Jeremiah 18:17

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.

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}.

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.'"

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.”

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.

Commentary

Context of Jeremiah 18:17

Jeremiah 18:17 is part of a significant passage (Jeremiah 18:1-17) where God sends Jeremiah to the potter's house. This visit serves as a powerful object lesson, illustrating God's sovereign right and power over nations, much like a potter shapes clay. God declares that if a nation repents, He can relent from promised judgment, and if a nation turns to evil, He can revoke promised blessings (Jeremiah 18:7-8). However, the people of Judah, despite repeated warnings through prophets like Jeremiah, stubbornly refused to change their ways, insisting, "We will walk after our own devices" (Jeremiah 18:12). Verse 17, therefore, details the inevitable consequences of their persistent disobedience and rejection of God's call to repentance.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment for Disobedience: The verse is a stark declaration of God's impending judgment upon Judah for their spiritual apostasy and moral corruption. It underscores the principle that continued rebellion against God's will leads to severe consequences.
  • Scattering and Exile: "I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy" prophesies the dispersion and exile of the people. This points directly to the Babylonian invasion and subsequent captivity, where many Israelites were taken from their homeland and scattered across foreign territories. This scattering was a fulfillment of earlier covenant warnings found in the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 28:25).
  • God's Withdrawal of Presence and Favor: "I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity" signifies God's complete withdrawal of His protective presence, favor, and blessing. In ancient Near Eastern culture, to turn one's back was a profound sign of rejection and abandonment. God, who typically "makes His face shine upon" His people as a sign of blessing (Numbers 6:25), would instead turn away, leaving them vulnerable and without divine aid in their time of greatest need.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "east wind" (Hebrew: Qadim) carries significant symbolic weight in biblical literature. The Qadim was known as a hot, dry, and often destructive wind in the Middle East, capable of scorching crops and bringing desolation. It is frequently associated with divine judgment and destructive power, as seen in other prophetic books concerning God's wrath (Hosea 13:15). Its use here emphasizes the swift, powerful, and utterly devastating nature of the coming judgment. The imagery of showing "the back" rather than "the face" vividly conveys God's profound displeasure and the complete absence of His help or compassion when they most desperately needed it.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 18:17 serves as a timeless warning about the consequences of persistent disobedience and spiritual apathy. While God is merciful and gracious, His patience is not infinite. This verse reminds us:

  • The Seriousness of Sin: God takes sin seriously, especially when His people stubbornly refuse to repent despite clear warnings.
  • Accountability and Consequences: There are real and often painful consequences for turning away from God's commands and pursuing one's own desires.
  • The Value of Repentance: The earlier verses in Jeremiah 18 highlight God's willingness to relent from judgment if a nation or individual repents. This verse underscores the tragic outcome when that opportunity is rejected.

For believers today, this passage encourages a humble and responsive heart to God's Word, recognizing the importance of walking in obedience and seeking His face, lest we find ourselves in a spiritual "day of calamity" without His comforting presence.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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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