O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.

JEREMIAH 17:13KJV
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Jeremiah 17:13 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 17:13 mean?

Jeremiah 17:13 describes how those who abandon the LORD, who is the true hope of Israel, will experience shame and loss, pictured as their names being written in the earth because they have turned away from God, the source of living water. The verse warns that forsaking God leads to emptiness and disgrace, since He alone gives life and hope.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking to the people of Judah, warning them about the consequences of turning away from God. The image of names written in the earth suggests something temporary and easily erased, in contrast to being remembered or honored by God. Jeremiah calls God the "fountain of living waters," emphasizing that only God can truly satisfy and sustain His people.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 17:13

  • "LORD" (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name for God in the Hebrew Bible, highlighting a covenant relationship with Israel.
  • "hope" (מִקְוֵה, miqveh): This word can mean "hope" or "gathering," but here it points to God as the one Israel relies on for security and future.
  • "forsake" (עָזַב, azav): This verb means to abandon or leave behind, stressing the seriousness of turning away from God.
  • "fountain" (מָקוֹר, maqor) and "living" (חַי, chai) "waters" (מַיִם, mayim): Together, these words describe God as the source of fresh, life-giving water, a powerful image of spiritual vitality and sustenance.

Why Jeremiah 17:13 matters

  • Jeremiah 17:13 clarifies that shame and loss are the natural results of abandoning God, not just arbitrary punishments.
  • The contrast between names written in the earth and God as the fountain of living waters highlights the difference between fleeting human efforts and lasting divine provision.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage, where Jeremiah warns against trusting in human strength instead of God, showing that true hope and life come only from a relationship with the LORD.

Where else these words appear

“hope” Hebrew H4723 · used in 10 verses

  • Genesis 1:10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
  • 1 Kings 10:28 And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king's merchants received the linen yarn at a price.
  • Ezra 10:2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing.

“fountain” Hebrew H4726 · used in 17 verses

  • Leviticus 12:7 Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female.
  • Proverbs 10:11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
  • Proverbs 25:26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.

“ashamed” Hebrew H954 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 2:25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
  • Psalms 109:28 Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
  • Isaiah 65:13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: