King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Like a strong east wind, I will scatter them before the enemy. I will see their back, not their face, on their day of disaster.'"
Berean Standard Bible:
I will scatter them before the enemy like the east wind. I will show them My back and not My face in the day of their calamity.”
American Standard Version:
I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
I will scatter{H6327} them as with an east{H6921} wind{H7307} before{H6440} the enemy{H341}; I will shew{H7200} them the back{H6203}, and not the face{H6440}, in the day{H3117} of their calamity{H343}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Jeremiah 13:24
- Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.
Jeremiah 2:27
- Saying to a stock, Thou [art] my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned [their] back unto me, and not [their] face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.
Psalms 48:7
- Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
Hosea 13:15
- Though he be fruitful among [his] brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.
Job 27:21
- The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth: and as a storm hurleth him out of his place.
Jeremiah 46:21
- Also her hired men [are] in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also are turned back, [and] are fled away together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, [and] the time of their visitation.
Jeremiah 32:33
- And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching [them], yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.
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Commentary for Jeremiah 18:17
Jeremiah 18:17 is a part of the larger narrative within the Book of Jeremiah, which is a compilation of prophecies and sermons by the prophet Jeremiah. This verse is situated within a section that begins in Jeremiah 18:1 and continues through a series of oracles, providing context for the divine judgment against Judah and Jerusalem. In the ancient Near Eastern context, an east wind typically signified a harsh, destructive force, often bringing about desolation (as seen in other biblical references such as the plagues in Exodus or the drought in Hosea).
In Jeremiah 18:17, the verse speaks metaphorically of God's intention to scatter the people of Judah as a result of their disobedience and idolatry. The phrase "I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy" suggests a complete and overwhelming defeat, where the people will be helplessly swept away by the forces of their adversaries, much like how a fierce east wind would scatter debris or drive away clouds. The latter part of the verse, "I will show them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity," conveys a poignant image of abandonment. In a culture where showing the back to someone was a sign of rejection or contempt, God's declaration that He will turn His back signifies a withdrawal of His protective presence and favor. This is a stark warning that in their time of greatest need—the day of their calamity—God will not be there to support them as they might expect. Instead, they will face the consequences of their actions alone.
The historical context of this verse is set during the final days of the Kingdom of Judah, just before the Babylonian exile. Jeremiah's prophecies were delivered during the reigns of the last kings of Judah, and this particular verse reflects the impending doom that would culminate in the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BCE. Jeremiah's message was one of sobering reality, calling the people to repentance while also foretelling the judgment that would come if they continued in their rebellion against God. Jeremiah 18:17 thus encapsulates the themes of divine judgment, the consequences of sin, and the conditional nature of God's covenant with His people. It serves as a powerful warning that God's favor is not unconditional and that turning away from Him invites disaster.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H6327
There are 66 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פּוּץ
Transliteration: pûwts
Pronunciation: poots
Description: a primitive root; to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse); break (dash, shake) in (to) pieces, cast (abroad), disperse (selves), drive, retire, scatter (abroad), spread abroad. - Strong's Number: H6921
There are 64 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָדִים
Transliteration: qâdîym
Pronunciation: kaw-deem'
Description: or קָדִם; from קָדַם; the fore or front part; hence (by orientation) the East (often adverbially, eastward, for brevity the east wind); east(-ward, wind). - Strong's Number: H7307
There are 348 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רוּחַ
Transliteration: rûwach
Pronunciation: roo'-akh
Description: from רוּחַ; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions); air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y). - Strong's Number: H6440
There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פָּנִים
Transliteration: pânîym
Pronunciation: paw-neem'
Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you. - Strong's Number: H341
There are 481 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹיֵב
Transliteration: ʼôyêb
Pronunciation: o-yabe'
Description: or (fully) אוֹיֵב; active participle of אָיַב; hating; an adversary; enemy, foe. - Strong's Number: H7200
There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָאָה
Transliteration: râʼâh
Pronunciation: raw-aw'
Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. - Strong's Number: H6203
There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֹרֶף
Transliteration: ʻôreph
Pronunciation: o-ref'
Description: from עָרַף; the nape or back of the neck (as declining); hence, the back generally (whether literal or figurative); back ((stiff-) neck((-ed). - Strong's Number: H3117
There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹם
Transliteration: yôwm
Pronunciation: yome
Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger. - Strong's Number: H343
There are 38 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵיד
Transliteration: ʼêyd
Pronunciation: ade
Description: from the same as אוּד (in the sense of bending down); oppression; by implication misfortune, ruin; calamity, destruction.