Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

JEREMIAH 17:5KJV
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Jeremiah 17:5 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 17:5 mean?

Jeremiah 17:5 warns that anyone who puts their trust in human strength or ability, instead of relying on the LORD, brings a curse upon themselves. The verse says that turning away from God and depending on mere people leads to spiritual danger and loss.

In this verse, the prophet Jeremiah is speaking God’s message to the people of Judah, who were tempted to seek security in alliances with other nations or in their own power. The verse uses strong language to show the seriousness of abandoning trust in the LORD (H3068) and instead making “flesh” (H1320), meaning human strength, their “arm” (H2220), or source of support. Jeremiah is calling out the danger of letting the heart (H3820) turn away (H5493) from God.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 17:5

  • "Cursed" (אָרוּר, 'arur' – H779) means to be under a divine sentence of harm or misfortune, not just unlucky or unfortunate. This highlights how serious the consequences are for misplaced trust.
  • "Man" (אִישׁ, 'ish' – H1397) and "man" (אָדָם, 'adam' – H120) are both used, showing a contrast: the first refers to an individual, the second to humanity in general. The verse warns against trusting any human, whether a specific person or people in general.
  • "Flesh" (בָּשָׂר, 'basar' – H1320) and "arm" (זְרוֹעַ, 'zeroa' – H2220) together paint a picture of relying on human strength or resources, which are limited and unreliable compared to God.
  • "Departeth" (יָסוּר, 'yasur' – H5493) means to turn aside or move away, showing that trusting in people is not just an action but a turning of the heart away from God.

Why Jeremiah 17:5 matters

  • Jeremiah 17:5 clears up the idea that trusting in people or human systems is spiritually neutral; instead, it shows that such trust can actually separate someone from God’s blessing.
  • The verse emphasizes that the real issue is not just outward actions, but the direction of the heart—whether it is turned toward or away from the LORD.
  • In the wider context, Jeremiah is warning Judah that their political alliances and self-reliance will fail them, and only God is a trustworthy foundation.