rapid, uncontrollable, and forceful dispersal. The comparison to an "east wind" highlights the severity and devastating nature of the scattering. Being "before the enemy" shows they are actively pursued and overthrown by their adversaries, not simply left to drift.
Jeremiah 18 17 Bonus Section
The prophecy in Jeremiah 18:17 about scattering to the four winds is fulfilled in various ways throughout biblical history, not only in the exile but also in the scattering of believers after Stephen's martyrdom (Acts 11:19), spreading the Gospel. The concept of God scattering his people serves multiple purposes: it can be a form of judgment for sin, as seen here with Judah, but it can also be a means by which God's purposes are extended to other nations, as later happened with the early Church. The "east wind" is specifically a strong indicator of God's hand in the scattering, not merely a random natural event, highlighting divine sovereignty even in judgment.
Jeremiah 18 17 Commentary
This verse is a stark declaration of judgment upon Judah for their persistent apostasy and rebellion against God. The image of being scattered like seed before the east wind signifies utter ruin and dispersion. The east wind was a potent symbol of destruction in the ancient world, representing a fierce, dry, and overwhelming force. This imagery suggests that the enemies of Judah will sweep through their land with brutal efficiency, scattering the population with no mercy. God, who had promised to protect them, now declares He will turn His face away, leaving them vulnerable. This verse underscores the principle that disobedience to God brings devastating consequences, and His justice, though often patient, is ultimately inescapable. It echoes the pronouncements made in Deuteronomy about the fate of a disobedient Israel.