Jeremiah 17:14
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Jeremiah 17:14
14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
Chapter Context
Jeremiah 17 is a prophetic oracle chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of faith, sacrifice, truth. Written during the final years of Judah and early exile (c. 627-580 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Prophesied during Judah's final years as Babylon became the dominant power.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-27: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it offers practical wisdom for godly living in a fallen world. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Jeremiah and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Jeremiah 17:14
14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
Analysis
Jeremiah's prayer shifts from prophetic proclamation to personal petition. "Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed" employs emphatic repetition—the verb rapha (רָפָא) appears twice, underscoring that only divine healing is effective and complete. The parallel "save me, and I shall be saved" uses yasha (יָשַׁע), the root from which we get "Jesus" (Yeshua)—salvation, deliverance, rescue.
The phrases "I shall be healed" and "I shall be saved" express complete confidence that what God does is efficacious and permanent. Human healers and saviors may fail, but God's work is certain. "For thou art my praise" (tehillati, תְּהִלָּתִי) indicates that God Himself is the object and content of Jeremiah's worship—not merely that Jeremiah praises God, but that God is inherently praiseworthy and the source of all boasting (cf. 1 Cor 1:31).
This prayer models the Reformed understanding that salvation and spiritual health are entirely dependent on God's sovereign grace. We cannot heal or save ourselves; only God's intervention can transform our desperately wicked hearts (v. 9). Christ the Great Physician came not for the healthy but for the sick (Luke 5:31-32), offering the healing and salvation that Jeremiah longed for.
Historical Context
Prophets often faced personal crises as they bore God's word to rebellious people. Jeremiah's ministry was marked by persecution, imprisonment, and rejection (Jer 11:18-23, 20:1-6, 37-38). His prayers of lament (11:18-20, 15:15-18, 20:7-18) reveal the emotional and spiritual toll of prophetic ministry. This petition for healing likely refers to both physical affliction and spiritual anguish caused by opposition and the burden of his message.
Reflection
- What areas of your life need divine healing that human resources cannot provide?
- How does Jeremiah's confidence in God's healing challenge modern self-sufficiency and therapeutic approaches?
- In what ways is Christ the ultimate fulfillment of the healing and salvation Jeremiah seeks?
Word Studies
- Save: יָשַׁע (Yasha) H3467 - To save, deliver, rescue
Cross-References
- Salvation: Jeremiah 15:20, Psalms 6:4, 106:47, Matthew 14:30
- Resurrection: Deuteronomy 10:21, Psalms 109:1
- References Lord: Jeremiah 31:18, Psalms 6:2, Luke 4:18
- Parallel theme: Deuteronomy 32:39