Lexical Summary yasur: To turn aside, depart, remove Original Word: יָסוּר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance they that depart From cuwr; departing -- they that depart see HEBREW cuwr NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originthe same as sur, q.v. Topical Lexicon Overview יָסוּר appears only once in the Hebrew canon, in Jeremiah 17:13, capturing the tragic reality of hearts that have “turned away” from the LORD. Though rare, the word encapsulates a theme woven throughout Scripture: apostasy brings shame, while steadfast trust secures blessing. Canonical Context Jeremiah 17 contrasts two paths—trusting in man (verses 5-6) and trusting in the LORD (verses 7-8). Against that backdrop comes the warning: “Those who turn away from You will be written in the dust, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water.” (Jeremiah 17:13) Here יָסוּר denotes a decisive departure. It is not a momentary lapse but a settled orientation away from covenant fidelity. Prophetic Imagery 1. Written in the dust – Names etched in loose soil are quickly erased by wind or footstep, symbolizing impermanence and judgment (Job 14:2; Psalm 83:13). Theological Themes • Covenant faithfulness versus apostasy: Israel’s security rests in abiding, not merely professing (Deuteronomy 30:17-18). Historical Background Jeremiah preached in the final decades before Jerusalem’s fall. Political alliances with Egypt and Assyria evidenced Judah’s misplaced trust. יָסוּר thus indicts not only idolatry but also political self-reliance. Archeological layers at Lachish and Jerusalem demonstrate the growing Babylonian threat, reinforcing Jeremiah’s call to repent lest names be swept away like dust before invading armies. Ministerial Application 1. Call to perseverance – Pastors exhort believers to “remain in Him” (1 John 2:28). Christological Reflection Jesus stooped and wrote on the ground when confronting self-righteous accusers (John 8:6-8). While speculative, the gesture evokes Jeremiah’s dust-writing: those rejecting the Fountain incarnate risk the very fate Jeremiah foretold. Conversely, the One who knelt in dust now inscribes eternal names on His nail-scarred hands (Isaiah 49:16). Related Terms and Concepts • סוּר (to turn aside) – broader verb family of turning away (Exodus 32:8). Key Pastoral Questions • Are we cultivating habits that keep hearts tethered to the Fountain of living water? Summary Though יָסוּר surfaces only once, its warning reverberates across redemptive history. The dust-written name stands as a sober monument to the cost of forsaking the LORD, urging every generation to cling to Him who alone grants living water and an indelible inheritance. Forms and Transliterations וְסוּרַי֙ וסורי vesuRai wə·sū·ray wəsūrayLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 17:13 HEB: [יִסֹורַי כ] (וְסוּרַי֙ ק) בָּאָ֣רֶץ KJV: thee shall be ashamed, [and] they that depart from me INT: forsake will be put they that depart earth will be written 1 Occurrence |
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