Jeremiah 17:13
O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.
Original Language Analysis
מִקְוֵ֤ה
the hope
H4723
מִקְוֵ֤ה
the hope
Strong's:
H4723
Word #:
1 of 16
something waited for, i.e., a collection, i.e., (of water) a pond, or (of men and horses) a caravan or drove
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
2 of 16
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
יְהוָֽה׃
O LORD
H3068
יְהוָֽה׃
O LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 16
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
4 of 16
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
יֵבֹ֑שׁוּ
thee shall be ashamed
H954
יֵבֹ֑שׁוּ
thee shall be ashamed
Strong's:
H954
Word #:
6 of 16
properly, to pale, i.e., by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or delayed
יִכָּתֵ֔בוּ
shall be written
H3789
יִכָּתֵ֔בוּ
shall be written
Strong's:
H3789
Word #:
9 of 16
to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)
כִּ֥י
H3588
כִּ֥י
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
10 of 16
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
מְק֥וֹר
the fountain
H4726
מְק֥וֹר
the fountain
Strong's:
H4726
Word #:
12 of 16
properly, something dug, i.e., a (general) source (of water, even when naturally flowing; also of tears, blood (by euphemism, of the female pudenda);
מַֽיִם
waters
H4325
מַֽיִם
waters
Strong's:
H4325
Word #:
13 of 16
water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen
חַיִּ֖ים
of living
H2416
חַיִּ֖ים
of living
Strong's:
H2416
Word #:
14 of 16
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
Cross References
Revelation 7:17For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.Revelation 22:1And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.John 4:10Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.John 4:14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.Revelation 21:6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.Isaiah 1:28And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.Jeremiah 14:8O the hope of Israel, the saviour thereof in time of trouble, why shouldest thou be as a stranger in the land, and as a wayfaring man that turneth aside to tarry for a night?Luke 10:20Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.Revelation 20:15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.Isaiah 66:5Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
Historical Context
Water scarcity made fountains and springs precious in ancient Palestine. "Living water" (mayim chayim) referred to flowing water from springs, contrasted with stagnant cistern water. Cisterns were common but prone to cracks, making them unreliable. The prophets used this imagery to condemn idolatry—exchanging the reliable, life-giving God for worthless substitutes (Jer 2:13, Isa 55:1-2). The metaphor would resonate powerfully with an audience dependent on water sources for survival.
Questions for Reflection
- What broken cisterns (false sources of life and satisfaction) are you tempted to dig for yourself?
- How does forsaking God as the fountain of living waters lead to inevitable shame and disappointment?
- In what ways does Christ uniquely fulfill the promise of being living water that eternally satisfies?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse presents God as "the hope of Israel"—the covenant people's ultimate source of security, prosperity, and salvation. The Hebrew miqveh (מִקְוֵה, hope) also means "pool" or "gathering of waters," playing on the metaphor developed in the phrase "fountain of living waters" (meqor mayim chayim, מְקוֹר מַיִם חַיִּים). God Himself is the life-giving source His people need.
Those who "forsake thee shall be ashamed"—the shame (yevoshu, יֵבֹשׁוּ) is public disgrace when their false hopes prove empty. "They that depart from me shall be written in the earth" contrasts with having one's name written in heaven (Luke 10:20) or in God's book of life (Rev 20:15). Being written in dust means mortality, impermanence, and judgment—their names and legacy will vanish.
The "fountain of living waters" imagery appears throughout Jeremiah (2:13, 17:13) and finds fulfillment in Christ, who offers living water that becomes an eternal spring within believers (John 4:10-14, 7:37-39). To forsake this fountain for broken cisterns (created things, false gods, self-reliance) is the height of folly. Only Christ satisfies the deepest thirst of the human soul.