Jeremiah – Chapter 17

Old Testament27 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 17 of Jeremiah begins: "The sin of Juda is written with a pen of iron, with the point of a diamond, it is graven upon the table of their heart, upon the horns of…" David stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 27 verses, two threads run through the text: worship and praise and God's kingdom and kingship. The Church invites us to read this chapter within the whole sweep of salvation history, where every page points toward Christ.

1The sin of Juda is written with a pen of iron, with the point of a diamond, it is graven upon the table of their heart, upon the horns of their altars.

2When their children shall remember their altars, and their groves, and their green trees upon the high mountains,

3Sacrificing in the field: I will give thy strength, and all thy treasures to the spoil, and thy high places for sin in all thy borders.

4And thou shalt be left stripped of thy inheritance, which I gave thee: and I will make thee serve thy enemies in a land which thou knowest not: because thou hast kindled a fire in my wrath, it shall burn for ever.

5Thus saith the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.

6For he shall be like tamaric in the desert, and he shall not see when good shall come: but he shall dwell in dryness in the desert in a salt land, and not inhabited.

7Blessed be the man that trusteth in the Lord, and the Lord shall be his confidence.

8And he shall be as a tree that is planted by the waters, that spreadeth out its roots towards moisture: and it shall not fear when the heat cometh. And the leaf thereof shall be green, and in the time of drought it shall not be solicitous, neither shall it cease at any time to bring forth fruit.

9The heart is perverse above all things, and unsearchable, who can know it?

10I am the Lord who search the heart, and prove the reins: who give to every one according to his way, and according to the fruit of his devices.

11As the partridge hath hatched eggs which she did not lay: so is he that hath gathered riches, and not by right: in the midst of his days he shall leave them, and in his latter end he shall be a fool.

12A high and glorious throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctification.

13O Lord, the hope of Israel: all that forsake thee shall be confounded: they that depart from thee, shall be written in the earth: because they have forsaken the Lord, the vein of living waters.

14Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed: save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

15Behold they say to me: Where is the word of the Lord? let it come.

16And I am not troubled, following thee for my pastor, and I have not desired the day of man, thou knowest. That which went out of my lips, hath been right in thy sight.

17Be not thou a terror unto me, thou art my hope in the day of affliction.

18Let them be confounded that persecute me, and let not me be confounded: let them be afraid, and let not me be afraid: bring upon them the day of affliction, and with a double destruction, destroy them.

19Thus saith the Lord to me: Go, and stand in the gate of the children of the people, by which the kings of Juda come in, and go out, and in all the gates of Jerusalem:

20And thou shalt say to them: Hear the word of the Lord, ye kings of Juda, and al Juda, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, that enter in by these gates.

21Thus saith the Lord: Take heed to your souls, and carry no burdens on the sabbath day: and bring them not in by the gates of Jerusalem.

22And do not bring burdens out of your houses on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work: sanctify the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.

23But they did not hear, nor incline their ear: but hardened their neck, that they might not hear me, and might not receive instruction.

24And it shall come to pass: if you will hearken to me, saith the Lord, to bring in no burdens by the gates of this city on the sabbath day: and if you will sanctify the sabbath day, to do no work therein:

25Then shall there enter in by the gates of this city kings and princes, sitting upon the throne of David, and riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, the men of Juda, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: and this city shall be inhabited for ever.

26And they shall come from the cities of Juda, and from the places round about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plains, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing holocausts, and victims, and sacrifices, and frankincense, and they shall bring in an offering into the house of the Lord.

27But if you will not hearken to me, to sanctify the sabbath day, and not to carry burdens, and not to bring them in by the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day: I will kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the houses of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.

Important Verses in Jeremiah 17

The sin of Juda is written with a pen of iron, with the point of a diamond, it is graven upon the table of their heart, upon the horns of their altars.

Jeremiah 17:1

Thus saith the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.

Jeremiah 17:5

I am the Lord who search the heart, and prove the reins: who give to every one according to his way, and according to the fruit of his devices.

Jeremiah 17:10

Thus saith the Lord: Take heed to your souls, and carry no burdens on the sabbath day: and bring them not in by the gates of Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 17:21

Historical Context

Jeremiah belongs to the Old Testament and was composed for judah on the brink of destruction, called to repentance. Chapter 17 of 52 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a prophetic oracle addressed to Israel in a moment of covenant crisis or renewal with 27 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. David appear at the center of the events recorded here. The passage starts with these words: "The sin of Juda is written with a pen of iron, with the point of a diamond, it is graven upon the table of their heart,…" The final verse reads: "But if you will not hearken to me, to sanctify the sabbath day, and not to carry burdens, and not to bring them in by…" The wider setting of Jeremiah is this: Jeremiah prophesied through Judah's final decades, warning of Babylon's coming judgment while priests and false prophets promised peace. Catholic tradition dates the book to the period described in its introduction: Jeremiah's ministry about 627-580 BC.

Who Wrote It

The prophet Jeremiah, with his scribe Baruch

When It Was Written

Jeremiah's ministry about 627-580 BC

Catholic Commentary

At the literal level, this oracle names the sins, judgments, or promises relevant to its original hearers. A pivotal line is verse 1: "The sin of Juda is written with a pen of iron, with the point of a diamond, it is graven upon the table of their heart, upon the horns of their altars." The passage repeatedly touches on worship and praise.

Catholic exegesis reads Jeremiah 17 within the unity of Scripture and Tradition. Jeremiah's new covenant prophecy is fulfilled in Christ (CIC 1965). St. Cyril of Alexandria and other Fathers of the Church saw in texts like this a preparation for or reflection of Christ, the center of revelation (CIC 791).

For Christians today, the chapter's lesson is clear: Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.. The Church invites us to receive this word not as antiquarian information but as living Scripture proclaimed at Mass and prayed in lectio divina.

Main Teachings

  • Worship is the heart of the covenant: giving God the praise and adoration that are His due.
  • God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.
  • Christ is the Divine Physician who heals both body and soul.

People in This Chapter

David1 mention

Reflection for Today

In Jeremiah Chapter 17, the Church invites us to listen attentively to God's Word within the broader narrative of judgment, the new covenant, and hope.

The Second Vatican Council reminded the faithful that Scripture should permeate Catholic spirituality (Dei Verbum, 21-26). Jeremiah Chapter 17 supports that call by drawing attention to trust in providence amid uncertainty within the wider message that God writes His law on our hearts.

Entrust your meditation to Mary, who pondered God's Word in her heart. Through her intercession, may the message of trust in providence amid uncertainty bear fruit in humility, courage, and charity this day.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Jeremiah Chapter 17 about?

Jeremiah 17 contains 27 verses. It opens with "The sin of Juda is written with a pen of iron, with the point of a diamond, it is graven upon the table of their heart,…" and closes with "But if you will not hearken to me, to sanctify the sabbath day, and not to carry burdens, and not to bring them in by…". The book as a whole is prophetic oracles, biography, and laments.

What is a key verse in Jeremiah 17?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "The sin of Juda is written with a pen of iron, with the point of a diamond, it is graven upon the table of their heart, upon the horns of their altars." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Jeremiah Chapter 17?

This chapter mentions David.

Who wrote Jeremiah and when?

The prophet Jeremiah, with his scribe Baruch. Jeremiah's ministry about 627-580 BC.

Deepen your understanding with these related articles