Jeremiah 17:17-18
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Jeremiah isn't just asking God not to be scary; he's pleading that God wouldn't abandon him to the terror his enemies inflict. The true "terror" he fears is God's absence, because it's only in God's presence that he finds his refuge and hope amidst the looming disaster.
Be not a terror to me; you are my refuge in the day of disaster. Let those be put to shame who persecute me, but let me not be put to shame; let them be dismayed, but let me not be dismayed; bring upon them the day of disaster; destroy them with double destruction!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah has been prophesying judgment against Judah for their persistent unfaithfulness, a message that brings him personal distress and makes him a target for ridicule. In this verse, he cries out to God not to become the source of his terror by abandoning him, acknowledging that God alone is his true refuge and hope when disaster strikes. This plea comes amidst his deep lament over the nation's sin and the personal persecution he faces for speaking God's truth.
Ever felt like the very one you trust most might be the source of your deepest fear? Jeremiah expresses a profound dread, not of his enemies, but of God himself.
Jeremiah's cry, 'Be not a terror to me,' is startling. It's not that he fears God's punishment in a general sense, but specifically God's abandonment. The prophet feels the weight of his difficult message and the opposition he faces. He fears that God, by withdrawing His presence or support, would become the ultimate source of his terror. It's the dread of spiritual desolation, of being left alone with his persecutors and the heavy burden of his calling, that drives this desperate plea. This isn't a rejection of God, but an intense fear of losing connection with Him.
When everything else crumbles, where do you run? Jeremiah points to a surprising, yet constant, source of safety.
The second half of the verse provides the powerful counterpoint to Jeremiah's fear: 'you are my refuge in the day of disaster.' In the midst of his terror and the 'evil days' he faces, God Himself is presented as the ultimate safe haven. This isn't just a wish, but a statement of faith. God is not a refuge, but the refuge. He is the one place of ultimate security when external circumstances are chaotic and terrifying. Even when He feels distant or like a potential source of dread, He remains the foundational place of hope and protection.
Understand the original words
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machseh · Hebrew Noun
A place of shelter, safety, and protection; often refers to God himself as the source of security for those who trust in Him.
ra'ah · Hebrew Noun
A state of deep distress, calamity, or misfortune, often viewed as judgment or a severe test of faith.
bush · Hebrew Verb
A state of disgrace, dishonor, or disappointment, frequently used to describe the fate of the wicked or those who oppose God's purposes.
chathath · Hebrew Verb
To be broken, terrified, or shattered in spirit, typically due to the manifestation of God's judgment or power.
Jeremiah's cry reflects the immense pressure he faced as a prophet of doom in a collapsing kingdom. His fear wasn't of earthly enemies, but of God Himself becoming a source of terror by abandoning him or failing to uphold His promises amidst the devastation.
c. 605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Jehoiakim of Judah is deported to Babylon, along with members of the royal family and educated elite. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation to Nebuchadnezzar.
c. 597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
King Jehoiachin and many more prominent citizens are deported to Babylon. Jeremiah prophesies during this period of increasing crisis and divine judgment.
c. 587/586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Nebuchadnezzar's armies destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining population to Babylon. This is the catastrophic 'day of evil' Jeremiah has warned about.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great conquers Babylon, ushering in the Persian Empire and eventually allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem.
c. 516 BC
Rebuilding of the Jerusalem Temple
Under the leadership of Zerubbabel, the Second Temple is completed in Jerusalem, a symbol of renewed hope and covenant restoration for the Jewish people.
This passage echoes Jeremiah's sentiment by declaring the Lord as light and salvation, the very stronghold of life, making Him someone not to be feared but a protector in times of trouble.
Psalm 119:114Like Jeremiah, the psalmist claims God as a hiding place and shield, expressing a deep reliance on Him for refuge when facing distress and danger.
Isaiah 41:10This promise directly addresses fear, commanding not to be dismayed because God is with His people, strengthening and helping them, just as Jeremiah needed God's presence against his fears.
Romans 8:31Paul's rhetorical question, 'If God is for us, who can be against us?', powerfully reinforces Jeremiah's plea, suggesting that with God as refuge, earthly disasters lose their terror.
barnesJeremiah 17:17: "Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil."
A terror - Rather, "a cause of dismay," or consternation Jeremiah 1:17 . By not fulfilling Jeremiah's prediction God Himself seemed to put him to shame.
clarkeJeremiah 17:17: "Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil."
Be not a terror unto me - Do not command me to predict miseries, and abandon me to them and to my enemies.
Jeremiah isn't just asking God not to be scary; he's pleading that God wouldn't abandon him to the terror his enemies inflict. The true "terror" he fears is God's absence, because it's only in God's presence that he finds his refuge and hope amidst the looming disaster.
Jeremiah has been prophesying judgment against Judah for their persistent unfaithfulness, a message that brings him personal distress and makes him a target for ridicule. In this verse, he cries out to God not to become the source of his terror by abandoning him, acknowledging that God alone is his true refuge and hope when disaster strikes. This plea comes amidst his deep lament over the nation's sin and the personal persecution he faces for speaking God's truth.
Jeremiah has been prophesying judgment against Judah for their persistent unfaithfulness, a message that brings him personal distress and makes him a target for ridicule. In this verse, he cries out to God not to become the source of his terror by abandoning him, acknowledging that God alone is his true refuge and hope when disaster strikes. This plea comes amidst his deep lament over the nation's sin and the personal persecution he faces for speaking God's truth.
"Be not a terror to me; you are my refuge in the day of disaster. Let those be put to shame who persecute me, but let me not be put to shame; let them be dismayed, but let me not be dismayed; bring upon them…" — Jeremiah isn't just asking God not to be scary; he's pleading that God wouldn't abandon him to the terror his enemies inflict. The true "terror" he fears is God's absence, because it's only in God's…
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Last reviewed October 2026
