New International Version “See, I will send venomous snakes among you, vipers that cannot be charmed, and they will bite you,” declares the LORD. New Living Translation I will send these enemy troops among you like poisonous snakes you cannot charm. They will bite you, and you will die. I, the LORD, have spoken!” English Standard Version For behold, I am sending among you serpents, adders that cannot be charmed, and they shall bite you,” declares the LORD. Berean Standard Bible “For behold, I will send snakes among you, vipers that cannot be charmed, and they will bite you,” declares the LORD. Berean Literal Bible “For behold, I am sending you⁺ among serpents—vipers that there is not unto them a charm, and they will bite you⁺,” a declaration of YHWH. King James Bible For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD. New King James Version “For behold, I will send serpents among you, Vipers which cannot be charmed, And they shall bite you,” says the LORD. New American Standard Bible “For behold, I am sending serpents among you, Vipers for which there is no charm; And they will bite you,” declares the LORD. NASB 1995 “For behold, I am sending serpents against you, Adders, for which there is no charm, And they will bite you,” declares the LORD. NASB 1977 “For behold, I am sending serpents against you, Adders, for which there is no charm, And they will bite you,” declares the LORD. Legacy Standard Bible “For behold, I am sending serpents against you, Vipers, for which there is no charm, And they will bite you,” declares Yahweh. Amplified Bible “For behold, I am sending serpents among you, Vipers which cannot be charmed, And they will bite you,” says the LORD. Berean Annotated Bible “For behold, I will send snakes among you⁺, vipers that cannot be charmed, and they will bite you⁺, declares the LORD {YHWH}. Christian Standard Bible Indeed, I am about to send snakes among you, poisonous vipers that cannot be charmed. They will bite you. This is the LORD’s declaration. Holman Christian Standard Bible Indeed, I am about to send snakes among you, poisonous vipers that cannot be charmed. They will bite you. This is the LORD’s declaration. American Standard Version For, behold, I will send serpents, adders, among you, which will not be charmed; and they shall bite you, saith Jehovah. Contemporary English Version "Watch out!" the LORD says. "I'm sending poisonous snakes to attack you, and no one can stop them." English Revised Version For, behold, I will send serpents, basilisks, among you, which will not be charmed; and they shall bite you, saith the LORD. GOD'S WORD® Translation "I am going to send snakes among you, vipers that can't be charmed. They will bite you," declares the LORD. Good News Translation "Watch out!" the LORD says, "I am sending snakes among you, poisonous snakes that cannot be charmed, and they will bite you." International Standard Version Look, I'll send snakes among you, vipers that cannot be charmed, and they'll bite you." NET Bible The LORD says, "Yes indeed, I am sending an enemy against you that will be like poisonous snakes which cannot be charmed away. And they will inflict fatal wounds on you." New Heart English Bible For, look, I will send serpents, adders, among you, which will not be charmed; and they shall bite you," says the LORD. Webster's Bible Translation For behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“For behold, I will send snakes among you, vipers that cannot be charmed, and they will bite you,” declares the LORD. World English Bible “For, behold, I will send serpents, adders among you, which will not be charmed; and they will bite you,” says Yahweh. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionFor behold, I am sending serpents among you, "" Vipers that have no charmer, "" And they have bitten you,” "" A declaration of YHWH. Berean Literal Bible “For behold, I am sending you⁺ among serpents—vipers that there is not unto them a charm, and they will bite you⁺,” a declaration of YHWH. Young's Literal Translation For, lo, I am sending among you serpents, Vipers that have no charmer, And they have bitten you, an affirmation of Jehovah. Smith's Literal Translation For behold me sending serpents, vipers among you, which to them no hissing, and they bit you, says Jehovah. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor behold I will send among you serpents, basilisks, against which there is no charm: and they shall bite you, saith the Lord. Catholic Public Domain Version For behold, I will send among you serpents, king snakes, against which there is no charm, and they will bite you, says the Lord. New American Bible Yes, I will send against you poisonous snakes. Against them no charm will work when they bite you—oracle of the LORD. New Revised Standard Version See, I am letting snakes loose among you, adders that cannot be charmed, and they shall bite you, says the LORD. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor, behold, I will send ferocious serpents among you, which cannot be charmed, and they shall bite you, says the LORD. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Because, behold, I am sending serpents to you, dragons that are not susceptible to charming, and they shall bite you, says LORD JEHOVAH OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917For, behold, I will send serpents, basilisks, among you, Which will not be charmed; And they shall bite you, saith the LORD. Brenton Septuagint Translation For, behold, I send forth against you deadly serpents, which cannot be charmed, and they shall bite you Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Judah's Sin and Punishment…16The snorting of enemy horses is heard from Dan. At the sound of the neighing of mighty steeds, the whole land quakes. They come to devour the land and everything in it, the city and all who dwell in it. 17“For behold, I will send snakes among you, vipers that cannot be charmed, and they will bite you,” declares the LORD. Cross References For behold, I will send snakes among you, Numbers 21:6 So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people, and many of the Israelites were bitten and died. Deuteronomy 32:24 They will be wasted from hunger and ravaged by pestilence and bitter plague; I will send the fangs of wild beasts against them, with the venom of vipers that slither in the dust. Amos 9:3 Though they hide themselves atop Carmel, there I will track them and seize them; and though they hide from Me at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them. vipers that cannot be charmed, Psalm 58:4-5 Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like a cobra that shuts its ears, / refusing to hear the tune of the charmer who skillfully weaves his spell. Ecclesiastes 10:11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer. Psalm 140:3 They sharpen their tongues like snakes; the venom of vipers is on their lips. Selah and they will bite you,” Proverbs 23:32 In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper. Genesis 49:17 He will be a snake by the road, a viper in the path that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward. Acts 28:3-6 Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand. / When the islanders saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “Surely this man is a murderer. Although he was saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” / But Paul shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. … declares the LORD. Jeremiah 23:29 “Is not My word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that smashes a rock?” Ezekiel 5:17 I will send famine and wild beasts against you, and they will leave you childless. Plague and bloodshed will sweep through you, and I will bring a sword against you. I, the LORD, have spoken.” Amos 3:8 The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken—who will not prophesy? Isaiah 14:29 Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken. For a viper will spring from the root of the snake, and a flying serpent from its egg. Revelation 9:19 For the power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; indeed, their tails were like snakes, having heads with which to inflict harm. Isaiah 30:6 This is the burden against the beasts of the Negev: Through a land of hardship and distress, of lioness and lion, of viper and flying serpent, they carry their wealth on the backs of donkeys and their treasures on the humps of camels, to a people of no profit to them. Luke 10:19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. Treasury of Scripture For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, said the LORD. I will. Deuteronomy 32:24 They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust. Isaiah 14:29 Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. Amos 5:19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. which. Psalm 58:4,5 Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear; … Ecclesiastes 10:11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better. Jump to Previous Adders Affirmation Basilisks Bite Charm Charmed Charmer Declares Poison-Snakes Power Sending Serpents Snakes Venomous Vipers Wonder-Worker WoundsJump to Next Adders Affirmation Basilisks Bite Charm Charmed Charmer Declares Poison-Snakes Power Sending Serpents Snakes Venomous Vipers Wonder-Worker WoundsJeremiah 8 1. The calamity of the Jews, both dead and alive.4. He upbraids their foolish and shameless impenitency. 13. He shows their grievous judgment; 18. and bewails their desperate estate. “For behold, I will send snakes among you, God announces a judgment no human power can prevent. Snakes were a familiar danger in Judah’s land, and their presence vividly portrays the threat God was bringing upon a rebellious nation. Num 21:6 So the LORD sent venomous snakes among the people… vipers that cannot be charmed, The danger would not be controlled, persuaded, or turned aside. Judah’s leaders and people could not escape the consequences of persistent idolatry and refusal to heed God’s warnings. Psa 58:4-5 Their venom is like the venom of a snake,… and they will bite you,” Their suffering would be real and painful, like the deadly bite of venomous snakes. The coming judgment would strike the nation because it had abandoned the Lord’s covenant. Pro 23:32 In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper. declares the LORD. The warning carries God’s own authority. Jeremiah did not speak merely from personal concern; he delivered the certain judgment of the Lord. Jer 23:29 “Is not My word like fire,” declares the LORD,… Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahA prophet called by God to deliver messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah. His ministry spanned the reigns of several kings and was marked by themes of repentance and judgment. 2. Judah The southern kingdom of Israel, which was facing impending judgment due to its persistent idolatry and disobedience to God. 3. The LORD The covenant God of Israel, who is both just and merciful. He is the one declaring the judgment through Jeremiah. 4. Snakes/Vipers Symbolic of imminent danger and judgment. In the context of Jeremiah, they represent the unavoidable consequences of Judah's sin. 5. Charming Refers to the practice of controlling or pacifying snakes, symbolizing the futility of trying to avoid God's judgment through human means. Teaching Points The Certainty of Divine JudgmentGod's warnings through His prophets are not idle threats. The imagery of snakes that cannot be charmed underscores the certainty and inevitability of divine judgment when His people persist in sin. The Futility of Human Solutions Just as the vipers cannot be charmed, human efforts to escape or mitigate God's judgment without genuine repentance are futile. True deliverance comes only through turning back to God. The Call to Repentance The purpose of God's warnings is to lead His people to repentance. Recognizing the seriousness of sin and its consequences should drive us to seek God's mercy and forgiveness. God's Sovereignty and Justice The LORD's declaration of sending vipers highlights His sovereign control over creation and His just nature. He uses even the natural world to accomplish His purposes. Hope Beyond Judgment While the immediate context is one of judgment, the broader biblical account assures us of God's ultimate plan for redemption and restoration for those who turn to Him. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 8:17?2. How can we prepare for God's judgment as described in Jeremiah 8:17? 3. What does Jeremiah 8:17 teach about God's power over creation? 4. How does Jeremiah 8:17 connect with God's warnings in Deuteronomy 28:15? 5. In what ways can we heed God's warnings in our daily lives? 6. How can we trust God's sovereignty when facing trials, as seen in Jeremiah 8:17? 7. What does Jeremiah 8:17 reveal about God's judgment and its implications for believers today? 8. How do the "snakes and vipers" in Jeremiah 8:17 symbolize divine retribution? 9. Why does God choose serpents as instruments of punishment in Jeremiah 8:17? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 8? (17) Serpents, cockatrices.--There is a sudden change of figure, one new image of terror starting from the history of the fiery serpents of Numbers 21:6, or, possibly, from the connection of Dan with the "serpent" and "adder" in Genesis 49:17. It is not easy to identify the genus and species of the serpents of the Bible. Here the two words are in apposition. "Cockatrice," however, cannot be right, that name belonging, as an English word, to legendary zoology. The Vulg. gives "basilisk." In Proverbs 23:32 it is translated by "adder." In any case it implies a hissing venomous snake (probably the cerastes or serpens regulus), and the symbolism which identified it with the Assyrian or Chaldaean power had already appeared in Isaiah 14:29. Which will not be charmed.--The figure is that of Psalm 58:4-5. The "deaf adder" that "refuseth to hear the voice of the charmer" represents an implacable enemy waging a pitiless war. Serpent-charming, as in the case of the Egyptian sorcerers (Exodus 7:11), seems to have been from a very early time, as it is now, both in Egypt and India, one of the most prominent features of the natural magic of the East. . . . Verse 17. - A new image to intensify the impression of dreadfulness. Serpents, cockatrices; rather, serpents (even) basilisks. The second noun is in apposition to the more general "serpents." "Basilisks" (Serpentes regulos) are the renderings of Aquila and the Vulgate. Some species of highly venomous serpent is clearly intended; more than this we cannot say. The root probably means "to hiss." Canon Tristram thinks of "a very beautifully marked yellow serpent, and the largest of the vipers found in the Holy Land," called the Daboia xantheina. He adds that it is one of the most dangerous ('Nat. Hist. of Palestine,' p. 275). Jeremiah 8:17 is a solemn proclamation of certain, inescapable judgment: God Himself will unleash deadly, untamable forces against a rebellious nation, and human skill cannot halt them. The verse calls the reader to recognize divine sovereignty, acknowledge the futility of self-reliance, and seek genuine repentance before the Lord whose word always stands.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “Forכִּי֩ (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction behold, הִנְנִ֨י (hin·nî) Interjection | first person common singular Strong's 2005: Lo! behold! I will send מְשַׁלֵּ֜חַ (mə·šal·lê·aḥ) Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out snakes among you, נְחָשִׁים֙ (nə·ḥā·šîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 5175: A serpent poisonous vipers צִפְעֹנִ֔ים (ṣip̄·‘ō·nîm) Noun - masculine plural Strong's 6848: A serpent that אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that cannot אֵין־ (’ên-) Adverb Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle be charmed, לָ֑חַשׁ (lā·ḥaš) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3908: A whisper, a private prayer, an incantation, an amulet and they will bite וְנִשְּׁכ֥וּ (wə·niš·šə·ḵū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 5391: To strike with a, sting, to oppress with usury you,” אֶתְכֶ֖ם (’eṯ·ḵem) Direct object marker | second person masculine plural Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case declares נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 5002: An oracle the LORD. יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel Additonal Resources Jeremiah 8:17 Blue Letter BibleJeremiah 8:17 Bible Gateway Jeremiah 8:17 Bible.com Jeremiah 8:17 NIV |
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