Jeremiah 17:4
And thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage that I gave thee; and I will cause thee to serve thine enemies in the land which thou knowest not: for ye have kindled a fire in mine anger, which shall burn for ever.
Original Language Analysis
וְשָׁמַטְתָּ֗ה
And thou even thyself shalt discontinue
H8058
וְשָׁמַטְתָּ֗ה
And thou even thyself shalt discontinue
Strong's:
H8058
Word #:
1 of 20
to fling down; incipiently to jostle; figuratively, to let alone, desist, remit
מִנַּחֲלָֽתְךָ֙
from thine heritage
H5159
מִנַּחֲלָֽתְךָ֙
from thine heritage
Strong's:
H5159
Word #:
3 of 20
properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
4 of 20
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
נָתַ֣תִּי
that I gave
H5414
נָתַ֣תִּי
that I gave
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
5 of 20
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
וְהַעֲבַדְתִּ֙יךָ֙
thee and I will cause thee to serve
H5647
וְהַעֲבַדְתִּ֙יךָ֙
thee and I will cause thee to serve
Strong's:
H5647
Word #:
7 of 20
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
8 of 20
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
11 of 20
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
12 of 20
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָדָ֑עְתָּ
which thou knowest
H3045
יָדָ֑עְתָּ
which thou knowest
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
13 of 20
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
14 of 20
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
בְּאַפִּ֖י
in mine anger
H639
בְּאַפִּ֖י
in mine anger
Strong's:
H639
Word #:
17 of 20
properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire
עַד
for
H5704
עַד
for
Strong's:
H5704
Word #:
18 of 20
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
Cross References
Jeremiah 15:14And I will make thee to pass with thine enemies into a land which thou knowest not: for a fire is kindled in mine anger, which shall burn upon you.Lamentations 5:2Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.Isaiah 5:25Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.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.Isaiah 14:3And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,Jeremiah 16:13Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour.
Historical Context
The Babylonian exile (586-516 BC) fulfilled this prophecy precisely. Judah's elite were deported to Babylon, a foreign land with alien culture, language, and gods. They lost access to the temple, the land, and the covenant blessings. This served as the ultimate covenant sanction, demonstrating that God's patience has limits. The exile reshaped Jewish identity and led to the development of synagogue worship, scriptural study, and the preservation of the Hebrew Bible.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the reality of being 'discontinued from your heritage' challenge presumption upon God's covenant promises without genuine faithfulness?
- In what ways might modern Christians experience spiritual 'exile' through the consequences of persistent sin?
- How does Christ's bearing the fire of God's wrath on the cross provide the only escape from eternal judgment?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The severest consequence is introduced: "thou, even thyself, shalt discontinue from thine heritage." The emphatic Hebrew construction stresses personal responsibility—Judah cannot blame circumstances or others. The heritage refers to the promised land, Israel's covenant inheritance from God (Deut 4:21). To be removed from it means exile, the covenant curse for disobedience (Lev 26:27-39, Deut 28:64-68).
Serving "enemies in the land which thou knowest not" reverses the Exodus deliverance. Instead of serving God in the land He promised, they'll serve pagan masters in Babylon. This exile represents spiritual as well as physical displacement—separation from God's presence in the temple. The phrase "ye have kindled a fire in mine anger" uses the very imagery of sacrifice perverted into judgment. Their false worship has ignited divine wrath.
The sobering phrase "which shall burn for ever" emphasizes the enduring nature of God's just anger against sin. While the historical exile lasted seventy years, the theological principle points to eternal consequences for unrepentant sin. Only the new covenant in Christ can extinguish the fire of God's wrath through the substitutionary sacrifice of the Son.