Jeremiah 17:5
Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.
Original Language Analysis
כֹּ֣ה׀
H3541
כֹּ֣ה׀
Strong's:
H3541
Word #:
1 of 15
properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now
יְהוָ֖ה
from the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
from the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
3 of 15
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙
be the man
H1397
הַגֶּ֙בֶר֙
be the man
Strong's:
H1397
Word #:
5 of 15
properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally, a person simply
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
6 of 15
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
יִבְטַ֣ח
that trusteth
H982
יִבְטַ֣ח
that trusteth
Strong's:
H982
Word #:
7 of 15
properly, to hie for refuge (but not so precipitately as h2620); figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure
בָּֽאָדָ֔ם
in man
H120
בָּֽאָדָ֔ם
in man
Strong's:
H120
Word #:
8 of 15
ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)
וְשָׂ֥ם
and maketh
H7760
וְשָׂ֥ם
and maketh
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
9 of 15
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
בָּשָׂ֖ר
flesh
H1320
בָּשָׂ֖ר
flesh
Strong's:
H1320
Word #:
10 of 15
flesh (from its freshness); by extension, body, person; also (by euphemistically) the pudenda of a man
זְרֹע֑וֹ
his arm
H2220
זְרֹע֑וֹ
his arm
Strong's:
H2220
Word #:
11 of 15
the arm (as stretched out), or (of animals) the foreleg; figuratively, force
וּמִן
H4480
וּמִן
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
12 of 15
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
יְהוָ֖ה
from the LORD
H3068
יְהוָ֖ה
from the LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
13 of 15
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
Cross References
Isaiah 2:22Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?2 Chronicles 32:8With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.Isaiah 36:6Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all that trust in him.Psalms 62:9Surely men of low degree are vanity, and men of high degree are a lie: to be laid in the balance, they are altogether lighter than vanity.Psalms 18:21For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.Ezekiel 6:9And they that escape of you shall remember me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives, because I am broken with their whorish heart, which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their idols: and they shall lothe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations.Isaiah 59:15Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.Hosea 1:2The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.
Historical Context
Jeremiah spoke this oracle during a period when Judah constantly faced geopolitical pressure from Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon. Kings and officials regularly formed military alliances with these powers rather than trusting God's protection (Isa 30:1-3, 31:1). King Zedekiah's rebellion against Babylon, trusting in Egyptian aid, exemplifies this cursed trust in man (Jer 37:5-10, Ezek 17:15-18). Such political pragmatism, divorced from covenant faithfulness, led to Judah's destruction.
Questions for Reflection
- In what areas of life are you most tempted to trust in human wisdom, strength, or resources rather than God?
- How does this verse challenge the modern idolatry of self-reliance and therapeutic self-help?
- What does it mean practically for your heart to depart from the LORD while maintaining outward religious observance?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
This verse establishes a fundamental antithesis between two ways of life: trusting in human strength versus trusting in the LORD. The Hebrew arur (אָרוּר, "cursed") is the opposite of baruch (blessed) in verse 7, framing a wisdom contrast similar to Psalm 1. The curse falls upon those who "trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm"—relying on human ability, alliances, or wisdom rather than God.
"Maketh flesh his arm" is a vivid idiom depicting human strength as the source of security and power. The arm symbolizes might and protection in Hebrew thought (Ex 6:6, Deut 4:34). To make flesh one's arm is to replace divine omnipotence with human frailty. The phrase "whose heart departeth from the LORD" reveals that external reliance on human resources stems from internal apostasy—the heart has turned away from covenant loyalty.
This verse articulates the Reformed principle that true faith and trust in God are inseparable. Practical atheism—living as if God were irrelevant while maintaining religious forms—is the essence of apostasy. The New Testament echoes this warning: confidence in the flesh is opposed to confidence in Christ (Phil 3:3-4). Only those whose hearts cling to the LORD avoid the curse of self-reliance.