Jeremiah 17:27
But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
Original Language Analysis
וְאִם
H518
וְאִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
1 of 24
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
לֹ֨א
H3808
לֹ֨א
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
2 of 24
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
תִשְׁמְע֜וּ
But if ye will not hearken
H8085
תִשְׁמְע֜וּ
But if ye will not hearken
Strong's:
H8085
Word #:
3 of 24
to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
לְקַדֵּשׁ֙
unto me to hallow
H6942
לְקַדֵּשׁ֙
unto me to hallow
Strong's:
H6942
Word #:
5 of 24
to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 24
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בְּי֣וֹם
day
H3117
בְּי֣וֹם
day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
7 of 24
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת
on the sabbath
H7676
הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת
on the sabbath
Strong's:
H7676
Word #:
8 of 24
intermission, i.e (specifically) the sabbath
וּלְבִלְתִּ֣י׀
H1115
וּלְבִלְתִּ֣י׀
Strong's:
H1115
Word #:
9 of 24
properly, a failure of, i.e., (used only as a negative particle, usually with a prepositional prefix) not, except, without, unless, besides, because n
שְׂאֵ֣ת
and not to bear
H5375
שְׂאֵ֣ת
and not to bear
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
10 of 24
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
מַשָּׂ֗א
a burden
H4853
מַשָּׂ֗א
a burden
Strong's:
H4853
Word #:
11 of 24
a burden; figuratively, an utterance, chiefly a doom, especially singing; mental, desire
וּבֹ֛א
even entering in
H935
וּבֹ֛א
even entering in
Strong's:
H935
Word #:
12 of 24
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
of Jerusalem
H3389
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
of Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
14 of 24
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
בְּי֣וֹם
day
H3117
בְּי֣וֹם
day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
15 of 24
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת
on the sabbath
H7676
הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת
on the sabbath
Strong's:
H7676
Word #:
16 of 24
intermission, i.e (specifically) the sabbath
וְהִצַּ֧תִּי
then will I kindle
H3341
וְהִצַּ֧תִּי
then will I kindle
Strong's:
H3341
Word #:
17 of 24
to burn or set on fire; figuratively, to desolate
וְאָֽכְלָ֛ה
thereof and it shall devour
H398
וְאָֽכְלָ֛ה
thereof and it shall devour
Strong's:
H398
Word #:
20 of 24
to eat (literally or figuratively)
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
of Jerusalem
H3389
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
of Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
22 of 24
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
Cross References
2 Kings 25:9And he burnt the house of the LORD, and the king's house, and all the houses of Jerusalem, and every great man's house burnt he with fire.Jeremiah 7:20Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn, and shall not be quenched.Jeremiah 21:14But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.Amos 1:14But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:Ezekiel 22:8Thou hast despised mine holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths.Jeremiah 52:13And burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire:Lamentations 4:11The LORD hath accomplished his fury; he hath poured out his fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.Isaiah 1:20But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.Jeremiah 49:27And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Ben-hadad.Jeremiah 39:8And the Chaldeans burned the king's house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.
Historical Context
The Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem (586 BC) involved systematic destruction by fire. Archaeological excavations reveal extensive burn layers from this period. The city walls, gates, temple, and palaces were all burned. This catastrophic judgment vindicated Jeremiah's prophecies and demonstrated that God's warnings are not idle threats. The exile lasted seventy years, after which a remnant returned, but Jerusalem never regained its former glory until Christ came.
Questions for Reflection
- How do vivid warnings of judgment affect your understanding of sin's seriousness and God's holiness?
- What does the reality of unquenchable fire teach about the eternal consequences of rejecting God?
- How does Christ's bearing the fire of God's wrath provide assurance that believers will never face such judgment?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
The final verse presents the alternative—judgment for covenant violation: "But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day." The condition is repeated for emphasis, highlighting that the choice and consequences rest with the people. Continuing to bear burdens through Jerusalem's gates on the Sabbath represents deliberate, persistent covenant violation despite clear warning.
The threatened judgment is catastrophic: "I will kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched." Fire represents divine wrath and total destruction. Gates, the entry points and symbols of city strength, will burn first. The palaces—royal and noble residences representing political power—will be consumed. The phrase "it shall not be quenched" indicates unstoppable, complete devastation.
This prophecy was literally fulfilled when Babylon burned Jerusalem in 586 BC (2 Kgs 25:8-9, Jer 52:12-13). Yet it also points to final judgment—the unquenchable fire prepared for those who reject God (Mark 9:43-48, Matt 25:41). The Reformed doctrine of eternal punishment finds biblical support in such passages. Only Christ can save from the fire of divine wrath by bearing that judgment in our place (1 Thess 1:10, 5:9).