Jeremiah 17:13 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Those who abandon the Lord will face shame and judgment, written in the earth, for they have rejected the source of true life.
The Context of Jeremiah 17:13
Judgment comes to those who forsake God, the only true source of life and renewal.
What Does Jeremiah 17:13 Mean?
The 'fountain of living waters' is an image of eternal, life-giving provision. To forsake the Lord is to abandon the only source of genuine life and vitality. The phrase echoes Jeremiah's earlier words about Judah turning from 'the fountain of living waters' to broken cisterns—a fatal spiritual trade.
Being 'written in the earth' suggests erasure and dishonor: those who depart from the Lord will be forgotten or recorded only in shame. This is the opposite of being written in the book of life. The judgment is not arbitrary but follows necessarily from rejecting the One who alone sustains life.
Jeremiah 17:13 in the Original Language
מִקְוֵה (miqwe), 'fountain' or 'spring' — a source of flowing, life-giving water.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 17:13
What does Jeremiah 17:13 mean?
Those who abandon the Lord will face shame and judgment, written in the earth, for they have rejected the source of true life.
What is the context of Jeremiah 17:13?
Judgment comes to those who forsake God, the only true source of life and renewal.