Jeremiah 8:17 Meaning and Explanation
“For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God will send deadly serpents that cannot be soothed and will strike the people.
The Context of Jeremiah 8:17
Further judgment: inescapable danger from uncontrollable serpents.
What Does Jeremiah 8:17 Mean?
The shift to serpents and cockatrices (mythical serpents with venomous bite) represents a judgment that cannot be averted by human skill or magic. Ancient people knew that charming could sometimes placate snakes; these creatures, 'which will not be charmed,' are absolutely uncontrollable and deadly.
Whether literal or metaphorical (representing the Babylonian invaders as unstoppable instruments of judgment), the message is clear: what is coming cannot be negotiated with, reasoned with, or soothed. The bite is inevitable for those who remain.
Jeremiah 8:17 in the Original Language
nachash (נָחָשׁ), 'serpents'—also the Hebrew word for divination/enchantment, linking the idea that these creatures resist magical control.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 8:17
What does Jeremiah 8:17 mean?
God will send deadly serpents that cannot be soothed and will strike the people.
What is the context of Jeremiah 8:17?
Further judgment: inescapable danger from uncontrollable serpents.