The Meaning of Jeremiah 17:12 Explained

Jeremiah 17:12

KJV: A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.

YLT: A throne of honour on high from the beginning, The place of our sanctuary,

Darby: A throne of glory, set on high from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary.

ASV: A glorious throne,'set on high from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

A glorious  high  throne  from the beginning  [is] the place  of our sanctuary. 

What does Jeremiah 17:12 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The true place of worship for God"s people since Solomon"s time had always been the temple in Jerusalem. The ancients regarded this temple as Yahweh"s throne on earth.

Context Summary

Jeremiah 17:1-14 - Human And Divine Help Contrasted
The Jews were always seeking alliance either with Egypt or Babylon. What was true of them applies to us all; but we cannot depend upon human aid, without departing from the Lord. The heath is probably the juniper, a lonely tree, dwelling in arid wastes, unvisited by dew. The soul that rests on God is watered from His throne. The roots of such are fed from the hidden springs of Eternity. The heart is deceitful; it tends constantly to substitute the arm of flesh for the living God. Desperately wicked means "incurably sick." It was the ancient notion that the partridge stole the eggs of other birds and hatched them as her own. The covetous man is sure to reap disappointment. He steals other people's goods, but is driven off the nest before they hatch out for the benefit of himself. God's glorious throne is a defense to all who trust Him; while those who depart from Him shall be forgotten, as a sentence written in the sand is obliterated by the next puff of wind. Contrast Job 19:23-24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 17

1  The captivity of Judah for her sin
5  Trust in man is cursed;
7  in God is blessed
9  The deceitful heart cannot deceive God
12  The salvation of God
15  The prophet complains of the mockers of his prophecy
19  He is sent to renew the covenant in hallowing the Sabbath

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 17:12 mean?

A throne glorious high from the beginning [Is] the place of our sanctuary
כִּסֵּ֣א כָב֔וֹד מָר֖וֹם מֵֽרִאשׁ֑וֹן מְק֖וֹם מִקְדָּשֵֽׁנוּ

כִּסֵּ֣א  A  throne 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כִּסֵּא 
Sense: seat (of honour), throne, seat, stool.
כָב֔וֹד  glorious 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כָּבֹוד  
Sense: glory, honour, glorious, abundance.
מָר֖וֹם  high 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָרֹום  
Sense: height.
מֵֽרִאשׁ֑וֹן  from  the  beginning 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רִאשֹׁון  
Sense: first, primary, former.
מְק֖וֹם  [Is]  the  place 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
מִקְדָּשֵֽׁנוּ  of  our  sanctuary 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: מִקְדָּשׁ  
Sense: sacred place, sanctuary, holy place.