Focused Passage

Jeremiah 17:19-27

The Engraved Sin, the Deceitful Heart, and the Sabbath Test

The chapter moves from Judah's engraved sin and forfeited inheritance, to a wisdom contrast between cursed trust in man and blessed trust in the LORD, to the LORD's search of the deceitful heart, to a proverb against unjust gain, to Jeremiah's confession of the LORD as sanctuary and fountain, to his prayer for healing and vindication, and finally to a covenant Sabbath test at Jerusalem's gates with promised blessing for obedience and fiery judgment for refusal.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

19 This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and stand at the gate of the people, through which the kings of Judah go in and out; and stand at all the other gates of Jerusalem.

20 Say to them, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, O kings of Judah, all people of Judah and Jerusalem who enter through these gates.

21 This is what the LORD says: Take heed for yourselves; do not carry a load or bring it through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.

22 You must not carry a load out of your houses or do any work on the Sabbath day, but you must keep the Sabbath day holy, just as I commanded your forefathers.

23 Yet they would not listen or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and would not listen or receive My discipline.

24 If, however, you listen carefully to Me, says the LORD, and bring no load through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, and keep the Sabbath day holy, and do no work on it,

25 then kings and princes will enter through the gates of this city. They will sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses with their officials, along with the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem, and this city will be inhabited forever.

26 And people will come from the cities of Judah and the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, and from the foothills, the hill country, and the Negev, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and frankincense, and thank offerings to the house of the LORD.

27 But if you do not listen to Me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying a load while entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in its gates to consume the citadels of Jerusalem.’”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 19

Original words

This is what כֹּה־ H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֜ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular said אָמַ֨ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular to me אֵלַ֗י H413 Preposition | first person common singular Go הָלֹ֤ךְ H1980 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute and stand וְעָֽמַדְתָּ֙ H5975 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular at the gate בְּשַׁ֣עַר H8179 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct of the people בְּנֵֽי־ H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct . . . עָם H5971 Article | Noun - masculine singular through which אֲשֶׁ֨ר H834 Pronoun - relative the kings מַלְכֵ֣י H4428 Noun - masculine plural construct of Judah יְהוּדָ֔ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular - וַאֲשֶׁ֖ר H834 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relative go in יָבֹ֤אוּ H935 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural and out יֵ֣צְאוּ H3318 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural and [stand] ב֑וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular at all [the other] וּבְכֹ֖ל H3605 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct gates שַׁעֲרֵ֥י H8179 Noun - masculine plural construct of Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 20

Original words

Say וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular to them אֲ֠לֵיהֶם H413 Preposition | third person masculine plural Hear שִׁמְע֨וּ H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural the word דְבַר־ H1697 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָ֜ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular O kings מַלְכֵ֤י H4428 Noun - masculine plural construct of Judah יְהוּדָה֙ H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular all [people] וְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct of Judah יְהוּדָ֔ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular [and] וְכֹ֖ל H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . יֹשְׁבֵ֣י H3427 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular who enter הַבָּאִ֖ים H935 Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural through these הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ס H428 Article | Pronoun - common plural gates בַּשְּׁעָרִ֥ים H8179 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 21

Original words

This is what כֹּ֚ה H3541 Adverb the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular says אָמַ֣ר H559 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Take heed הִשָּׁמְר֖וּ H8104 Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine plural for yourselves בְּנַפְשֽׁוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם H5315 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural do not וְאַל־ H408 Conjunctive waw | Adverb carry תִּשְׂא֤וּ H5375 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural a load מַשָּׂא֙ H4853 Noun - masculine singular [or] bring it וַהֲבֵאתֶ֖ם H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural through the gates בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֥י H8179 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct of Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular on the Sabbath הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת H7676 Article | Noun - common singular day בְּי֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Verse 22

Original words

You must not וְלֹא־ H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle carry a load מַשָּׂ֤א H4853 Noun - masculine singular out תוֹצִ֨יאוּ H3318 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural of your houses מִבָּֽתֵּיכֶם֙ H1004 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural or do תַֽעֲשׂ֑וּ H6213 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural any וְכָל־ H3605 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct work מְלָאכָ֖ה H4399 Noun - feminine singular on the Sabbath הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת H7676 Article | Noun - common singular day בְּי֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct . . . לֹ֣א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle but you must keep וְקִדַּשְׁתֶּם֙ H6942 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the Sabbath הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת H7676 Article | Noun - common singular day {holy} י֣וֹם H3117 Noun - masculine singular construct just as כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative I commanded צִוִּ֖יתִי H6680 Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker your forefathers אֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ H1 Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Verse 23

Original words

Yet they would not וְלֹ֣א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle listen שָֽׁמְע֔וּ H8085 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural . . . וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle or incline הִטּ֖וּ H5186 Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker their ear אָזְנָ֑ם H241 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural but they stiffened וַיַּקְשׁוּ֙ H7185 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker their necks עָרְפָּ֔ם H6203 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural and would not לְבִלְתִּ֣י H1115 Preposition-l listen שׁוֹמֵעַ H8085 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct . . . וּלְבִלְתִּ֖י H1115 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l or receive קַ֥חַת H3947 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct My discipline מוּסָֽר׃ H4148 Noun - masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

If אִם־ H518 Conjunction however וְ֠הָיָה H1961 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular you listen carefully שָׁמֹ֨עַ H8085 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . תִּשְׁמְע֤וּן H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun to Me אֵלַי֙ H413 Preposition | first person common singular says נְאֻם־ H5002 Noun - masculine singular construct the LORD יְהוָ֔ה H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular and bring הָבִ֣יא H935 Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct no לְבִלְתִּ֣י׀ H1115 Preposition-l load מַשָּׂ֗א H4853 Noun - masculine singular through the gates בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֛י H8179 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct of this הַזֹּ֖את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular city הָעִ֥יר H5892 Article | Noun - feminine singular on the Sabbath הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת H7676 Article | Noun - common singular day בְּי֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct and keep וּלְקַדֵּשׁ֙ H6942 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the Sabbath הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת H7676 Article | Noun - common singular day {holy} י֣וֹם H3117 Noun - masculine singular construct and do עֲשֽׂוֹת־ H6213 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct - כָּל־ H3605 Noun - masculine singular construct no לְבִלְתִּ֥י H1115 Preposition-l work מְלָאכָֽה׃ H4399 Noun - feminine singular on it בֹּה Preposition | third person masculine singular
Verse 25

Original words

then kings מְלָכִ֣ים׀ H4428 Noun - masculine plural and princes וְשָׂרִ֡ים H8269 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural will enter וּבָ֣אוּ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural through the gates בְשַׁעֲרֵ֣י H8179 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct of this הַזֹּ֡את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular city הָעִ֣יר H5892 Article | Noun - feminine singular They will sit יֹשְׁבִים֩ H3427 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural on עַל־ H5921 Preposition the throne כִּסֵּ֨א H3678 Noun - masculine singular construct of David דָוִ֜ד H1732 Noun - proper - masculine singular riding רֹכְבִ֣ים׀ H7392 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural in chariots בָּרֶ֣כֶב H7393 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular and on horses וּבַסּוּסִ֗ים H5483 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural with their הֵ֚מָּה H1992 Pronoun - third person masculine plural officials וְשָׂ֣רֵיהֶ֔ם H8269 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural along with the men אִ֥ישׁ H376 Noun - masculine singular construct of Judah יְהוּדָ֖ה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular and the residents וְיֹשְׁבֵ֣י H3427 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct of Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular and this הַזֹּ֖את H2063 Article | Pronoun - feminine singular city הָֽעִיר־ H5892 Article | Noun - feminine singular will be inhabited וְיָשְׁבָ֥ה H3427 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular forever לְעוֹלָֽם׃ H5769 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 26

Original words

And people will come וּבָ֣אוּ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural from the cities מֵעָרֵֽי־ H5892 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural construct of Judah יְ֠הוּדָה H3063 Noun - proper - masculine singular and the places around וּמִסְּבִיב֨וֹת H5439 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Adverb Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular from the land וּמֵאֶ֣רֶץ H776 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct of Benjamin בִּנְיָמִ֗ן H1144 Noun - proper - masculine singular and from וּמִן־ H4480 Conjunctive waw | Preposition the foothills הַשְּׁפֵלָ֤ה H8219 Article | Noun - feminine singular וּמִן־ וּמִן־ H4480 Conjunctive waw | Preposition the hill country הָהָר֙ H2022 Article | Noun - masculine singular and וּמִן־ H4480 Conjunctive waw | Preposition the Negev הַנֶּ֔גֶב H5045 Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular bringing מְבִאִ֛ים H935 Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural burnt offerings עוֹלָ֥ה H5930 Noun - feminine singular and sacrifices וְזֶ֖בַח H2077 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular grain offerings וּמִנְחָ֣ה H4503 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular and frankincense וּלְבוֹנָ֑ה H3828 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular . . . וּמְבִאֵ֥י H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural construct and thank offerings תוֹדָ֖ה H8426 Noun - feminine singular to the house בֵּ֥ית H1004 Noun - masculine singular construct of the LORD יְהוָֽה׃ H3068 Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Hebrew Shephelah or lowlands; that is, the western foothills of Judea
Verse 27

Original words

But if וְאִם־ H518 Conjunction you do not לֹ֨א H3808 Adverb - Negative particle listen תִשְׁמְע֜וּ H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural to Me אֵלַ֗י H413 Preposition | first person common singular to keep לְקַדֵּשׁ֙ H6942 Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker the Sabbath הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת H7676 Article | Noun - common singular day {holy} י֣וֹם H3117 Noun - masculine singular construct by not וּלְבִלְתִּ֣י׀ H1115 Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l carrying שְׂאֵ֣ת H5375 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct a load מַשָּׂ֗א H4853 Noun - masculine singular while entering וּבֹ֛א H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct the gates בְּשַׁעֲרֵ֥י H8179 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct of Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular on the Sabbath הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת H7676 Article | Noun - common singular day בְּי֣וֹם H3117 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct then I will kindle וְהִצַּ֧תִּי H3341 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular vvv וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle an unquenchable תִכְבֶּֽה׃פ H3518 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular fire אֵ֣שׁ H784 Noun - common singular in its gates בִּשְׁעָרֶ֗יהָ H8179 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singular to consume וְאָֽכְלָ֛ה H398 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular the citadels אַרְמְנ֥וֹת H759 Noun - masculine plural construct of Jerusalem יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם H3389 Noun - proper - feminine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.