Jeremiah-17-v-7-8

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Tanakh versions:

Throughout this site I may use any of the following three versions of the TaNaKh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. Mechon-Mamre.org” (MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF).

Colour coded details of the - TaNaKh:

1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.

*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.

Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold

wondrous things out of Thy Law!

Tehillim - Psalm 119:18..

(JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh).

Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

However, sadly both the later priests as well as our rabbis of long ago have shamefully disobeyed this command of אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם קָדוֹשׁוֹ - ‘Baruch Shem Kadosho’ – ‘Blessed be His Holy Name!’

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 Yirmyahu - Jeremiah Chapter 17”

Verses 7 & 8.

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

 

We are going to look at Yirmyahu - Jeremiah chapter 17, and within it are two very special and powerful verses, being number 7 & 8. I will be using the JPS-1917 version of the Tanakh.

As you van see below, first I will show the Hebrew, which is followed by the English translation:

בָּרוּךְ הַגֶּבֶר, אֲשֶׁר יִבְטַח בַּיהוָה; וְהָיָה יְהוָה, מִבְטַחוֹ

7. Blessed is the man that trusteth in יְהוָה - the LORD, and whose trust יְהוָה is.

 יה וְהָיָה כְּעֵץ שָׁתוּל עַל-מַיִם, וְעַל-יוּבַל יְשַׁלַּח שָׁרָשָׁיו, וְלֹא ירא (יִרְאֶה) כִּי-יָבֹא חֹם, וְהָיָה עָלֵהוּ רַעֲנָן; וּבִשְׁנַת בַּצֹּרֶת לֹא יִדְאָג, וְלֹא יָמִישׁ מֵעֲשׂוֹת פֶּרִי

8. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out its roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but its foliage shall be luxuriant; and shall not be anxious in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

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A Brief Summary:

Jeremiah 17:7-8 praises trust in יְהוָה - the LORD and likens the trusting person to a tree planted by water, ‘stable’, ‘fruitful’, and ‘untroubled by heat or drought’.

Introduction:

These two verses form a compact beatitude in the midst of Jeremiah’s warnings to Judah. They contrast the fate of those who trust in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim with those who trust in flesh and use a vivid agricultural simile familiar to an agricultural society to teach spiritual resilience.

Text and immediate sense:

7. Blessed is the man that trusteth in יְהוָה - the LORD, and whose trust יְהוָה is.

8. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out its roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but its foliage shall be luxuriant; and shall not be anxious in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Literary and theological notes:

Let us break up these two verses and see what it all means?

Beatitude form:

The opening “Blessed is…” echoes other biblical blessings (cf. Tehillim - Psalm 1) and sets up a moral choice: trust in אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, versus trust in man.

There is  a twofold trust:

“Trusteth in יְהוָה - the LORD, and whose trust יְהוָה - the LORD”, suggests not only that the person trusts אֱלֹהִים - Elohim but that אֱלֹהִים is his confidence, an identification of the he who is a faithful believer, full of hope with the Divine presence.

The tree imagery:

The tree “planted by the waters” with roots “by the river” conveys stability (planted), nourishment (waters), deep rooting (roots), and productivity (yielding fruit), is a holistic picture of spiritual health.

Practical and homiletic applications:

Spiritual rooting:

We need to ask where their “roots” lie, do we ‘study’, and involved in our community, or transient supports, and to cultivate practices that deepen our reliance in אֱלֹהִים.

Resilience in suffering:

The verse offers rabbinc comfort: trust does not remove hardship but sustains fruitfulness through it, a key pastoral theme for those facing illness or loss.

Learning from these verses:

Using the tree image in visual aids or short meditations to help us imagining being planted and watered by our beloved Torah and be in a covenantal relationship with אֱלֹהִים - Elohim.

Earlier I mentioned Tehillim - Psalm 1, let us briefly look at it for it has the most amazing message!

1. Happy is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of the scornful.
2. But his delight is in the law of  יְהוָה - the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.
3. And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in its season, and whose leaf doth not wither; and in whatsoever he doeth he shall prosper.

Now we arrive at a very different part of this Psalm, for it contains a powerful  warning!

4. Not so the wicked; but they are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
5. Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
6. For יְהוָה - the LORD regardeth the way of the righteous; but the way of the wicked shall perish.

What is this Tehilim - Psalm really telling us, if you cannot live within verses 1 to 3, you will be be living in the final three tragic verses, 4 to 6, thus living in sin. If you wish to return to to אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, there is some really genuine repenntance required, and I mean with a heart of full of genuine sorrow!

Closing message:

Yirmyahu - Jeremiah 17:7-8 invites us to a trust that is not passive, but rooted and active, one that endures heat and drought and continues to bear fruit. In the teaching of this study, we need to understand that both the comfort and the responsibility of such trust that has been given us: it calls for continued ‘studies’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s Word, and of course through ‘prayer’, and that should remain part of our daily life! Even during a trial in our life, we must continue in full faith and thus according what we have learned from Jeremiah 17:7-8  - remain - ‘fruitful and green’.

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PLEASE NOTE: This site was originally created, for those who desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance, for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He! However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!

Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following, via several of our prophets.

Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hosts”. Mal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. MEC).

And Remember ...

Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!

אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶםבְּחֻקּוֹתַי לֵכוּוְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי שִׁמְרוּוַעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם

וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַיקַדֵּשׁוּוְהָיוּ לְאוֹתבֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַתכִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem; walk in My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel 20:19-20. (JPS).

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”

For אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה - the LORD Elohim, Blessed be His Sanctified Name,

He is the one who gave us our Life!

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts. be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s (Prayers) and regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s (blessings) before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

 

 

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