Jeremiah 18:17
◄  Jeremiah 18:17  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Like a wind from the east, I will scatter them before their enemies; I will show them my back and not my face in the day of their disaster."

New Living Translation (©2007)
I will scatter my people before their enemies as the east wind scatters dust. And in all their trouble I will turn my back on them and refuse to notice their distress."

English Standard Version (©2001)
Like the east wind I will scatter them before the enemy. I will show them my back, not my face, in the day of their calamity.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Like an east wind I will scatter them Before the enemy; I will show them My back and not My face In the day of their calamity.'"

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
I will scatter them before the enemy like the east wind. I will show them My back and not My face on the day of their calamity.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Like the east wind, I'll scatter them before the enemy. I'll show them my back and not my face, on the day of their downfall.'"

NET Bible (©2006)
I will scatter them before their enemies like dust blowing in front of a burning east wind. I will turn my back on them and not look favorably on them when disaster strikes them."

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Like the east wind I will scatter them in front of the enemy. On the day of their disaster, I will show them my back, not my face."

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.

American King James Version
I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.

American Standard Version
I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.

Douay-Rheims Bible
As a burning will I scatter them before the enemy: I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their destruction.

Darby Bible Translation
As with an east wind will I scatter them before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.

English Revised Version
I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will look upon their back, and not their face, in the day of their calamity.

Webster's Bible Translation
I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.

World English Bible
I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.

Young's Literal Translation
As an east wind I scatter them before an enemy, The neck, and not the face, I shew them, In the day of their calamity.'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

18:11-17 Sinners call it liberty to live at large; whereas for a man to be a slave to his lusts, is the very worst slavery. They forsook God for idols. When men are parched with heat, and meet with cooling, refreshing streams, they use them. In these things men will not leave a certainty for an uncertainty; but Israel left the ancient paths appointed by the Divine law. They walked not in the highway, in which they might travel safely, but in a way in which they must stumble: such was the way of idolatry, and such is the way of iniquity. This made their land desolate, and themselves miserable. Calamities may be borne, if God smile upon us when under them; but if he is displeased, and refuses his help, we are undone. Multitudes forget the Lord and his Christ, and wander from the ancient paths, to walk in ways of their own devising. But what will they do in the day of judgment!

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 17. - As with an east wind. The east was a stormy wind (Psalm 48:7; Job 27:21). I wilt show them the back; as they have done to Jehovah (Jeremiah 2:27; Jeremiah 32:33).

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy,.... As the east wind, which is generally strong and boisterous, drives the chaff and stubble, and anything that is light, before it, and scatters it here and there; so the Lord threatens to scatter the people of the Jews over the face of the earth, before their enemies, whom they should not be able to withstand. It denotes the power of the enemy God would make use of; the ease with which this should be done; and the utter dispersion of them; and is their present case:

I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity; that is, will not look upon them in a favourable way, nor with any pity and compassion for them, nor hear their cries; but turn his back upon them, and a deaf ear unto them, and give them no help and relief, or deliver them out of their calamities; but suffer them to continue upon them, and them to sink under them; see Proverbs 1:26; which refers to the same time of calamity as here.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

17. as with an east wind—literally, "I will scatter them, as an east wind (scatters all before it)": a most violent wind (Job 27:21; Ps 48:7; Isa 27:8). Thirty-two manuscripts read (without as), "with an east wind."

I will show them the back … not … face—just retribution: as "they turned their back unto Me … not their face" (Jer 2:27).

Jeremiah 18:17 Parallel Commentaries

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The Potter and the Clay
…15Because my people has forgotten me, they have burned incense to vanity, and they have caused them to stumble in their ways from the ancient paths, to walk in paths, in a way not cast up; 16To make their land desolate, and a perpetual hissing; every one that passes thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head. 17I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.

Job 27:21 The east wind carries him off, and he is gone; it sweeps him out of his place.
Psalm 48:7 You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish shattered by an east wind.
Proverbs 24:16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.
Jeremiah 2:27 They say to wood, 'You are my father,' and to stone, 'You gave me birth.' They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; yet when they are in trouble, they say, 'Come and save us!'
Jeremiah 13:24 "I will scatter you like chaff driven by the desert wind.
Jeremiah 32:33 They turned their backs to me and not their faces; though I taught them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline.
Jeremiah 46:21 The mercenaries in her ranks are like fattened calves. They too will turn and flee together, they will not stand their ground, for the day of disaster is coming upon them, the time for them to be punished.
Ezekiel 7:22 I will turn my face away from the people, and robbers will desecrate the place I treasure. They will enter it and will defile it.
Ezekiel 27:26 Your oarsmen take you out to the high seas. But the east wind will break you to pieces far out at sea.