1
“The sin of Judah is written with an iron pen,
with a diamond point it is engraved
on the tablet of their heart
and on the horns of their altars,
2
as a witness against them!
— Their altars and their Asherah poles
are beside every leafy tree
on the high hills,
3
yes, on the mountains in the open country. —
Your wealth and all your treasures
I will give for plunder
as the price of your sin
throughout all your land.
4
You shall let go of your inheritance
that I gave you,
and I will make you serve your enemies
in a land you do not know,
because in My anger a fire has been kindled
that shall burn forever.”
5
Thus says the LORD:
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man,
who makes flesh his strength,
and whose heart turns away from the LORD!
6
He shall be like a shrub in the desert;
he shall not see when good comes;
he shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness,
in a salt land that is not inhabited.
7
Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose hope is the LORD!
8
He shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
and does not cease to bear fruit.
9
The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick; who can understand it?
10
I, the LORD, search the heart,
I test the inward parts,
to give to every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”
11
Like a partridge that hatches what it did not lay,
so is the man who gets riches unjustly;
in the midst of his days they will leave him,
and at his end he will be a fool.
12
A glorious throne, exalted from the beginning,
is the place of our sanctuary!
13
O Hope of Israel, the LORD,
all who forsake You shall be put to shame;
those who turn away from You shall be written in the earth,
because they have forsaken the fountain of living water, the LORD.
14
Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed;
save me, and I shall be saved,
for You are my praise!
15
Behold, they say to me:
“Where is the word of the LORD?
Let it come now!”
16
But as for me, I have not urged You to bring disaster,
I have not desired the day of calamity.
You know what has gone out of my lips;
it is all before Your eyes.
17
Do not be a terror to me;
You are my refuge in the day of disaster.
18
Let those who pursue me be put to shame, but let me not be put to shame;
let them be dismayed, but let me not be dismayed!
Bring upon them the day of disaster,
and crush them with double destruction.
19
Thus the LORD said to me:
“Go and stand in the gate of the Children of the People,
through which the kings of Judah go in and out,
and at all the gates of Jerusalem;
20
and say to them:
Hear the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah,
all Judah, and all inhabitants of Jerusalem,
who enter by these gates!
21
Thus says the LORD:
Take heed for your lives!
Do not carry burdens on the Sabbath day
and bring them in through the gates of Jerusalem!
22
Do not bring burdens out of your houses on the Sabbath day,
and do no work,
but keep the Sabbath day holy,
as I commanded your fathers.
23
Yet they would not listen or pay attention,
but stiffened their necks,
so that they would not listen or receive correction.
24
If you will indeed listen to Me, says the LORD,
and bring no burdens in
through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day,
but keep the Sabbath day holy
and do no work on it,
25
then through the gates of this city shall enter
kings and princes,
who shall sit on the throne of David,
riding in chariots and on horses:
they and their princes,
the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
And this city shall be inhabited forever.
26
People shall come from the cities of Judah and from the places around Jerusalem,
from the land of Benjamin and from the hill country,
from the mountains and from the Negeb,
bringing burnt offerings, sacrifices, grain offerings, and incense,
bringing thank offerings to the house of the LORD.
27
But if you do not listen to My command
to keep the Sabbath day holy and not to enter,
carrying burdens through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day,
then I will kindle a fire in its gates,
which shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem,
and shall not be quenched.”
📜🔥🪨 Summary of Jeremiah 17 – The Deceitful Heart & Hope in the LORD
Jeremiah 17 highlights two paths of life: those who trust in man and those who trust in God. Judah’s sin is described as engraved on their hearts, so that they cannot see the truth. God warns that curse will come upon those who rely on their own strength, while blessing will abound for those who lean on Him. This chapter also contains Jeremiah’s personal lament, his plea for vindication, and a strong warning about keeping the Sabbath holy.
📌 1. The Sin Engraved on the Heart (verses 1–4)
“The sin of Judah is written with an iron pen…”
➡️ The image of sin engraved shows how deep and lasting their rebellion against God is.
🎯 Sin is not only an outward act — it has become the inward identity of a stubborn people.
📌 2. Two Ways of Life: Trusting in Man vs. Trusting in God (verses 5–8)
“Cursed is the man who trusts in man…”
➡️ Those who rely on their own strength will dry up like a shrub in the desert, while those who trust in the Lord will be like a fruitful tree by the water.
🎯 True spiritual life grows only when our roots are planted in faith in God, not in worldly strength.
📌 3. The Human Heart That Is Deceitful & Unpredictable (verses 9–10)
“The heart is deceitful above all things…”
➡️ God affirms that only He is able to search the misleading human heart.
🎯 Do not place full trust in your own feelings — truth must come from God.
📌 4. Injustice and Sudden Death (verses 11–13)
“Like a partridge that hatches eggs it did not lay…”
➡️ The rich who gain by deceit will lose everything. The Lord is the source of hope and the fountain of life.
🎯 Wealth gathered by wrong means will end in vain — only God endures forever.
📌 5. Jeremiah’s Personal Cry to God (verses 14–18)
“Heal me, O Lord…”
➡️ Jeremiah pours out his heart. He asks for healing, vindication, and protection from enemies.
🎯 The servant of God may come honestly and in weakness before God, for only He is able to strengthen.
📌 6. Warning about the Sabbath Day (verses 19–27)
“Do not bring goods through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day…”
➡️ God commands the keeping of the Sabbath as a sign of obedience. If it is not obeyed, the city will be burned.
🎯 The holiness of the Lord’s day reflects the obedience of the people — it must not be compromised for worldly gain.
📖 Main Teachings
- Sin that is continually nurtured will take root in the heart and corrupt spiritual identity
- A blessed life is possible only when it is rooted in God, not in human strength
- The human heart deceives — we need God’s word to guide us
- True blessing does not come from wealth, but from righteousness
- True worship is shown through obedience, even in practical matters such as keeping the Sabbath day
- Jeremiah gives an example of humility in ministry — coming to the Lord as a child, not a hero
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 Luke 6:45
“Out of the treasure of the heart, a person brings forth what is good or evil.”
➡️ A heart changed by the Lord will produce godly actions — and the reverse is also true.
📖 John 15:5
“Apart from Me you can do nothing.”
➡️ Like a tree by the water (Jeremiah 17:8), Jesus affirms that only in Him do we live fruitfully.
📖 Hebrews 4:12
“The word of God… is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
➡️ The deceitful human heart can only be exposed and healed by the word of God.
📖 Mark 2:27
“The Sabbath was made for man…”
➡️ Jesus affirms the meaning of the Sabbath as a time of rest and spiritual renewal, not a legalistic burden — yet still important.
🕊️ “Cursed is the one who trusts in man…” – Jeremiah 17:5
🕊️ “Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD…” – Jeremiah 17:7
🕊️ “The heart is deceitful above all things…” – Jeremiah 17:9
🕊️ “Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed…” – Jeremiah 17:14
🕊️ “Do not carry a burden on the Sabbath day…” – Jeremiah 17:21
