The Meaning of Jeremiah 17:17 Explained

Jeremiah 17:17

KJV: Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil.

YLT: Be not Thou to me for a terror, My hope art Thou in a day of evil.

Darby: Be not a terror unto me: thou art my refuge in the day of evil.

ASV: Be not a terror unto me: thou art my refuge in the day of evil.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Be not a terror  unto me: thou [art] my hope  in the day  of evil. 

What does Jeremiah 17:17 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Since Yahweh was Jeremiah"s refuge from criticism and discouragement, the prophet asked Him not to frighten him (by appearing to desert him). Jeremiah was not always so trusting (cf. Jeremiah 20:7-12).

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 17:17 mean?

Not do be to me a terror my hope You [are] In the day of doom
אַל־ תִּֽהְיֵה־ לִ֖י לִמְחִתָּ֑ה מַֽחֲסִי־ אַ֖תָּה בְּי֥וֹם רָעָֽה

תִּֽהְיֵה־  do  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לִ֖י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
לִמְחִתָּ֑ה  a  terror 
Parse: Preposition, Noun, feminine singular
Root: מְחִתָּה  
Sense: destruction, ruin, terror, a breaking.
מַֽחֲסִי־  my  hope 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מַחְסֶה  
Sense: refuge, shelter.
אַ֖תָּה  You  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine singular
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
בְּי֥וֹם  In  the  day 
Parse: Preposition, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
רָעָֽה  of  doom 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.