Jeremiah 17:17
Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil.
Original Language Analysis
אַל
H408
אַל
Strong's:
H408
Word #:
1 of 8
not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing
תִּֽהְיֵה
H1961
תִּֽהְיֵה
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
2 of 8
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
לִמְחִתָּ֑ה
Be not a terror
H4288
לִמְחִתָּ֑ה
Be not a terror
Strong's:
H4288
Word #:
4 of 8
properly, a dissolution; concretely, a ruin, or (abstractly) consternation
מַֽחֲסִי
unto me thou art my hope
H4268
מַֽחֲסִי
unto me thou art my hope
Strong's:
H4268
Word #:
5 of 8
a shelter (literally or figuratively)
Cross References
Nahum 1:7The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.Psalms 59:16But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.Jeremiah 16:19O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and things wherein there is no profit.Job 31:23For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure.
Historical Context
Prophets in ancient Israel faced physical danger when their messages offended political and religious authorities. Jeremiah experienced multiple attempts on his life, imprisonment, and social isolation (Jer 20:1-2, 26:7-9, 37:15, 38:6). His laments reveal the psychological and spiritual toll of sustained opposition. Yet God preserved him through decades of ministry, demonstrating faithfulness to His servants even through severe trials.
Questions for Reflection
- When have you needed God to be your refuge in a 'day of evil' when opposition threatened to overwhelm you?
- How does acknowledging complete dependence on God differ from self-sufficient attempts to endure trials?
- In what ways does Christ's experience of opposition and His Father's preservation encourage you in difficulty?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Jeremiah's petition "Be not a terror unto me" reveals his vulnerability and dependence on God amid persecution. The Hebrew mechittah (מְחִתָּה, terror) suggests overwhelming dread or that which causes dismay. Jeremiah knows that if God withdraws His sustaining presence, he will be undone. "Thou art my hope in the day of evil" (machasei, מַחְסִי, refuge) affirms that God alone provides protection and confidence.
The "day of evil" refers both to Jeremiah's present persecution and the coming judgment. The prophet faces danger from hostile audiences (Jer 11:21, 18:18, 20:10, 26:8-11), but his ultimate security rests in God, not circumstances. This petition acknowledges complete dependence—without divine sustaining, the prophet cannot endure.
This prayer models the Reformed understanding that perseverance of the saints depends entirely on God's preservation, not human resolve. Christ in Gethsemane similarly cast Himself on the Father's will (Matt 26:39). Believers facing trials can echo Jeremiah's confidence that God will be their refuge in the day of evil, knowing that nothing can separate them from His love (Rom 8:35-39).