Jeremiah 17:5
This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes the flesh his strength and turns his heart from the LORD.
This is what the LORD says
This phrase establishes the authority and divine origin of the message. In Hebrew, "LORD" is "Yahweh," the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. This introduction underscores that the message is not merely a human opinion but a divine decree, demanding attention and reverence. It reminds us of the prophetic tradition where God directly communicates His will to His people through His chosen messengers.

Cursed is the man
The word "cursed" in Hebrew is "arur," which signifies being under divine judgment or experiencing misfortune as a result of disobedience. This is a strong warning, indicating severe consequences for certain actions. In the biblical context, a curse is the opposite of a blessing, often resulting from a breach of covenant with God. It serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of turning away from divine guidance.

who trusts in mankind
The Hebrew root for "trusts" is "batach," meaning to rely on or have confidence in. This phrase warns against placing ultimate confidence in human beings, who are inherently fallible and limited. Historically, Israel often fell into the trap of relying on political alliances or human wisdom instead of seeking God's guidance. This serves as a timeless caution against idolatry of human power or wisdom, urging believers to place their trust in God alone.

who makes the flesh his strength
"Flesh" in Hebrew is "basar," often used to denote human frailty and mortality. To make "flesh" one's "strength" is to depend on human abilities or resources rather than divine power. This reflects a misplaced reliance on what is temporary and weak, rather than on the eternal and omnipotent God. It challenges believers to examine where they derive their strength and security, encouraging a shift from self-reliance to God-reliance.

and turns his heart from the LORD
The "heart" in Hebrew thought is the center of one's being, encompassing mind, will, and emotions. To "turn" one's heart from the LORD is to consciously choose a path away from God's presence and guidance. This phrase highlights the relational aspect of faith, where trust in God is not merely intellectual assent but a heartfelt commitment. It serves as a call to maintain a steadfast devotion to God, warning of the spiritual peril of turning away from Him.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his messages of warning and calls for repentance to the people of Judah.

2. Judah
The southern kingdom of Israel, often warned by prophets like Jeremiah for their idolatry and reliance on human alliances rather than God.

3. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who speaks through Jeremiah to deliver His message to the people.

4. Mankind
Represents human beings in general, emphasizing the folly of placing trust in human strength and wisdom over divine guidance.

5. The Heart
In Hebrew thought, the heart is the center of one's being, encompassing mind, will, and emotions. Turning one's heart from the LORD signifies a complete departure from reliance on God.
Teaching Points
The Danger of Misplaced Trust
Trusting in human strength or wisdom leads to spiritual downfall and separation from God.

The Heart's Allegiance
Our hearts must remain steadfast in their devotion to God, avoiding the temptation to rely on worldly solutions.

The Consequences of Turning Away
Turning away from God results in a curse, highlighting the seriousness of misplaced trust.

The Call to Repentance
Like Judah, we are called to examine where our trust lies and to repent if we have turned from God.

The Blessing of Trusting in God
While this verse speaks of a curse, the broader context of Scripture assures us of blessings when we place our trust in the LORD.
Bible Study Questions
1. What are some modern examples of trusting in mankind or human strength, and how can we guard against this in our own lives?

2. How does the concept of the heart in Hebrew thought deepen our understanding of what it means to turn our heart from the LORD?

3. In what ways can we practically apply the wisdom of Proverbs 3:5-6 in our daily decision-making?

4. How does the warning in Jeremiah 17:5 relate to the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament about serving two masters?

5. Reflect on a time when you relied on human strength rather than God. What did you learn from that experience, and how can it shape your future trust in God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 118:8-9
Highlights the wisdom of trusting in the LORD rather than in human leaders or strength.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Encourages believers to trust in the LORD with all their heart and not to lean on their own understanding.

Isaiah 31:1
Warns against seeking help from Egypt and relying on horses and chariots instead of looking to the Holy One of Israel.

Galatians 1:10
Paul speaks about seeking God's approval rather than man's, aligning with the theme of trust in God over human opinion.

Matthew 6:24
Jesus teaches about serving two masters, emphasizing the impossibility of divided loyalty, similar to trusting in God versus mankind.
A Nation's Duty in a War for FreedomFriedrich Schleiermacher Jeremiah 17:5
Making God Our TrustE. Jerman.Jeremiah 17:5-8
On Trust in GodG. Carr.Jeremiah 17:5-8
Shall not God be TrustedJeremiah 17:5-8
The Blessedness of TrustM. G. Pearse.Jeremiah 17:5-8
The Blessing and the CurseW. Hay Aitken, M. A.Jeremiah 17:5-8
The Danger of Trusting in ManC. O. Pratt, M. A.Jeremiah 17:5-8
The Difference Between Trusting in the Creature and the CreatorSketches of Four Hundred SermonsJeremiah 17:5-8
The Felicity of Divine TrustfulnessHomilistJeremiah 17:5-8
The Folly of Trusting in Any CreatureJeremiah 17:5-8
The Heath in the DesertE. Griffin, D. D.Jeremiah 17:5-8
The Heath in the Desert and the Tree by the RiverA. Maclaren, D. D.Jeremiah 17:5-8
The Sin of Trusting in ManH. Foster.Jeremiah 17:5-8
Trust -- Right and WrongEdward Thompson.Jeremiah 17:5-8
Trust in GodJohn Rogers, D. D.Jeremiah 17:5-8
Trust: Human and DivineJ. Waite Jeremiah 17:5-8
Trusting in the LordH. Foster.Jeremiah 17:5-8
People
Benjamin, David, Jeremiah
Places
Jerusalem, Negeb, People's Gate, Shephelah
Topics
Arm, Confideth, Cursed, Departeth, Departs, Depends, Faith, Flesh, Heart, Makes, Maketh, Mankind, Puts, Says, Strength, Thus, Trust, Trusteth, Trusts, Turneth, Turns
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 17:5

     5020   human nature
     5490   refuge
     5864   futility
     5973   unreliability
     6166   flesh, sinful nature
     8032   trust, lack of
     8224   dependence
     8331   reliability
     8354   trustworthiness
     8616   prayerlessness
     8710   atheism
     8820   self-confidence
     8825   self-righteousness, and gospel

Jeremiah 17:5-6

     4817   drought, spiritual
     8705   apostasy, in OT

Jeremiah 17:5-8

     4357   salt
     8023   faith, necessity

Library
Sin's Writing and Its Erasure
'The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars.'--JER. xvii. 1. 'Ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.'-2 COR. iii. 3. 'Blotting out the handwriting that was against us.'---COL .ii. 14. I have put these verses together because they
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Soul Gazing on God
'A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.'--JER. xvii. 12. I must begin by a word or two of explanation as to the language of this passage. The word 'is' is a supplement, and most probably it ought to be omitted, and the verse treated as being, not a statement, but a series of exclamations. The next verse runs thus, 'O Lord! the hope of Israel, all that forsake Thee shall be ashamed'; and the most natural and forcible understanding of the words of my text is reached
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Two Lists of Names
'They that depart from Me shall be written in the earth'--JER. xvii. 13. 'Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.'--LUKE x. 20. A name written on earth implies that the bearer of the name belongs to earth, and it also secondarily suggests that the inscription lasts but for a little while. Contrariwise, a name written in heaven implies that its bearer belongs to heaven, and that the inscription will abide. We find running throughout Scripture the metaphor of books in which men's names are
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Heath in the Desert and the Tree by the River
'He shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land and not inhabited...He shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.'--JER. xvii. 6, 8. The prophet here puts before us two highly finished pictures. In the
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Nation's Duty in a War for Freedom.
(Preached March 28th, 1813.) TEXT: JEREMIAH xvii. 5-8, AND xviii. 7-10. MY devout hearers! Through an extraordinary occurrence we find the order of our discourses on the suffering Saviour interrupted, and our to-day's meeting devoted to a very different subject. How deeply have we all been moved by the events of the last weeks! We saw march forth from our gates the army of a people nominally allied to us, but our feeling was not that of parting with friends; with thankful joy did we feel at last
Friedrich Schleiermacher—Selected Sermons of Schleiermacher

"The Carnal Mind is Enmity against God for it is not Subject to the Law of God, Neither Indeed Can Be. So Then they that Are
Rom. viii. s 7, 8.--"The carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." It is not the least of man's evils, that he knows not how evil he is, therefore the Searcher of the heart of man gives the most perfect account of it, Jer. xvii. 12. "The heart is deceitful above all things," as well as "desperately wicked," two things superlative and excessive in it, bordering upon an infiniteness, such
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Severinus in Germany.
As the Lord ever sends his angels when there is most need of help, so in the midst of the desolation and destruction which ensued on that irruption of the barbarians by which the Roman empire was broken in pieces after the death of Attila, the great desolator and exterminator, (A. D. 453,) He sent to the aid of the oppressed people of Germany, on the banks of the Danube, in their sore need, a man endowed with an extraordinary energy of love. His whole appearance has in it something enigmatical. As
Augustus Neander—Light in the Dark Places

Trust of the Wicked, and the Righteous Compared. Jer 17:5-8

John Newton—Olney Hymns

But in Order that we Fall not Away from Continence...
10. But in order that we fall not away from Continence, we ought to watch specially against those snares of the suggestions of the devil, that we presume not of our own strength. For, "Cursed is every one that setteth his hope in man." [1838] And who is he, but man? We cannot therefore truly say that he setteth not his hope in man, who setteth it in himself. For this also, to "live after man," what is it but to "live after the flesh?" Whoso therefore is tempted by such a suggestion, let him hear,
St. Augustine—On Continence

Epistle i. To the Roman Citizens.
To the Roman Citizens. Gregory, servant of the servants of God, to his most beloved sons the Roman citizens. It has come to my ears that certain men of perverse spirit have sown among you some things that are wrong and opposed to the holy faith, so as to forbid any work being done on the Sabbath day. What else can I call these but preachers of Antichrist, who, when he comes, will cause the Sabbath day as well as the Lord's day to be kept free from all work. For, because he pretends to die and rise
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

"And if any Man Sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,",
1 John ii. 1.--"And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,", &c. There is here a sad supposition, but too certain, that any man may sin, yea, that all men will sin, even those who have most communion with God, and interest in the blood of Christ. Yet they are not altogether exempted from this fatal lot of mankind. It is incident even to them to sin, and too frequently incident, but yet we have a happy and sweet provision, for indemnity from the hazard of sin,--"we have an advocate
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

"For what the Law could not Do, in that it was Weak through the Flesh, God Sending his Own Son in the Likeness of Sinful Flesh,
Rom. viii. 3.--"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in the flesh." For what purpose do we meet thus together? I would we knew it,--then it might be to some better purpose. In all other things we are rational, and do nothing of moment without some end and purpose. But, alas! in this matter of greatest moment, our going about divine ordinances, we have scarce any distinct or deliberate
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Appendix xvii. The Ordinances and Law of the Sabbath as Laid Down in the Mishnah and the Jerusalem Talmud.
The terribly exaggerated views of the Rabbis, and their endless, burdensome rules about the Sabbath may best be learned from a brief analysis of the Mishnah, as further explained and enlarged in the Jerusalem Talmud. [6476] For this purpose a brief analysis of what is, confessedly, one of the most difficult tractates may here be given. The Mishnic tractate Sabbath stands at the head of twelve tractates which together from the second of the six sections into which the Mishnah is divided, and which
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

The Fourth Commandment
Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day and hallowed it. Exod 20: 8-11. This
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

The First Part
Of the Apocalyptical Commentaries, according to the Rule of the Apocalyptical Key, on the First Prophecy which is contained in the Seals and Trumpets; with an Introduction concerning the Scene of the Apocalypse. As it is my design to investigate the meaning of the Apocalyptical visions, it is requisite for me to treat, in the first place, of that celestial theatre to which John was called, in order to behold them, exhibited as on a stage, and afterwards of the prophecies in succession, examined by
Joseph Mede—A Key to the Apocalypse

Moral Depravity.
In discussing the subject of human depravity, I shall,-- I. Define the term depravity. The word is derived from the Latin de and pravus. Pravus means "crooked." De is intensive. Depravatus literally and primarily means "very crooked," not in the sense of original or constitutional crookedness, but in the sense of having become crooked. The term does not imply original mal-conformation, but lapsed, fallen, departed from right or straight. It always implies deterioration, or fall from a former state
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

Inward Witness to the Truth of the Gospel.
"I have more understanding than my teachers, for Thy testimonies are my study; I am wiser than the aged, because I keep Thy commandments."--Psalm cxix. 99, 100. In these words the Psalmist declares, that in consequence of having obeyed God's commandments he had obtained more wisdom and understanding than those who had first enlightened his ignorance, and were once more enlightened than he. As if he said, "When I was a child, I was instructed in religious knowledge by kind and pious friends, who
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

The True Manner of Keeping Holy the Lord's Day.
Now the sanctifying of the Sabbath consists in two things--First, In resting from all servile and common business pertaining to our natural life; Secondly, In consecrating that rest wholly to the service of God, and the use of those holy means which belong to our spiritual life. For the First. 1. The servile and common works from which we are to cease are, generally, all civil works, from the least to the greatest (Exod. xxxi. 12, 13, 15, &c.) More particularly-- First, From all the works of our
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

But Concerning True Patience, Worthy of the Name of this virtue...
12. But concerning true patience, worthy of the name of this virtue, whence it is to be had, must now be inquired. For there are some [2650] who attribute it to the strength of the human will, not which it hath by Divine assistance, but which it hath of free-will. Now this error is a proud one: for it is the error of them which abound, of whom it is said in the Psalm, "A scornful reproof to them which abound, and a despising to the proud." [2651] It is not therefore that "patience of the poor" which
St. Augustine—On Patience

What the Scriptures Principally Teach: the Ruin and Recovery of Man. Faith and Love Towards Christ.
2 Tim. i. 13.--"Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." Here is the sum of religion. Here you have a compend of the doctrine of the Scriptures. All divine truths may be reduced to these two heads,--faith and love; what we ought to believe, and what we ought to do. This is all the Scriptures teach, and this is all we have to learn. What have we to know, but what God hath revealed of himself to us? And what have we to do, but what
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Jewish views on Trade, Tradesmen, and Trades' Guilds
We read in the Mishnah (Kidd. iv. 14) as follows: "Rabbi Meir said: Let a man always teach his son a cleanly and a light trade; and let him pray to Him whose are wealth and riches; for there is no trade which has not both poverty and riches, and neither does poverty come from the trade nor yet riches, but everything according to one's deserving (merit). Rabbi Simeon, the son of Eleazer, said: Hast thou all thy life long seen a beast or a bird which has a trade? Still they are nourished, and that
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

The Secret of Its Greatness
[Illustration: (drop cap G) The Great Pyramid] God always chooses the right kind of people to do His work. Not only so, He always gives to those whom He chooses just the sort of life which will best prepare them for the work He will one day call them to do. That is why God put it into the heart of Pharaoh's daughter to bring up Moses as her own son in the Egyptian palace. The most important part of Moses' training was that his heart should be right with God, and therefore he was allowed to remain
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

Division of Actual Grace
Actual grace may be divided according to: (1) the difference existing between the faculties of the human soul, and (2) in reference to the freedom of the will. Considered in its relation to the different faculties of the soul, actual grace is either of the intellect, or of the will, or of the sensitive faculties. With regard to the free consent of the will, it is either (1) prevenient, also called cooeperating, or (2) efficacious or merely sufficient. 1. THE ILLUMINATING GRACE OF THE INTELLECT.--Actual
Joseph Pohle—Grace, Actual and Habitual

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