Jeremiah 17:16

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

But I have not pestered you to bring disaster. I have not desired the time of irreparable devastation. You know that. You are fully aware of every word that I have spoken.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַאֲנִ֞י לֹא־אַ֣צְתִּי ׀ מֵרֹעֶ֣ה אַחֲרֶ֗יךָ וְי֥וֹם אָנ֛וּשׁ לֹ֥א הִתְאַוֵּ֖יתִי אַתָּ֣ה יָדָ֑עְתָּ מוֹצָ֣א שְׂפָתַ֔י נֹ֥כַח פָּנֶ֖יךָ הָיָֽה׃

Transliteration

And-I not-ʾaṣtî from-rōʿeh after-you and-yôm ʾānûš not hitʾawwêtî you yādāʿtā môṣāʾ śĕpātay before pānêkā hāyâ

Grammar Details

• *ʾaṣtî*: qal perfect 1st person singular - I have pressed/hastened
• *rōʿeh*: qal participle masculine singular - shepherding/being a shepherd
• *yôm*: masculine singular noun - day
• *ʾānûš*: adjective, masculine singular - desperate/incurable
• *hitʾawwêtî*: hithpael perfect 1st person singular - I have desired/longed for
• *yādāʿtā*: qal perfect 2nd person masculine singular - you know
• *môṣāʾ*: construct state, masculine singular - what comes out of
• *śĕpātay*: feminine dual noun + 1st person singular suffix - my lips
• *pānêkā*: masculine plural noun + 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your face
• *hāyâ*: qal perfect 3rd person masculine singular - it was

Word Meanings

• *ʾaṣtî*: I have pressed/hastened/urged/withdrawn
• *rōʿeh*: shepherding/pastoring/tending the flock
• *ʾānûš*: desperate/incurable/woeful/disaster
• *môṣāʾ*: what comes out/utterance/pronouncement

Referenced Verses

• Jer 4:19-20 : 19 I said,“Oh, the feeling in the pit of my stomach! I writhe in anguish. Oh, the pain in my heart! My heart pounds within me. I cannot keep silent. For I hear the sound of the trumpet; the sound of the battle cry pierces my soul! 20 I see one destruction after another taking place, so that the whole land lies in ruins. I see our tents suddenly destroyed, their curtains torn down in a mere instant.
• Jer 9:1 : 1 (8:23) I wish that my head were a well full of water and my eyes were a fountain full of tears! If they were, I could cry day and night for those of my dear people who have been killed.
• Jer 13:17 : 17 But if you will not pay attention to this warning, I will weep alone because of your arrogant pride. I will weep bitterly, and my eyes will overflow with tears because you, the LORD’s flock, will be carried into exile.”
• Jer 14:17-21 : 17 Lament over Present Destruction and Threat of More to Come“Tell these people this, Jeremiah:‘My eyes overflow with tears day and night without ceasing. For my people, my dear children, have suffered a crushing blow. They have suffered a serious wound. 18 If I go out into the countryside, I see those who have been killed in battle. If I go into the city, I see those who are sick because of starvation. For both prophet and priest– they go peddling in the land but they are not humbled.’” 19 Then I said,“LORD, have you completely rejected the nation of Judah? Do you despise the city of Zion? Why have you struck us with such force that we are beyond recovery? We hope for peace, but nothing good has come of it. We hope for a time of relief from our troubles, but experience terror. 20 LORD, we confess that we have been wicked. We confess that our ancestors have done wrong. We have indeed sinned against you. 21 For the honor of your name, do not treat Jerusalem with contempt. Do not treat with disdain the place where your glorious throne sits. Be mindful of your covenant with us. Do not break it!
• Jer 18:20 : 20 Should good be paid back with evil? Yet they are virtually digging a pit to kill me. Just remember how I stood before you pleading on their behalf to keep you from venting your anger on them.
• Jer 20:9 : 9 Sometimes I think,“I will make no mention of his message. I will not speak as his messenger any more.” But then his message becomes like a fire locked up inside of me, burning in my heart and soul. I grow weary of trying to hold it in; I cannot contain it.
• Ezek 3:14-19 : 14 A wind lifted me up and carried me away. I went bitterly, my spirit full of fury, and the hand of the LORD rested powerfully on me. 15 I came to the exiles at Tel Abib, who lived by the Kebar River. I sat dumbfounded among them there, where they were living, for seven days. 16 At the end of seven days the LORD’s message came to me: 17 “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you must give them a warning from me. 18 When I say to the wicked,“You will certainly die,” and you do not warn him– you do not speak out to warn the wicked to turn from his wicked lifestyle so that he may live– that wicked person will die for his iniquity, but I will hold you accountable for his death. 19 But as for you, if you warn the wicked and he does not turn from his wicked deed and from his wicked lifestyle, he will die for his iniquity but you will have saved your own life.
• Ezek 33:7-9 : 7 “As for you, son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you must warn them on my behalf. 8 When I say to the wicked,‘O wicked man, you must certainly die,’ and you do not warn the wicked about his behavior, the wicked man will die for his iniquity, but I will hold you accountable for his death. 9 But if you warn the wicked man to change his behavior, and he refuses to change, he will die for his iniquity, but you have saved your own life.
• Amos 7:14-15 : 14 Amos replied to Amaziah,“I was not a prophet by profession. No, I was a herdsman who also took care of sycamore fig trees. 15 Then the LORD took me from tending flocks and gave me this commission,‘Go! Prophesy to my people Israel!’
• Acts 20:20 : 20 You know that I did not hold back from proclaiming to you anything that would be helpful, and from teaching you publicly and from house to house,
• Acts 20:27 : 27 For I did not hold back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God.
• Rom 9:1-3 : 1 Israel’s Rejection Considered I am telling the truth in Christ(I am not lying!), for my conscience assures me in the Holy Spirit– 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed– cut off from Christ– for the sake of my people, my fellow countrymen,
• 2 Cor 1:12 : 12 Paul Defends His Changed Plans For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God– not by human wisdom but by the grace of God– we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.
• 2 Cor 2:17 : 17 For we are not like so many others, hucksters who peddle the word of God for profit, but we are speaking in Christ before God as persons of sincerity, as persons sent from God.
• Jas 1:19 : 19 Living Out the Message Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.
• Jas 3:1 : 1 The Power of the Tongue Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly.
• Jer 1:4-9 : 4 Jeremiah’s Call and Commission The LORD’s message came to me, 5 “Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.” 6 I answered,“Oh, Sovereign LORD, Really I do not know how to speak well enough for that, for I am too young.” 7 The LORD said to me,“Do not say,‘I am too young.’ But go to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 8 Do not be afraid of those to whom I send you, for I will be with you to protect you,” says the LORD. 9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me,“I will most assuredly give you the words you are to speak for me. 10 Know for certain that I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will be uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demolished, rebuilt and firmly planted.”