He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The vivid imagery of this verse highlights not just barrenness, but a profound unresponsiveness to life. The shrub in the desert, even if it receives rain, cannot absorb it or produce fruit because its very nature is to be dry, salty, and unproductive—a powerful picture of a heart hardened against God's blessings.
He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse is part of a powerful condemnation of those who place their trust in human strength and alliances rather than in God. Jeremiah has just declared that such people are cursed, and this verse vividly illustrates the desolate outcome awaiting them, contrasting sharply with the flourishing life promised to those who trust in the Lord, as described in the following verse.
Imagine a lone shrub, baked by the sun, its roots clinging to dry, salty earth. What does this image reveal about a life lived apart from God?
Jeremiah vividly paints a picture of utter desolation for those who trust in themselves or others instead of God.
A Lifeless Landscape
The verse describes a person as being like a shrub in the desert, unable to "see any good come." This isn't just a passive existence; it's a state of deep spiritual barrenness. The landscape is characterized by:
This imagery powerfully contrasts with the life and fruitfulness promised to those who trust in the Lord.
We often pride ourselves on our independence and ability to handle things. But what happens when that self-reliance becomes a barrier to receiving God's blessings?
The core issue Jeremiah addresses is misplaced trust. The "shrub in the desert" represents someone whose heart has turned away from the Lord, seeking security and provision from the wrong sources.
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The Folly of Human Armies
Calvin and others highlight that "flesh" and "man" represent human strength, wisdom, and resources. When we lean on these instead of God, we set ourselves up for spiritual drought.
This verse speaks to the profound devastation and barrenness that befell Judah, particularly after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. The imagery of a desolate, salt-crusted wasteland vividly portrays the spiritual and physical ruin resulting from their rejection of God and misplaced trust in alliances with human powers.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Samaria and Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the Northern Kingdom of Israel, exiling many of its people and scattering them throughout the empire. This event created a deep sense of national trauma and insecurity.
c. 626 BC
Jeremiah Begins Prophesying
Jeremiah is called by God to prophesy during a turbulent period in Judah's history, facing external threats and internal spiritual decay.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invades Judah and takes a first group of exiles, including members of the royal family and educated elite, to Babylon. This marked the beginning of Judah's Babylonian captivity.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deports more people from Jerusalem, including King Jehoiachin and many skilled craftsmen, intensifying the exile and the sense of God's judgment.
c. 587/586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem and Destruction of the Temple
Babylonian forces destroy Jerusalem, burn the Temple, and carry off most of the remaining population into exile. This catastrophic event is the backdrop for much of Jeremiah's later prophecies.
c. 582 BC
Third Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar conducts a final deportation of Jews to Babylon, solidifying the kingdom's demise and further scattering the remnant.
These verses immediately follow Jeremiah 17:6 and offer a stark contrast, describing the blessedness of one who trusts in the LORD. This creates a powerful comparison between the desolation of those who trust in man and the flourishing life of those who trust in God, highlighting the verse's central theme.
Psalm 1:3This Psalm beautifully parallels the imagery of Jeremiah 17:6 by describing the righteous person as a tree 'planted by streams of water, that yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.' This directly contrasts with the barren, dry existence of the one who trusts in anything other than God.
Proverbs 14:11This proverb states, 'The house of the wicked will be overthrown, but the tent of the upright will flourish.' This directly reflects the outcome described in Jeremiah 17:6, where the unfaithful face ruin and desolation, while those who are faithful find stability and life.
Isaiah 30:1-3Here, the people are rebuked for trusting in Egypt (human strength) for help, rather than in the LORD. The prophet describes their actions as a 'shameful,' 'useless help,' echoing the futility and barrenness inherent in relying on anything or anyone other than God, as depicted in Jeremiah 17:6.
barnesJeremiah 17:6: "For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited."
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.
clarkeJeremiah 17:6: "For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited."
Be shall be like the heath in the desert - כערער kearar; or, like a blasted tree, without moisture, parched and withered. Shall not see when good cometh - Shall not be sensible of it: the previous drought having rendered it incapable of absorbing any more vegetable juices. A salt land - Barren; and therefore…
The vivid imagery of this verse highlights not just barrenness, but a profound unresponsiveness to life. The shrub in the desert, even if it receives rain, cannot absorb it or produce fruit because its very nature is to be dry, salty, and unproductive—a powerful picture of a heart hardened against God's blessings.
This verse is part of a powerful condemnation of those who place their trust in human strength and alliances rather than in God. Jeremiah has just declared that such people are cursed, and this verse vividly illustrates the desolate outcome awaiting them, contrasting sharply with the flourishing life promised to those who trust in the Lord, as described in the following verse.
This verse is part of a powerful condemnation of those who place their trust in human strength and alliances rather than in God. Jeremiah has just declared that such people are cursed, and this verse vividly illustrates the desolate outcome awaiting them, contrasting sharply with the flourishing life promised to those who trust in the Lord, as described in the following verse.
"He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land." — The vivid imagery of this verse highlights not just barrenness, but a profound unresponsiveness to life. The shrub in the desert, even if it receives rain, cannot absorb it or produce fruit because…
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Last reviewed October 2026