The Meaning of Jeremiah 17:11 Explained

Jeremiah 17:11

KJV: As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.

YLT: A partridge hatching, and not bringing forth, Is one making wealth, and not by right, In the midst of his days he doth forsake it, And in his latter end -- he is a fool.

Darby: As the partridge sitteth on eggs it hath not laid, so is he that getteth riches and not by right: in the midst of his days shall he leave them, and at his end shall be a fool.

ASV: As the partridge that sitteth on eggs which she hath not laid, so is he that getteth riches, and not by right; in the midst of his days they shall leave him, and at his end he shall be a fool.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[As] the partridge  sitteth  [on eggs], and hatcheth  [them] not; [so] he that getteth  riches,  and not by right,  shall leave  them in the midst  of his days,  and at his end  shall be a fool. 

What does Jeremiah 17:11 Mean?

Verse Meaning

It is possible to earn a fortune unjustly, like a partridge (or grouse, Heb. qore") that incubates the eggs of another bird. [1] But such a fortune is fleeting (cf. Proverbs 23:4-5), and such a person is really a fool. The adopted baby bird will fly away when it eventually learns that it is different from its foster parent. Similarly, ill-gotten wealth normally leaves the one who does not earn it, and the person who tries to claim that he did earn it, ends up looking like a fool (cf. Luke 12:20-21).
Dwelling on the sinfulness of people and the deceitfulness of the heart needs balancing with even greater attention to the glory of God Himself. Jeremiah changed his perspective and so avoided more discouragement.

Context Summary

Jeremiah 17:1-14 - Human And Divine Help Contrasted
The Jews were always seeking alliance either with Egypt or Babylon. What was true of them applies to us all; but we cannot depend upon human aid, without departing from the Lord. The heath is probably the juniper, a lonely tree, dwelling in arid wastes, unvisited by dew. The soul that rests on God is watered from His throne. The roots of such are fed from the hidden springs of Eternity. The heart is deceitful; it tends constantly to substitute the arm of flesh for the living God. Desperately wicked means "incurably sick." It was the ancient notion that the partridge stole the eggs of other birds and hatched them as her own. The covetous man is sure to reap disappointment. He steals other people's goods, but is driven off the nest before they hatch out for the benefit of himself. God's glorious throne is a defense to all who trust Him; while those who depart from Him shall be forgotten, as a sentence written in the sand is obliterated by the next puff of wind. Contrast Job 19:23-24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 17

1  The captivity of Judah for her sin
5  Trust in man is cursed;
7  in God is blessed
9  The deceitful heart cannot deceive God
12  The salvation of God
15  The prophet complains of the mockers of his prophecy
19  He is sent to renew the covenant in hallowing the Sabbath

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 17:11 mean?

[As] a partridge that broods but not does hatch [So is] he who gets riches but not by right in the midst of his days it will leave him and at his end he will be a fool
קֹרֵ֤א דָגַר֙ וְלֹ֣א יָלָ֔ד עֹ֥שֶׂה עֹ֖שֶׁר וְלֹ֣א בְמִשְׁפָּ֑ט בַּחֲצִ֤י [ימו] (יָמָיו֙) יַעַזְבֶ֔נּוּ וּבְאַחֲרִית֖וֹ יִהְיֶ֥ה נָבָֽל

קֹרֵ֤א  [As]  a  partridge 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֹרֵא  
Sense: partridge.
דָגַר֙  that  broods 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּגַר  
Sense: (Qal) to gather together as a brood.
וְלֹ֣א  but  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יָלָ֔ד  does  hatch 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָלַד 
Sense: to bear, bring forth, beget, gender, travail.
עֹ֥שֶׂה  [So  is]  he  who  gets 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
עֹ֖שֶׁר  riches 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹשֶׁר  
Sense: wealth, riches.
וְלֹ֣א  but  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
בְמִשְׁפָּ֑ט  by  right 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁפָּט  
Sense: judgment, justice, ordinance.
בַּחֲצִ֤י  in  the  midst 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חֲצִי 
Sense: half.
(יָמָיו֙)  his  days 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
יַעַזְבֶ֔נּוּ  it  will  leave  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: עָזַב 
Sense: to leave, loose, forsake.
וּבְאַחֲרִית֖וֹ  and  at  his  end 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אַחֲרִית  
Sense: after part, end.
יִהְיֶ֥ה  he  will  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
נָבָֽל  a  fool 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: נָבָל  
Sense: foolish, senseless, fool.