Jeremiah 17:1
New International Version
“Judah’s sin is engraved with an iron tool, inscribed with a flint point, on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars.

New Living Translation
“The sin of Judah is inscribed with an iron chisel— engraved with a diamond point on their stony hearts and on the corners of their altars.

English Standard Version
“The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with a point of diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of their altars,

Berean Standard Bible
“The sin of Judah is written with an iron stylus, engraved with a diamond point on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars.

King James Bible
The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;

New King James Version
“The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; With the point of a diamond it is engraved On the tablet of their heart, And on the horns of your altars,

New American Standard Bible
The sin of Judah is written with an iron stylus; With a diamond point it is engraved on the tablet of their hearts And on the horns of their altars,

NASB 1995
The sin of Judah is written down with an iron stylus; With a diamond point it is engraved upon the tablet of their heart And on the horns of their altars,

NASB 1977
The sin of Judah is written down with an iron stylus; With a diamond point it is engraved upon the tablet of their heart, And on the horns of their altars,

Legacy Standard Bible
The sin of Judah is written down with an iron stylus; With a diamond point it is engraved upon the tablet of their heart And on the horns of their altars,

Amplified Bible
The sin of Judah is written down with an iron stylus; With a diamond point it is engraved upon the tablet of their heart And on the horns of their altars.

Christian Standard Bible
The sin of Judah is inscribed with an iron stylus. With a diamond point it is engraved on the tablet of their hearts and on the horns of their altars,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The sin of Judah is written with an iron stylus. With a diamond point it is engraved on the tablet of their hearts and on the horns of their altars,

American Standard Version
The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the tablet of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;

Contemporary English Version
People of Judah, your sins cannot be erased. They are written on your hearts like words chiseled in stone or carved on the corners of your altars. *

English Revised Version
The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[The LORD says,] "Judah's sin is written with an iron pen. It is engraved with a diamond point on the tablet of their hearts and on the horns of their altars.

Good News Translation
The LORD says, "People of Judah, your sin is written with an iron pen; it is engraved on your hearts with a diamond point and carved on the corners of your altars.

International Standard Version
The sin of Judah is engraved with an iron stylus. It is inscribed with a diamond point on the tablet of their heart and on the horns of their altars.

Majority Standard Bible
“The sin of Judah is written with an iron stylus, engraved with a diamond point on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars.

NET Bible
The sin of Judah is engraved with an iron chisel on their stone-hard hearts. It is inscribed with a diamond point on the horns of their altars.

New Heart English Bible
"The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of your altars;

Webster's Bible Translation
The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;

World English Bible
“The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond. It is engraved on the tablet of their heart, and on the horns of your altars.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, "" With the point of a diamond, "" Engraved on the tablet of their heart, "" And on the horns of your altars,

Young's Literal Translation
The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, With the point of a diamond, Graven on the tablet of their heart, And on the horns of your altars,

Smith's Literal Translation
The sin of Judah was written with a style of iron, with the nail of diamond: being graved upon the table of their heart, and to the horns of your altars.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The sin of Juda is written with a pen of iron, with the point of a diamond, it is graven upon the table of their heart, upon the horns of their altars.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“The sin of Judah has been written with a pen of iron and a point of diamond. It has been engraved upon the breadth of their heart and upon the horns of their shrines.

New American Bible
The sin of Judah is written with an iron stylus, Engraved with a diamond point upon the tablets of their hearts, And the horns of their altars,

New Revised Standard Version
The sin of Judah is written with an iron pen; with a diamond point it is engraved on the tablet of their hearts, and on the horns of their altars,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
THE sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron and with the point of a diamond; it is engraved upon the tablets of their heart and upon the horns of their altars;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
The sin of Judea is written with a pen of iron and with a sharp tip of diamond and etched on the tablets of their hearts and upon the horns of their altars
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The sin of Judah is written With a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond; It is graven upon the tablet of their heart, And upon the horns of your altars.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Audio Bible



Context
The Sin and Punishment of Judah
1“The sin of Judah is written with an iron stylus, engraved with a diamond point on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars. 2Even their children remember their altars and Asherah poles by the green trees and on the high hills.…

Cross References
Ezekiel 14:3
“Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I consult with them in any way?

Hosea 4:6-7
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children. / The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace.

Deuteronomy 9:7
Remember this, and never forget how you provoked the LORD your God in the wilderness. From the day you left the land of Egypt until you reached this place, you have been rebelling against the LORD.

Isaiah 49:16
Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are ever before Me.

Proverbs 3:3
Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

2 Corinthians 3:3
It is clear that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

Romans 2:5
But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Hebrews 3:12-13
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief that turns away from the living God. / But exhort one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.

Mark 7:21-23
For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, / greed, wickedness, deceit, debauchery, envy, slander, arrogance, and foolishness. / All these evils come from within, and these are what defile a man.”

Psalm 78:8
Then they will not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose heart was not loyal, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

Ezekiel 20:16
because they kept rejecting My ordinances, refusing to walk in My statutes, and profaning My Sabbaths; for their hearts continually went after their idols.

Isaiah 30:8-9
Go now, write it on a tablet in their presence and inscribe it on a scroll; it will be for the days to come, a witness forever and ever. / These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction.

1 John 3:20
Even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows all things.

James 1:14-15
But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.


Treasury of Scripture

The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven on the table of their heart, and on the horns of your altars;

written.

Job 19:23,24
Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book! …

point.

Proverbs 3:3
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

Proverbs 7:3
Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

2 Corinthians 3:3
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

and upon.

Leviticus 4:17,18,25
And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the LORD, even before the vail…

Hosea 12:11
Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.

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Altars Cut Diamond Engraved Engraven Flint Graven Heart Hearts Horns Inscribed Iron Jewel Judah Judah's Pen Point Recorded Sharp Sign Sin Stone Style Stylus Table Tablet Tablets Tool Written
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Altars Cut Diamond Engraved Engraven Flint Graven Heart Hearts Horns Inscribed Iron Jewel Judah Judah's Pen Point Recorded Sharp Sign Sin Stone Style Stylus Table Tablet Tablets Tool Written
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.














The sin of Judah
The phrase "The sin of Judah" refers to the collective transgressions of the people of Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel. Historically, Judah had fallen into idolatry and disobedience to God's commandments. The Hebrew word for "sin" here is "חַטָּאת" (chatta'ah), which implies a moral failure or offense against God. This phrase sets the tone for the severity of Judah's spiritual condition, highlighting their persistent rebellion despite numerous warnings from prophets like Jeremiah.

is written with an iron stylus
The imagery of "an iron stylus" suggests permanence and indelibility. In ancient times, an iron stylus was used to engrave inscriptions on stone or metal, indicating that the sin of Judah is not a temporary lapse but a deeply ingrained condition. The Hebrew word for "stylus" is "עֵט" (et), which can also mean a pen or tool for writing. This metaphor underscores the seriousness of their sin, as it is not easily erased or forgotten.

with a diamond point
The "diamond point" further emphasizes the hardness and durability of the inscription. Diamonds, known for their hardness, were used to engrave the most resistant surfaces. This suggests that the sin of Judah is deeply etched into their character and identity. The Hebrew word "שָׁמִיר" (shamir) is often translated as "diamond" or "adamant stone," symbolizing the unyielding nature of their rebellion against God.

it is engraved on the tablet of their hearts
The "tablet of their hearts" signifies the innermost being of the people of Judah. In Hebrew thought, the heart (לֵב, lev) is the center of will, emotion, and intellect. By stating that their sin is "engraved" on their hearts, the text indicates that their disobedience is not merely external but has corrupted their very essence. This internalization of sin makes repentance and transformation more challenging, as it requires a change of heart.

and on the horns of their altars
The "horns of their altars" refers to the projections on the corners of altars used in worship, which were often associated with seeking refuge or mercy. In the context of Judah's sin, this phrase suggests that even their places of worship, meant to be holy and set apart for God, are tainted by their iniquity. The altars, instead of being sites of genuine worship, have become symbols of their idolatry and false religion. This highlights the pervasive nature of their sin, affecting both their personal and communal spiritual practices.

XVII.

(1) A pen of iron.--i.e., a stylus, or graving tool, as in Job 19:24, chiefly used for engraving in stone or metal. In Psalm 45:1 it seems to have been used of the instrument with which the scribe wrote on his tablets.

With the point of a diamond.--The word expresses the idea of the hardness rather than the brilliancy of the diamond, and is rendered "adamant" in Ezekiel 3:9; Zechariah 7:12. (For the diamond as a precious stone a different word is used in Exodus 28:18.) Strictly speaking, it was applied only to the diamond-point set in iron used by engravers. Such instruments were known to the Romans (Pliny, Hist. Nat. xxxvii. 15), and may have been in use in Ph?nicia or Palestine. The words describe a note of infamy that could not be erased, and this was stamped in upon the tablets of the heart (comp. 2Corinthians 3:3), and blazoned upon the "horns of the altars" of their false worship, or of the true worship of Jehovah which they had polluted and rendered false. The plural "altars" points probably to the former. . . .

Verse 1. - The sin of Judah, etc. "Judah's sin" is not merely their tendency to sin, but their sinful practices - their idolatry. This is said to be graven upon the table of their heart, for it is no mere form, but carried on with passionate earnestness, and as indelible as if engraved with an iron pen. How unlike, however, is this record to that of which the same expression is used in Job 19:24! With the point of a diamond; or, with a point of adamant (harder than flint, as Ezekiel 3:9 says). Fragments of adamant, says Pliny ('Hist. Nat.,' 37:15), are sought out by engravers and enclosed in iron; they easily overcome every hardness. Upon the horns of your altars. First of all, what altars are referred to? Those erected for the worship of idols or the two in the temple of Jehovah, which had been defiled by idolatry? And why is the sin of Judah said to be engraved upon the horns of the altars? Probably because the "horns," i.e. the projections at the four upper corners (Exodus 28:2) were smeared with the blood of the victims. The direction in Exodus 29:12 and Leviticus 4:7 was doubtless not peculiar to the ritual of the Law.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
The sin
חַטַּ֣את (ḥaṭ·ṭaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2403: An offence, its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, expiation, an offender

of Judah
יְהוּדָ֗ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

is written
כְּתוּבָ֛ה (kə·ṯū·ḇāh)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular
Strong's 3789: To grave, to write

with an iron
בַּרְזֶ֖ל (bar·zel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1270: Iron, an iron implement

stylus,
בְּעֵ֥ט (bə·‘êṭ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5842: A stylus, marking stick

engraved
חֲרוּשָׁה֙ (ḥă·rū·šāh)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular
Strong's 2790: To cut in, engrave, plow, devise

with a diamond
שָׁמִ֑יר (šā·mîr)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8068: A thorn, a gem, the diamond

point
בְּצִפֹּ֣רֶן (bə·ṣip·pō·ren)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6856: A claw, nail, the point of a, style

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the tablet
ל֣וּחַ (lū·aḥ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3871: To glisten, a tablet, of stone, wood, metal

of their hearts
לִבָּ֔ם (lib·bām)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

and on the horns
וּלְקַרְנ֖וֹת (ū·lə·qar·nō·wṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 7161: A horn, a flask, cornet, an elephant's tooth, a corner, a peak, a ray, power

of their altars.
מִזְבְּחוֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ (miz·bə·ḥō·w·ṯê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 4196: An altar


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 17:1 The sin of Judah is written (Jer.)
Jeremiah 16:21
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