Jeremiah uniquely links idolatry with forfeited inheritance, as diamond-engraved sin transforms God's promised land into enemy possession—a connection appearing in only two biblical passages.
Jeremiah 17
Judah's Sin Engraved
1“The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond. It is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of your altars.
2Even their children remember their altars and their Asherah poles by the green trees on the high hills.
3My mountain in the field, I will give your substance and all your treasures for a plunder, and your high places, because of sin, throughout all your borders.
4You, even of yourself, will discontinue from your heritage that I gave you. I will cause you to serve your enemies in the land which you don’t know, for you have kindled a fire in my anger which will burn forever.”
Trust in Man Versus Trust in God
5The LORD says: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man, relies on strength of flesh, and whose heart departs from the LORD.
6For he will be like a bush in the desert, and will not see when good comes, but will inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, an uninhabited salt land.
7“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose confidence is in the LORD.
8For he will be as a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green, and will not be concerned in the year of drought. It won’t cease from yielding fruit.
The Deceitful Heart
9The heart is deceitful above all things and it is exceedingly corrupt. Who can know it?
10“I, the LORD, search the mind. I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”
11As the partridge that sits on eggs which she has not laid, so is he who gets riches, and not by right. In the middle of his days, they will leave him. At his end, he will be a fool.
12A glorious throne, set on high from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary.
13LORD, the hope of Israel, all who forsake you will be disappointed. Those who depart from me will be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the spring of living waters.
Prayer for Healing and Vindication
14Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed. Save me, and I will be saved; for you are my praise.
15Behold, they ask me, “Where is the LORD’s word? Let it be fulfilled now.”
16As for me, I have not hurried from being a shepherd after you. I haven’t desired the woeful day. You know. That which came out of my lips was before your face.
17Don’t be a terror to me. You are my refuge in the day of evil.
18Let them be disappointed who persecute me, but don’t let me be disappointed. Let them be dismayed, but don’t let me be dismayed. Bring on them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.
Keeping the Sabbath
19The LORD said this to me: “Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people, through which the kings of Judah come in and by which they go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem.
20Tell them, ‘Hear the LORD’s word, you kings of Judah, all Judah, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates:
21The LORD says, “Be careful, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem.
22Don’t carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day. Don’t do any work, but make the Sabbath day holy, as I commanded your fathers.
23But they didn’t listen. They didn’t turn their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, and might not receive instruction.
24It will happen, if you diligently listen to me,” says the LORD, “to bring in no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but to make the Sabbath day holy, to do no work therein;
25then there will enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on David’s throne, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city will remain forever.
26They will come from the cities of Judah, and from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the lowland, from the hill country, and from the South, bringing burnt offerings, sacrifices, meal offerings, and frankincense, and bringing sacrifices of thanksgiving to the LORD’s house.
27But if you will not listen to me to make the Sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter in at the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it will devour the palaces of Jerusalem. It will not be quenched.”’”
Font Size 17pt
Line Spacing
Theme
Jeremiah 17 presents a stark contrast between trusting in human strength versus trusting in God, using vivid imagery of barren desert shrubs versus flourishing trees by water. The chapter begins with God's indictment of Judah's deeply ingrained idolatry, then transitions to Jeremiah's personal struggles as a prophet facing persecution and doubt. The chapter concludes with specific instructions about Sabbath observance, linking covenant faithfulness to the nation's survival and prosperity.
Context
This chapter continues the themes of judgment and covenant unfaithfulness from previous chapters while introducing more personal elements of Jeremiah's prophetic struggles.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4 Judah's Indelible Sin God declares that Judah's idolatry is permanently engraved on their hearts and will result in exile and judgment.
- 5-8 Two Ways of Trust A wisdom passage contrasting the curse of trusting in human strength with the blessing of trusting in the Lord.
- 9-11 The Deceitful Heart God reveals the corrupt nature of the human heart and His role as the one who searches minds and judges according to deeds.
- 12-18 Jeremiah's Personal Prayer The prophet appeals to God for healing and vindication while facing mockery and persecution from his opponents.
- 19-27 Sabbath Observance Warning God commands proper Sabbath keeping as a test of covenant faithfulness, with Jerusalem's fate hanging in the balance.
Judah's Sin Engraved
17:1–17:4 prophecy wrathful
Judah's sin is permanently engraved on their hearts and altars, including idolatrous worship at high places. As consequence, they will lose their inheritance and serve enemies in a foreign land under God's burning anger.
theme_rarity
Jeremiah uniquely links idolatry with forfeited inheritance, as diamond-engraved sin transforms God's promised land into enemy possession—a connection appearing in only two biblical passages.
Trust in Man Versus Trust in God
17:5–17:8 prophecy speech contemplative
The LORD contrasts the fate of those who trust in human strength versus those who trust in God, using imagery of a withered bush versus a flourishing tree by water.
structural
Jeremiah employs the Hebrew word "araba" (desert/wilderness) twice in verses 6 and 8, creating a stark contrast between barren wasteland and life-giving streams within the same geographical setting.
The Deceitful Heart
17:9–17:13 prophecy speech solemn
God declares the human heart is deceitfully corrupt and that He searches hearts to judge according to deeds, warning against ill-gotten riches and abandoning the LORD.
theme_rarity
Jeremiah uniquely links heart corruption with wealth acquisition, making this one of only four biblical passages where themes of sin and riches directly intersect.
Prayer for Healing and Vindication
17:14–17:18 prophecy prayer anguished
Jeremiah prays for healing and vindication from God while facing mockery and persecution, asking for protection and judgment upon his enemies.
person_contrast
Jeremiah's plea for divine vengeance against mockers starkly contrasts his typical role as God's instrument of judgment, revealing the prophet's own vulnerability and need for protection.
Keeping the Sabbath
17:19–17:27 prophecy instruction warning
God commands through Jeremiah that the people observe the Sabbath properly, promising blessing for obedience and destruction for continued disobedience.
person_contrast
David appears here uniquely as a model of obedience to divine commandments rather than his typical portrayal emphasizing royal authority and covenant promises.
Insights
Jeremiah employs the Hebrew word "araba" (desert/wilderness) twice in verses 6 and 8, creating a stark contrast between barren wasteland and life-giving streams within the same geographical setting.
Jeremiah uniquely links heart corruption with wealth acquisition, making this one of only four biblical passages where themes of sin and riches directly intersect.
Jeremiah's plea for divine vengeance against mockers starkly contrasts his typical role as God's instrument of judgment, revealing the prophet's own vulnerability and need for protection.
David appears here uniquely as a model of obedience to divine commandments rather than his typical portrayal emphasizing royal authority and covenant promises.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Jeremiah 17:1 4 references
Lexicals 4
Joshua 8:31 Lexical
as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses: an…
Leviticus 4:25 Lexical
The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it on the horns of the altar of bur…
Leviticus 4:34 Lexical
The priest shall take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it on the horns of the altar of bur…
Job 19:24 Lexical
That with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!
Jeremiah 17:2 5 references
Lexicals 5
1 Kings 14:23 Lexical
For they also built for themselves high places, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every gre…
2 Kings 17:10 Lexical
and they set up for themselves pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree;
Jeremiah 2:20 Lexical
“For long ago I broke off your yoke, and burst your bonds. You said, ‘I will not serve;’ for on every high hill and unde…
Ezekiel 6:13 Lexical
You will know that I am the LORD when their slain men are among their idols around their altars, on every high hill, on…
Jeremiah 3:6 Lexical
Moreover, the LORD said to me in the days of Josiah the king, “Have you seen that which backsliding Israel has done? She…
Jeremiah 17:3 1 reference
Jeremiah 17:4 3 references
Lexicals 3
Jeremiah 15:14 Lexical
I will make them to pass with your enemies into a land which you don’t know; for a fire is kindled in my anger, which wi…
Deuteronomy 32:22 Lexical
For a fire is kindled in my anger, that burns to the lowest Sheol, devours the earth with its increase, and sets the fou…
Isaiah 65:5 Lexical
who say, ‘Stay by yourself, don’t come near to me, for I am holier than you.’ These are smoke in my nose, a fire that bu…
Jeremiah 17:6 1 reference
Jeremiah 17:8 2 references
Jeremiah 17:12 2 references
Jeremiah 17:21 1 reference
Jeremiah 17:23 3 references
Lexicals 3
Jeremiah 7:26 Lexical
Yet they didn’t listen to me or incline their ear, but made their neck stiff. They did worse than their fathers.
Jeremiah 19:15 Lexical
“The LORD of Armies, the God of Israel says, ‘Behold, I will bring on this city and on all its towns all the evil that I…
Jeremiah 44:5 Lexical
But they didn’t listen and didn’t incline their ear. They didn’t turn from their wickedness, to stop burning incense to…
Jeremiah 17:24 4 references
Lexicals 4
Nehemiah 13:19 Lexical
It came to pass that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should…
Exodus 20:10 Lexical
but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daug…
Deuteronomy 5:14 Lexical
but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, in which you shall not do any work—neither you, nor your son, nor…
Nehemiah 13:22 Lexical
I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify th…
Jeremiah 17:25 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 22:4 Lexical
For if you do this thing indeed, then kings sitting on David’s throne will enter in by the gates of this house, riding i…
Jeremiah 51:21 Lexical
With you I will break in pieces the horse and his rider.
Haggai 2:22 Lexical
I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations. I will overthrow th…
Esther 6:9 Lexical
Let the clothing and the horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the…
Ezekiel 26:10 Lexical
By reason of the abundance of his horses, their dust will cover you. Your walls will shake at the noise of the horsemen,…
Jeremiah 17:26 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 32:44 Lexical
Men will buy fields for money, sign the deeds, seal them, and call witnesses, in the land of Benjamin, and in the places…
Jeremiah 33:13 Lexical
In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the South, in the land of Benjamin, in…
Isaiah 43:23 Lexical
You have not brought me any of your sheep for burnt offerings, neither have you honored me with your sacrifices. I have…
Obadiah 1:19 Lexical
Those of the South will possess the mountain of Esau, and those of the lowland, the Philistines. They will possess the f…
Zechariah 7:7 Lexical
Aren’t these the words which the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity,…
Jeremiah 17:27 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 49:27 Lexical
“I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it will devour the palaces of Ben Hadad.”
Amos 1:14 Lexical
But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it will devour its palaces, with shouting in the day of battle, with…
Nehemiah 13:19 Lexical
It came to pass that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should…
Nehemiah 2:17 Lexical
Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with…
Nehemiah 1:3 Lexical
They said to me, “The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach.…
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
v. 1
v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
v. 9
v. 10
v. 11
v. 12
v. 13
v. 14
v. 15
v. 16
v. 17
v. 18
v. 19
v. 20
v. 21
v. 22
v. 23
v. 24
v. 25
v. 26
v. 27
Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
Loading map...