Jeremiah 17:16
Jeremiah 17:16 in Multiple Translations
But I have not run away from being Your shepherd; I have not desired the day of despair. You know that the utterance of my lips was spoken in Your presence.
As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was right before thee.
As for me, I have not hastened from being a shepherd after thee; neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was before thy face.
As for me, I have not said; Let the day of trouble come to them quickly; and I have not been hoping for the death-giving day; you have knowledge of what came from my lips; it was open before you.
But I haven't been in a hurry to give up being your shepherd. I haven't wanted the time of trouble to come. You know that whatever I said was said in front of you.
But I haue not thrust in my selfe for a pastour after thee, neither haue I desired the day of miserie, thou knowest: that which came out of my lips, was right before thee.
And I hastened not from feeding after Thee, And the desperate day I have not desired, Thou — Thou hast known, The produce of my lips, before Thy face it hath been,
As for me, I have not hurried from being a shepherd after you. I haven’t desired the woeful day. You know. That which came out of my lips was before your face.
As for me, I have not hastened from being a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which was uttered by my lips was right before thee.
And 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.
Yahweh, you appointed me to take care of your people like a shepherd takes care of his sheep [MET]; I have not abandoned that work, and you know that I have not previously wanted this time of disaster to come to people who ridicule me. And you know everything that I have said [MTY] to your people.
Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 17:16
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Jeremiah 17:16 Interlinear (Deep Study)
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 17:16
Study Notes — Jeremiah 17:16
- Context
- Cross References
- Jeremiah 17:16 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 17:16
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 17:16
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 17:16
- Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 17:16
- Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 17:16
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 17:16
- Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 17:16
- Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 17:16
- Sermons on Jeremiah 17:16
Context — Jeremiah’s Prayer for Deliverance
16But I have not run away from being Your shepherd; I have not desired the day of despair. You know that the utterance of my lips was spoken in Your presence.
17Do not become a terror to me; You are my refuge in the day of disaster. 18Let my persecutors be put to shame, but do not let me be put to shame. Let them be terrified, but do not let me be terrified. Bring upon them the day of disaster and shatter them with double destruction.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Acts 20:20 | I did not shrink back from declaring anything that was helpful to you as I taught you publicly and from house to house, |
| 2 | Jeremiah 4:19–20 | My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the pain in my chest! My heart pounds within me; I cannot be silent. For I have heard the sound of the horn, the alarm of battle. Disaster after disaster is proclaimed, for the whole land is laid waste. My tents are destroyed in an instant, my curtains in a moment. |
| 3 | Acts 20:27 | For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole will of God. |
| 4 | James 3:1 | Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. |
| 5 | Amos 7:14–15 | “I was not a prophet,” Amos replied, “nor was I the son of a prophet; rather, I was a herdsman and a tender of sycamore-fig trees. But the LORD took me from following the flock and said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to My people Israel.’ |
| 6 | Jeremiah 1:4–10 | The word of the LORD came to me, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” “Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!” But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD. Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant.” |
| 7 | Jeremiah 20:9 | If I say, “I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,” His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones, and I become weary of holding it in, and I cannot prevail. |
| 8 | Romans 9:1–3 | I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit. I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood, |
| 9 | Jeremiah 18:20 | Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before You to speak good on their behalf, to turn Your wrath from them. |
| 10 | Ezekiel 33:7–9 | As for you, O son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word from My mouth and give them the warning from Me. If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to dissuade him from his way, then that wicked man will die in his iniquity, yet I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you warn the wicked man to turn from his way, and he does not turn from it, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life. |
Jeremiah 17:16 Summary
[Jeremiah 17:16 means that Jeremiah is telling God that he has not given up on being a leader and teacher for God's people, even when things get tough. He is saying that he has stayed true to God, even when others were against him, and that he has spoken the truth, knowing that God is always with him. This is like what it says in Psalm 23:4, where David says that even in the darkest valley, God is with him, and in Isaiah 41:10, where God promises to be with us and help us, so we do not need to fear.]
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Jeremiah mean by 'being Your shepherd' in Jeremiah 17:16?
Jeremiah is referring to his role as a spiritual leader, guiding God's people with the truth of God's word, as seen in Jeremiah 3:15, where God promises to give His people shepherds who will feed them with knowledge and understanding.
What is the 'day of despair' that Jeremiah mentions in Jeremiah 17:16?
The 'day of despair' likely refers to a time of great trouble and distress, similar to what is described in Deuteronomy 31:17, where God warns of a day when He will hide His face from His people, leading to despair and desperation.
How can we be sure that our words and actions are 'spoken in God's presence' as Jeremiah claims in Jeremiah 17:16?
We can be sure by remembering that God is always with us, as promised in Matthew 28:20, and by being mindful of our thoughts and actions, as instructed in Colossians 3:17, where we are told to do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
What can we learn from Jeremiah's commitment to speaking the truth, even in the face of opposition, as seen in Jeremiah 17:16?
We can learn the importance of standing firm in our faith, even when faced with challenges and criticism, just as Jeremiah did, and as encouraged in Ephesians 6:13, where we are told to stand firm in the face of spiritual battles, trusting in God's power and protection.
Reflection Questions
- How can I, like Jeremiah, remain faithful to God's calling on my life, even when faced with opposition or criticism?
- In what ways can I 'speak in God's presence' in my daily life, being mindful of His constant presence with me?
- What are some areas where I may be tempted to 'run away' from my responsibilities or God's calling, and how can I stay committed to following Him?
- How can I cultivate a deeper sense of trust in God's presence and protection, as Jeremiah expresses in Jeremiah 17:17-18?
Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 17:16
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 17:16
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 17:16
Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 17:16
Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 17:16
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 17:16
Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 17:16
Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 17:16
Sermons on Jeremiah 17:16
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
(Sermon Preparation) Lecture 07 by Alan Redpath | In the video, the preacher introduces fourteen principles for Christian living. He challenges the audience to quickly find Bible verses to support each principle. The principles in |
|
Loved With Everlasting Love - Part 2 by Paris Reidhead | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the tendency of people to start something without doing their homework or fully understanding what is involved. He emphasizes the importance o |
|
The Gospel of the Grace of God by Carter Conlon | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the transformative power of the Gospel of the Grace of God. He emphasizes that when someone truly encounters God, they are changed from the i |
|
A Clear Gospel Message - Part 2 by Zac Poonen | This sermon emphasizes the importance of coming into the light and being honest with God about our sins, acknowledging our need for repentance and faith in Jesus Christ for a new b |
|
Book of Acts Series - Part 32 | a Life for a Life by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the speaker expresses concern about a translator who seemed to have his own agenda rather than accurately translating the message. The speaker then describes a song |
|
Bishop j.c. Ryle: Liverpool's Mr. Protestant (Famous Saints #5) by Stephen Hamilton | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of preaching the gospel and the responsibility that comes with it. He refers to 1 Corinthians 9:16, where the apostle Paul exp |
|
A Clear Gospel Message by Zac Poonen | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the importance of laying a foundation and being born again. He references Acts chapter 20, where the apostle Paul declares that he preached t |






