Jeremiah 8 17

Jeremiah 8:17 kjv

For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 8:17 nkjv

"For behold, I will send serpents among you, Vipers which cannot be charmed, And they shall bite you," says the LORD.

Jeremiah 8:17 niv

"See, I will send venomous snakes among you, vipers that cannot be charmed, and they will bite you," declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 8:17 esv

For behold, I am sending among you serpents, adders that cannot be charmed, and they shall bite you," declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 8:17 nlt

I will send these enemy troops among you
like poisonous snakes you cannot charm.
They will bite you, and you will die.
I, the LORD, have spoken!"

Jeremiah 8 verses

Jeremiah 8 17 Meaning

Jeremiah 8:17 proclaims the Lord's absolute and inevitable judgment upon the people of Judah. God declares He will unleash a destructive force, likened to highly venomous and uncharmable serpents and adders, upon them. This powerful metaphor signifies the merciless and inescapable nature of the coming invasion (specifically the Babylonian army), emphasizing that no human wisdom, skill, or magical art can avert the divine decree or mitigate the severe suffering and destruction that will befall them due to their persistent sin and rejection of God.

Jeremiah 8 17 Context

Jeremiah chapter 8 is a poignant lament and declaration of impending doom for Judah. It immediately follows Chapter 7, where God rejects the people's false security in the Temple and exposes their rampant idolatry and moral decay. In chapter 8, Jeremiah expresses deep sorrow over Judah's spiritual state, describing them as having rejected God's law (vv. 8-9) and their leaders as deceiving the people with false peace (vv. 10-12). The passage moves from spiritual sickness to the tangible consequence: a devastating invasion. Verses 13-16 speak of God sweeping away their harvest, bringing bitterness, and a dreaded foe arising from the north, whose warhorses will shake the land. Verse 17 acts as the divine explanation and justification for this calamity, using the vivid imagery of uncharmable serpents to signify the merciless and divinely directed nature of the invading Babylonian army that Judah cannot escape or repel.

Jeremiah 8 17 Word analysis

• For, behold: (Hebrew: Kî hinnēh) - "For" (Kî) indicates a causal connection to the preceding woes and a reason for their occurrence. "Behold" (hinnēh) is an interjection used to draw immediate attention, signifying the certainty and immediacy of what is about to be declared, like an authoritative "Mark this!" or "Listen carefully!"

• I will send: (Hebrew: šōlēaḥ) - The Hebrew is an active participle, suggesting not just a future intent but a continuous or impending action, a divine certainty, as if the sending is already in motion or as good as done. It highlights God as the primary agent of this judgment, emphasizing His sovereignty over even the most destructive events.

• serpents: (Hebrew: nəḥāšîm) - A general term for snakes. Biblically, serpents often symbolize danger, cunning, deceit (Gen 3), and serve as instruments of divine judgment (Num 21:6).

• adders: (Hebrew: ṣi‘pônîm) - A more specific term, likely referring to a particular type of venomous snake, perhaps a viper or basilisk. The word may relate to a root meaning "to hiss" or "to whistle," emphasizing their lethal nature and sudden attack. Its inclusion alongside "serpents" intensifies the imagery of danger and fatality.

• among you: (Hebrew: bākhem) - Directly targeted at the people of Judah, leaving no ambiguity about the recipients of this judgment. It speaks of a pervasive presence, infiltrating their land and lives.

• which will not be charmed: (Hebrew: ăšer lō’-yiḥšōt) - This is a crucial element. "Charmed" (yiḥšōt) comes from the root ḥāšaš, meaning "to whisper," "to charm," or "to mutter spells." In the ancient world, snake charmers used incantations or musical pipes to supposedly control or pacify venomous snakes. This phrase signifies that the destructive force God sends will be utterly unresponsive to any human attempt at appeasement, manipulation, or magic. It underscores the overwhelming and divinely ordained nature of the judgment, which no human effort can evade or counteract.

• and they shall bite you: (Hebrew: wəyinnāšəkū) - The inevitable consequence of the sending. The biting implies severe, painful, and potentially fatal affliction. It vividly portrays the suffering and destruction the invaders will inflict.

• saith the LORD: (Hebrew: nə’um YHWH) - A prophetic formula found throughout the Hebrew Bible, affirming the divine origin and authority of the message. It signifies an irrefutable, guaranteed declaration from the sovereign God, making the judgment irreversible and sure to come to pass.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "For, behold, I will send": This powerful opening emphasizes divine intention, certainty, and active initiation of judgment. It signifies that the coming destruction is not random chance but a direct act of God.
  • "serpents, adders, among you": This vividly depicts the merciless, venomous, and widespread nature of the destructive force. The doubling of the "snake" imagery enhances the sense of terror and lethal effectiveness. These are not merely animals but represent the cruel invading army.
  • "which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you": This key phrase highlights the irresistible nature of God's judgment and the futility of any human attempt to avert it. It rejects human wisdom, cunning, or magical arts as useless against God's sovereign decree, leading directly to guaranteed suffering and calamity. The judgment is both severe and unavoidable.

Jeremiah 8 17 Bonus section

The metaphor of the uncharmable serpent holds deep cultural resonance for the original audience. Snake charmers were common, offering a perceived form of protection or control over dangerous creatures. By stating that these particular "serpents" (the invading army) would not be charmed, God explicitly stripped Judah of any hope that their usual forms of "security" – be it alliances, military strategies, or even spiritual appeals divorced from genuine repentance – would offer protection. This imagery thus emphasizes the divine origin of the judgment, making it inescapable by human means, and highlighting God's absolute power and authority above all perceived human and spiritual powers. The futility of human charm highlights that God's judgment is not subject to manipulation or appeasement once His righteous indignation has been aroused by persistent sin.

Jeremiah 8 17 Commentary

Jeremiah 8:17 is a stark oracle of divine judgment, employing the potent metaphor of uncharmable, venomous snakes to convey the terrifying nature of the Babylonian invasion. It reinforces the theological truth that God is sovereign over all nations and events, actively directing them according to His righteous purposes. The "serpents and adders" represent the invading forces—cruel, relentless, and immune to human efforts to pacify or deflect them. The emphasis on their "uncharmable" nature is crucial; it serves as a direct polemic against reliance on human wisdom, military strength, alliances, or pagan magic common in the ancient Near East. Judah's only true defense, their covenant with the Lord, had been consistently violated, leaving them without refuge from God's holy wrath. This verse underscores the utter helplessness of a people who have deliberately turned from God and whose spiritual wound has become "incurable" (Jer 8:22). It serves as a grim reminder that unrepentant sin inevitably brings about dire consequences, orchestrated by a just God.