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Epiphany · Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany · Year C

Jeremiah 17:5-8

Trust in the Lord Like a Tree by the Water

February 13, 2028

The Stream (Le Ruisseau du Puits-Noir), Gustave Courbet
The Stream (Le Ruisseau du Puits-Noir), Gustave Courbet, 1855National Gallery of Art, Washington
A clear stream runs over stones through a shaded gorge, with tall trees rooted along its banks.They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green.Gustave CourbetThe French realist who painted the rocks, streams and woods of his native Franche-Comté with a palette knife.National Gallery of Art, WashingtonThe National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the nation’s art museum, free to all.National Gallery of Art, Washington
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelLuke 6:17-26Lk 6:17-26
Epistle1 Cor. 15:(1-11) 12-201 Cor 15:(1-11) 12-20
Old TestamentJer. 17:5-8Jer 17:5-8
PsalterPs. 1Ps 1

Overview & Insights

"Blessed are those who trust in the LORD... They shall be like a tree planted by water." (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Jeremiah contrasts those who trust in mere mortals, becoming like a shrub in the desert, with those who trust in the Lord, becoming like a tree planted by a stream that never stops bearing fruit. The passage closes noting that the human heart is devious, but the Lord tests the heart and rewards each person according to their deeds.

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Take it further: Jeremiah 17:5-8

Commentary

BibleHub: Commentaries on Jeremiah 17:5BibleHub: Commentaries on Jer 17:5 BibleHub

Gathers classic commentaries on the tree-by-the-water image.

Enduring Word: Jeremiah 17Enduring Word: Jer 17 Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse-by-verse notes on trusting the Lord versus trusting human strength.

StudyLight: Barnes' Notes on Jeremiah 17StudyLight: Barnes' Notes on Jer 17 StudyLight

Albert Barnes' close reading of the cursed-versus-blessed contrast.

Working Preacher: Commentary on Jeremiah 17:5-10Working Preacher: Commentary on Jer 17:5-10 Working Preacher

Notes the deliberate echo between this passage and Psalm 1's tree image.

CEP: Jeremiah 17:5-10CEP: Jer 17:5-10 Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on the coming reversal behind the drought-and-stream contrast.

Background & Word Study

BibleHub Interlinear: Jeremiah 17:5BibleHub Interlinear: Jer 17:5 BibleHub

Hebrew text with parsing for the shrub and tree imagery.

Sefaria: Jeremiah 17:5-8 (Hebrew)Sefaria: Jer 17:5-8 (Hebrew) Sefaria

Hebrew text with English and classical Jewish commentary on the passage.

BibleProject: Book of Jeremiah OverviewBibleProject: Book of Jer Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of Jeremiah's warnings and the shape of the book.

The Church Fathers

Jeremiah 17Jer 17 Catena

Verse-by-verse comment from the Fathers on Jeremiah 17.

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