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

19This 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.

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

21This 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.

22You 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.

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

24If, 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,

25then 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.

26And 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.

27But 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 whatכֹּה־H3541Adverbthe LORDיְהוָ֜הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaidאָמַ֨רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto meאֵלַ֗יH413Preposition | first person common singularGoהָלֹ֤ךְH1980Verb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteand standוְעָֽמַדְתָּ֙H5975Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularat the gateבְּשַׁ֣עַרH8179Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructof the peopleבְּנֵֽי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .עָםH5971Article | Noun - masculine singularthrough whichאֲשֶׁ֨רH834Pronoun - relativethe kingsמַלְכֵ֣יH4428Noun - masculine plural constructof Judahיְהוּדָ֔הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singular-וַאֲשֶׁ֖רH834Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relativego inיָבֹ֤אוּH935Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluraland outיֵ֣צְאוּH3318Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluraland [stand]ב֑וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularat all [the other]וּבְכֹ֖לH3605Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructgatesשַׁעֲרֵ֥יH8179Noun - masculine plural constructof Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃H3389Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 20

Original words

Sayוְאָמַרְתָּ֣H559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singularto themאֲ֠לֵיהֶםH413Preposition | third person masculine pluralHearשִׁמְע֨וּH8085Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralthe wordדְבַר־H1697Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֜הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularO kingsמַלְכֵ֤יH4428Noun - masculine plural constructof Judahיְהוּדָה֙H3063Noun - proper - masculine singularall [people]וְכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructof Judahיְהוּדָ֔הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singular[and]וְכֹ֖לH3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .יֹשְׁבֵ֣יH3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructJerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םH3389Noun - proper - feminine singularwho enterהַבָּאִ֖יםH935Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralthrough theseהָאֵֽלֶּה׃סH428Article | Pronoun - common pluralgatesבַּשְּׁעָרִ֥יםH8179Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Verse 21

Original words

This is whatכֹּ֚הH3541Adverbthe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaysאָמַ֣רH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularTake heedהִשָּׁמְר֖וּH8104Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine pluralfor yourselvesבְּנַפְשֽׁוֹתֵיכֶ֑םH5315Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine pluraldo notוְאַל־H408Conjunctive waw | Adverbcarryתִּשְׂא֤וּH5375Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plurala loadמַשָּׂא֙H4853Noun - masculine singular[or] bring itוַהֲבֵאתֶ֖םH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralthrough the gatesבְּשַׁעֲרֵ֥יH8179Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural constructof Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃H3389Noun - proper - feminine singularon the Sabbathהַשַּׁבָּ֔תH7676Article | Noun - common singulardayבְּי֣וֹםH3117Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Verse 22

Original words

You must notוְלֹא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlecarry a loadמַשָּׂ֤אH4853Noun - masculine singularoutתוֹצִ֨יאוּH3318Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralof your housesמִבָּֽתֵּיכֶם֙H1004Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralor doתַֽעֲשׂ֑וּH6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralanyוְכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular constructworkמְלָאכָ֖הH4399Noun - feminine singularon the Sabbathהַשַּׁבָּ֔תH7676Article | Noun - common singulardayבְּי֣וֹםH3117Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .לֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlebut you must keepוְקִדַּשְׁתֶּם֙H6942Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe Sabbathהַשַּׁבָּ֔תH7676Article | Noun - common singularday {holy}י֣וֹםH3117Noun - masculine singular constructjust asכַּאֲשֶׁ֥רH834Preposition-k | Pronoun - relativeI commandedצִוִּ֖יתִיH6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markeryour forefathersאֲבוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃H1Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Verse 23

Original words

Yet they would notוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlelistenשָֽׁמְע֔וּH8085Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural. . .וְלֹ֥אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleor inclineהִטּ֖וּH5186Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markertheir earאָזְנָ֑םH241Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine pluralbut they stiffenedוַיַּקְשׁוּ֙H7185Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markertheir necksעָרְפָּ֔םH6203Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine pluraland would notלְבִלְתִּ֣יH1115Preposition-llistenשׁוֹמֵעַH8085Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct. . .וּלְבִלְתִּ֖יH1115Conjunctive waw, Preposition-lor receiveקַ֥חַתH3947Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructMy disciplineמוּסָֽר׃H4148Noun - masculine singular
Verse 24

Original words

Ifאִם־H518Conjunctionhoweverוְ֠הָיָהH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularyou listen carefullyשָׁמֹ֨עַH8085Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute. . .תִּשְׁמְע֤וּןH8085Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nunto Meאֵלַי֙H413Preposition | first person common singularsaysנְאֻם־H5002Noun - masculine singular constructthe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularand bringהָבִ֣יאH935Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructnoלְבִלְתִּ֣י׀H1115Preposition-lloadמַשָּׂ֗אH4853Noun - masculine singularthrough the gatesבְּשַׁעֲרֵ֛יH8179Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural constructof thisהַזֹּ֖אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularcityהָעִ֥ירH5892Article | Noun - feminine singularon the Sabbathהַשַּׁבָּ֑תH7676Article | Noun - common singulardayבְּי֣וֹםH3117Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructand keepוּלְקַדֵּשׁ֙H6942Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe Sabbathהַשַּׁבָּ֔תH7676Article | Noun - common singularday {holy}י֣וֹםH3117Noun - masculine singular constructand doעֲשֽׂוֹת־H6213Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-כָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructnoלְבִלְתִּ֥יH1115Preposition-lworkמְלָאכָֽה׃H4399Noun - feminine singularon itבֹּהPreposition | third person masculine singular
Verse 25

Original words

then kingsמְלָכִ֣ים׀H4428Noun - masculine pluraland princesוְשָׂרִ֡יםH8269Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine pluralwill enterוּבָ֣אוּH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralthrough the gatesבְשַׁעֲרֵ֣יH8179Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural constructof thisהַזֹּ֡אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularcityהָעִ֣ירH5892Article | Noun - feminine singularThey will sitיֹשְׁבִים֩H3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralonעַל־H5921Prepositionthe throneכִּסֵּ֨אH3678Noun - masculine singular constructof Davidדָוִ֜דH1732Noun - proper - masculine singularridingרֹכְבִ֣ים׀H7392Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralin chariotsבָּרֶ֣כֶבH7393Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularand on horsesוּבַסּוּסִ֗יםH5483Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine pluralwith theirהֵ֚מָּהH1992Pronoun - third person masculine pluralofficialsוְשָׂ֣רֵיהֶ֔םH8269Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralalong with the menאִ֥ישׁH376Noun - masculine singular constructof Judahיְהוּדָ֖הH3063Noun - proper - masculine singularand the residentsוְיֹשְׁבֵ֣יH3427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructof Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִָ֑םH3389Noun - proper - feminine singularand thisהַזֹּ֖אתH2063Article | Pronoun - feminine singularcityהָֽעִיר־H5892Article | Noun - feminine singularwill be inhabitedוְיָשְׁבָ֥הH3427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularforeverלְעוֹלָֽם׃H5769Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 26

Original words

And people will comeוּבָ֣אוּH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralfrom the citiesמֵעָרֵֽי־H5892Preposition-m | Noun - feminine plural constructof Judahיְ֠הוּדָהH3063Noun - proper - masculine singularand the places aroundוּמִסְּבִיב֨וֹתH5439Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | AdverbJerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֜םH3389Noun - proper - feminine singularfrom the landוּמֵאֶ֣רֶץH776Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof Benjaminבִּנְיָמִ֗ןH1144Noun - proper - masculine singularand fromוּמִן־H4480Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe foothillsהַשְּׁפֵלָ֤הH8219Article | Noun - feminine singularוּמִן־וּמִן־H4480Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe hill countryהָהָר֙H2022Article | Noun - masculine singularandוּמִן־H4480Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe Negevהַנֶּ֔גֶבH5045Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularbringingמְבִאִ֛יםH935Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine pluralburnt offeringsעוֹלָ֥הH5930Noun - feminine singularand sacrificesוְזֶ֖בַחH2077Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singulargrain offeringsוּמִנְחָ֣הH4503Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularand frankincenseוּלְבוֹנָ֑הH3828Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular. . .וּמְבִאֵ֥יH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural constructand thank offeringsתוֹדָ֖הH8426Noun - feminine singularto the houseבֵּ֥יתH1004Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singular

BSB notes

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

Original words

But ifוְאִם־H518Conjunctionyou do notלֹ֨אH3808Adverb - Negative particlelistenתִשְׁמְע֜וּH8085Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralto Meאֵלַ֗יH413Preposition | first person common singularto keepלְקַדֵּשׁ֙H6942Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe Sabbathהַשַּׁבָּ֔תH7676Article | Noun - common singularday {holy}י֣וֹםH3117Noun - masculine singular constructby notוּלְבִלְתִּ֣י׀H1115Conjunctive waw, Preposition-lcarryingשְׂאֵ֣תH5375Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructa loadמַשָּׂ֗אH4853Noun - masculine singularwhile enteringוּבֹ֛אH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructthe gatesבְּשַׁעֲרֵ֥יH8179Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural constructof Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֖םH3389Noun - proper - feminine singularon the Sabbathהַשַּׁבָּ֑תH7676Article | Noun - common singulardayבְּי֣וֹםH3117Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructthen I will kindleוְהִצַּ֧תִּיH3341Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularvvvוְלֹ֥אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlean unquenchableתִכְבֶּֽה׃פH3518Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singularfireאֵ֣שׁH784Noun - common singularin its gatesבִּשְׁעָרֶ֗יהָH8179Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person feminine singularto consumeוְאָֽכְלָ֛הH398Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularthe citadelsאַרְמְנ֥וֹתH759Noun - masculine plural constructof Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֖םH3389Noun - 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.