New International Version
Jeremiah 17:8
8They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 17:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
- New King James Version (NKJV)For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
- New Living Translation (NLT)They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.
Context of Jeremiah 17:8
6That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. 7“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” 9The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? 10“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
Read all of Jeremiah 17Jeremiah 17:8 word by word
וְהָיָ֞ה כְּעֵ֣ץ׀ שָׁת֣וּל עַל־מַ֗יִם וְעַל־יוּבַל֙ יְשַׁלַּ֣ח שָֽׁרָשָׁ֔יו וְלֹ֤א יִרְאֶה֙ כִּֽי־יָבֹ֣א חֹ֔ם וְהָיָ֥ה עָלֵ֖הוּ רַֽעֲנָ֑ן וּבִשְׁנַ֤ת בַּצֹּ֙רֶת֙ לֹ֣א יִדְאָ֔ג וְלֹ֥א יָמִ֖ישׁ מֵעֲשׂ֥וֹת פֶּֽרִי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- For he shall be as a treeעֵץ‛êts · treeH6086
- plantedשָׁתַלshâthal · to transplantH8362
- by the watersמַיmayim · waterH4325
- spreadeth outשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- her rootsשֹׁ֫רֶשׁsheresh · rootH8328
- by the riverיוּבַלyûbal · streamH3105
- and shall not seeרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- when heatחֹםchôm · heatH2527
- comethבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- but her leafעָלֶה‛âleh · leafH5929
- shall be greenרַעֲנָןra‛ănân · luxuriantH7488
- and shall not be carefulדָּאַגdâ'ag · be anxiousH1672
- in the yearשָׁנָהshâneh shânâh · yearH8141
- of droughtבַּצֹּרֶתbatstsôreth · droughtH1226
- neither shall ceaseמוּשׁmûsh · to removeH4185
- from yieldingעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
- fruitפְּרִיperîy · fruitH6529
Cross-references for Jeremiah 17:8
- Job 8:16They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden;
- Psalms 1:3That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
- Psalms 92:10You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured on me.
- Isaiah 58:11The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
- Ezekiel 31:4The waters nourished it, deep springs made it grow tall; their streams flowed all around its base and sent their channels to all the trees of the field.
- Ezekiel 47:12Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”
- Jeremiah 14:1This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:
Commentaries on Jeremiah 17:8
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8A s a tree planted by the waters - Which is sufficiently supplied with moisture, though the heat be intense, and there be no rain; for the roots being spread out by the river, they absorb from it all the moisture requisite for the flourishing vegetation of the tree. Shall not see when heat cometh - Shall not feel any damage by drought, for the reason already assigned. It shall be strong and vigorous, its leaf always green; and shall produce plenty of…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5-18Verses 5-18 In the rest of the prophecy Jeremiah dwells upon the moral faults which had led to Judah‘s ruin. Jeremiah 17:6 Like the heath - Or, “like a destitute man” Psalm 102:17. The verbs “he shall see” (or fear) and “shall inhabit” plainly show that a man is here meant and not a plant. Jeremiah 17:8 The river - Or, “water-course” Isaiah 30:25, made for purposes of irrigation. Shall not see - Or, “shall not fear Jeremiah 17:6.” God‘s people feel…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-11Verses 5-11 He who puts confidence in man, shall be like the heath in a desert, a naked tree, a sorry shrub, the product of barren ground, useless and worthless. Those who trust to their own righteousness and strength, and think they can do without Christ, make flesh their arm, and their souls cannot prosper in graces or comforts. Those who make God their Hope, shall flourish like a tree always green, whose leaf does not wither. They shall be fixed in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 7-8Those who trust in the Lord, like trees planted along a riverbank, will have plenty of resources and be ready for life's changes. Water symbolizes the law of the Lord (compare Psalm 1; Ezekiel 47:1–12; Revelation 2:1–2).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. (Psa 1:3). shall not see--that is, feel. Answering to Jr 17:6; whereas the unbelievers "shall not see (even) when good cometh," the believer "shall not see (so as to be overwhelmed by it even) when heat (fiery trial) cometh." Trials shall come upon him as on all, nay, upon him especially (He 12:6); but he shall not sink under them, because the Lord is his secret strength, just as the "roots spread out by a river" (or, "water-course") draw hidden…Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 17:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New International Version — © NIV® 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 Biblica
Commentaries