Jeremiah 17
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A high resolution scan of the Aleppo Codex showing theBook of Jeremiah (the sixth book in Nevi'im).
Book	Book of Jeremiah
Hebrew Bible part	Nevi'im
Order in the Hebrew part	6
Category	Latter Prophets
Christian Bible part	Old Testament
Order in the Christian part	24

Jeremiah 17 is the seventeenthchapter of theBook of Jeremiah in theHebrew Bible or theOld Testament of theChristianBible. This book contains prophecies attributed to theprophetJeremiah, and is one of theBooks of the Prophets. This chapter includes the third of the passages known as the "Confessions of Jeremiah" (Jeremiah 17:14–18).^[1]

The original text of this chapter is written in theHebrew language.This chapter is divided into 27 verses.

Some earlymanuscripts containing the text of this chapter inHebrew are of theMasoretic Text tradition, which includes theCodex Cairensis (895),the Petersburg Codex of the Prophets (916),Aleppo Codex (10th century),Codex Leningradensis (1008).^[2] Some fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among theDead Sea Scrolls, i.e., 4QJer^a (4Q70; 225-175 BCE^[3][4]) with extant verses 8‑26.^[5][6]

There is also a translation intoKoine Greek known as theSeptuagint (with a different verse numbering), made in the last few centuries BCE. Extant ancient manuscripts of theSeptuagint version includeCodex Vaticanus (B;${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^B; 4th century),Codex Sinaiticus (S;BHK:${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^S; 4th century),Codex Alexandrinus (A;${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^A; 5th century) andCodex Marchalianus (Q;${\displaystyle \mathfrak{G}}$^Q; 6th century).^[7] Verses 1-4 are not found in theSeptuagint.^[8][9]

Theparashah sections listed here are based on theAleppo Codex.^[10] Jeremiah 17 is a part of theSixth prophecy (Jeremiah 14-17) in the section ofProphecies of Destruction (Jeremiah 1-25). {P}: openparashah; {S}: closedparashah.

{S} 17:1-4 {S} 17:5-6 {S} 17:7-10 {S} 17:11-13 {P} 17:14-18 {S} 17:19-27 {P}

The sin ofJudah is written with a pen of iron,

and with the point of a diamond:

it is graven upon the table of their heart,

and upon the horns of your altars;^[11]

Similarly, inJob 19:23–24:

Oh, that my words were written … with an iron pen.

The image of "sin written with an iron pen" is used byIsraeli poets Dvora Amir, Dahlia Falah and Liat Kap, criticising Israel'soccupation of lands conquered in the1967 war, and the resulting oppression of the Palestinian people.^[12]

Verses 5-8 contrast the prospects for a tree in a desert and a tree whose roots can reach water, and apply these images tocurse one man and bless another. Verna Holyhead suggests that the tree by water has been carefullytransplanted there, from the desert, in order that it can survive:^[13]

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.^[14]

• One who "trusts in the Lord" (verse 7) is described as a "fruitful, well-watered tree" (Psalm 1:3;Psalm 92:12–15;Proverbs 3:18).^[15]
• "Fear" (from Hebrew:יראyi-rā; as inMasoreticKetiv,LXX andVulgate): inQere andTargum read "see" (from Hebrew:יראהyir-'eh).^[16]

• Ulrich, Eugene, ed. (2010).The Biblical Qumran Scrolls: Transcriptions and Textual Variants. Brill.
• Würthwein, Ernst (1995).The Text of the Old Testament. Translated by Rhodes, Erroll F. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans.ISBN 0-8028-0788-7. RetrievedJanuary 26, 2019.

• Jeremiah 17 Hebrew with Parallel English

• Jeremiah 17 English Translation with Parallel Latin Vulgate

• Book of Jeremiah chapters

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata