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    Jeremiah 17 (KJV)

    Read Jeremiah chapter 17 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

    Jeremiah 17

    Deep Verse Commentaries in This Chapter

    Jeremiah 17:9

    "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wic…"

    Jeremiah 17:7-8

    "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope…"

    Jeremiah 17:7

    "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope…"

    Jeremiah 17:6

    "For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not …"

    Jeremiah 17:8

    "For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that sp…"

    Jeremiah 17:10

    "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give e…"

    Jeremiah 17:11

    "As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so …"

    Jeremiah 17:14

    "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall…"

    Popular Verses in Jeremiah 17

    Most searched verses from this chapter, with KJV text and context.

    Jeremiah 17:14 KJV

    Healing

    Jeremiah 17:7 KJV

    Major Prophets

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    Jeremiah 17 Summary

    Jeremiah 17 contains some of the prophet's most quoted observations about the human heart and trusting God. The chapter opens with Judah's sin 'written with a pen of iron' — engraved permanently on their hearts and altars. Jeremiah then presents a stark contrast between the person who trusts in man and the person who trusts in God.

    The one who trusts in human strength is 'like the heath in the desert' — barren, isolated, inhabiting parched places. But the one who trusts in the LORD is 'as a tree planted by the waters' — unmoved by heat, green in drought, never ceasing to bear fruit. Between these images comes the Bible's most penetrating diagnosis: 'The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?' Only God searches and knows the heart.

    Key Themes

    Trusting God vs. ManThe Deceitful HeartFruitfulnessGod Searches Hearts

    Key Verses in Jeremiah 17

    "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters."

    — Jeremiah 17:7-8

    A parallel to Psalm 1 — trust in God produces stability, resilience, and fruitfulness in every season.

    "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

    — Jeremiah 17:9

    The Bible's most honest diagnosis of human nature — self-deception runs deeper than we imagine.

    "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."

    — Jeremiah 17:10

    Only God can see through the heart's deception — His judgment is based on what He sees, not what we present.

    Life Application

    Your heart is not a reliable guide — it's the most deceitful thing in existence. Don't 'follow your heart' blindly; follow God and let Him examine your heart. And choose carefully whom you trust: human strength is a desert bush, but trust in God makes you an evergreen tree.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What does 'the heart is deceitful above all things' mean?

    It means the human heart — our inner motivations, desires, and self-perception — is capable of profound self-deception. We rationalize sin, hide true motives even from ourselves, and misjudge our own spiritual condition. Only God can fully know what's really in a human heart.

    How is the tree by waters different from the desert bush?

    The tree represents someone who trusts God — their roots reach deep, they stay green in drought, and they bear fruit regardless of circumstances. The desert bush represents someone who trusts human strength — exposed, barren, and unable to thrive when conditions worsen.

    Read the full summary of Jeremiah

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