Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's often missed here is that "desperately sick" is a more accurate translation than "desperately wicked," highlighting a deep, incurable disease rather than just active evil. This sickness is so profound that the heart itself is the primary deceiver, even hiding its true nature from its owner. It’s a reminder that our own internal compass can be fundamentally broken and beyond our immediate grasp.
Jeremiah has just described the blessings for those who trust in the Lord, contrasting them with the curse for those who trust in mere humans. This verse then offers a profound explanation for why people so often choose the wrong path: the human heart itself is inherently deceptive and deeply flawed, making it difficult even for individuals to truly understand their own motives and desires. The prophet is pointing out that this internal corruption is the root cause of the nation's misplaced trust and impending judgment.
Ever feel like your own intentions get twisted? Jeremiah uses a powerful word to describe this inner turmoil.
The Hebrew word used here for 'deceiful' (aqob) literally means 'to supplant' or 'to trip up by the heel.' Think of Jacob, whose name means 'heel-grabber' or 'supplanter.' It paints a picture of a heart that's always trying to get ahead, not in a healthy way, but by subtly undermining things, including truth and trust.
This isn't just about outward lies. It's about an inner crookedness that twists our perceptions. Our hearts can make wrong things look right, or promising illusions seem like solid truth. It's a clever, insidious way of operating that seeks to gain advantage, often at the expense of integrity or faithfulness.
Jeremiah doesn't just call the heart wicked; he uses a word that points to a deep, persistent ailment.
While 'desperately wicked' is a common translation, the original language leans more towards 'desperately sick' or 'incurable.' This isn't just about making bad choices; it points to a fundamental condition of the human heart.
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Think of it like a chronic illness. The heart isn't just occasionally ill; it's in a state of profound sickness that affects its core. This sickness leads to wickedness, but the emphasis here is on the persistent, deeply rooted nature of the problem. It's a condition that, left untreated by divine intervention, cannot heal itself.
Who can truly understand the inner workings of another person's heart? Jeremiah asks a question that humbles us.
The final question, 'Who can understand it?', highlights the profound mystery and hiddenness of the human heart. Even the person whose heart it is often doesn't fully grasp its own motivations, its deep-seated desires, or the full extent of its deceit and sickness.
This lack of self-knowledge is dangerous. It allows the heart's deceitful nature to operate unchecked. We can deceive ourselves into thinking we are better than we are, or that our motives are pure when they are not. It underscores why Jeremiah's earlier warnings about trusting in the Lord (Jeremiah 17:7-8) are so crucial – because our own inner compass is so unreliable.
Understand the original words
leb · Hebrew Noun
The inner person, including the intellect, will, emotions, and moral compass. In Scripture, it is considered the command center of human life and the seat of moral character.
aqob · Hebrew Adjective
Characterized by guile, treachery, or craftiness; incapable of being fully trusted due to the influence of sin. It describes the fallen nature that hides true motives from oneself and others.
anash · Hebrew Adjective
Incurable, mortally wounded, or beyond human repair. It refers to a spiritual condition that cannot be fixed by human effort, requiring divine intervention.
This psalm echoes Jeremiah's sentiment by revealing that true righteousness comes from an inward reality, not just outward observance, because God sees the hidden heart that can be deceitful. It shows the Lord's desire for authenticity beneath the surface.
Matthew 15:19Jesus directly addresses the source of evil, stating that 'out of the heart comes evil thoughts, murder, adultery...' This passage confirms Jeremiah's assertion that the heart is the fountainhead of sin and corruption, making it desperately sick.
Romans 7:11Paul describes how sin uses the heart's deceitfulness to trick us, leading us away from God's commands. This illustrates how the heart, as Jeremiah states, deceives us into thinking sin is harmless or beneficial.
Proverbs 28:26This proverb warns directly against trusting one's own heart, calling it foolish. It reinforces Jeremiah's point that the heart is unreliable and can't be trusted to lead us in the right direction.
1 Samuel 16:7While people look at outward appearances, God looks at the heart. This passage highlights the limitations of human perception in understanding the heart's true nature, a concept central to Jeremiah's question, 'Who can understand it?'
barnesJeremiah 17:9: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
The train of thought is apparently this: If the man is so blessed Jeremiah 17:7-8 who trusts in Yahweh, what is the reason why men so generally "make flesh their arm"? And the answer is: Because man's heart is incapable of seeing things in a straightforward manner, but is full of shrewd guile, and ever seeking to overreach others. Desperately wicked - Rather, mortally sick.
clarkeJeremiah 17:9: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"
The heart is deceitful - עקב הלב akob halleb, "the heart is supplanting - tortuous - full of windings - insidious;" lying ever at the catch; striving to avail itself of every favorable circumstance to gratify its propensities to pride, ambition, evil desire, and corruption of all kinds. And desperately wicked - ואנש הוא veanush hu, and is wretched, or feeble; distressed beyond all things, in con…
What's often missed here is that "desperately sick" is a more accurate translation than "desperately wicked," highlighting a deep, incurable disease rather than just active evil. This sickness is so profound that the heart itself is the primary deceiver, even hiding its true nature from its owner. It’s a reminder that our own internal compass can be fundamentally broken and beyond our immediate grasp.
Jeremiah has just described the blessings for those who trust in the Lord, contrasting them with the curse for those who trust in mere humans. This verse then offers a profound explanation for why people so often choose the wrong path: the human heart itself is inherently deceptive and deeply flawed, making it difficult even for individuals to truly understand their own motives and desires. The prophet is pointing out that this internal corruption is the root cause of the nation's misplaced trust and impending judgment.
Jeremiah has just described the blessings for those who trust in the Lord, contrasting them with the curse for those who trust in mere humans. This verse then offers a profound explanation for why people so often choose the wrong path: the human heart itself is inherently deceptive and deeply flawed, making it difficult even for individuals to truly understand their own motives and desires. The prophet is pointing out that this internal corruption is the root cause of the nation's misplaced trust and impending judgment.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" — What's often missed here is that "desperately sick" is a more accurate translation than "desperately wicked," highlighting a deep, incurable disease rather than just active evil. This sickness is so…
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