Jeremiah 17:9 states, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (ESV). This verse is often quoted to emphasize the sinful, fallen nature of humanity. But what exactly does it mean that the human heart is “desperately wicked”? Examining the verse in context and understanding the original Hebrew terms provides insight into this profound biblical truth.
The Context of Jeremiah 17:9
The book of Jeremiah records the prophecies given by the prophet Jeremiah leading up to and during the Babylonian exile of Judah. Jeremiah condemned the rampant idolatry of the people and foretold the coming judgment if they did not repent and turn back to God. Chapter 17 specifically contrasts those who trust in man versus those who trust in the Lord (Jer 17:5-8). Jeremiah 17:9 appears in this context as part of a larger explanation of why the people persist in sin – because of the fundamental corruption of the human heart.
The Meaning of “Heart”
In Hebrew thought, the “heart” refers to the inner being or seat of motives and attitudes. The King James Version translates Jeremiah 17:9 using the term “heart” while other modern translations render it “human heart” (CSB, ESV) or “human nature” (NIV) to emphasize that this is referring to the inner condition of all people, not just certain individuals. So this verse is making a universal statement about human nature as a whole.
The Meaning of “Deceitful”
The Hebrew word translated “deceitful” is `aqob. This word literally means crooked, perverse, or twisted. It implies something or someone that is not straight or honest, but distorts the truth and misleads. One commentator notes that this Hebrew root word originally referred to a humpback or hunchback person who could not walk straight (Cundall and Morris, Jeremiah, 193). So the heart is deceitful because it does not lead us in right paths, but twists and distorts the truth.
The Meaning of “Desperately Wicked”
Not only is the human heart deceitful, but it is also “desperately wicked” (anash). This Hebrew word means weak, frail, or incurable. However, some translators believe the Hebrew also communicates the sense of something so sick or diseased that it is beyond hope or repair. The Hebrew literally reads something like “sick, sick” to emphasize the extent of the disease (Feinberg, Jeremiah, 142). This portrays the depth of human sinfulness.
The Universality of Human Depravity
In the rhetorical question “Who can know it?” God emphasizes that no one can fully understand the extent of the wickedness in their own heart. If left unchecked, human capacity for evil is beyond our comprehension. In his classic work The Doctrine of Sin, Louis Berkhof concludes from this verse that “the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked in all men” (247). The biblical teaching on original sin means that human depravity affects every individual’s inmost being.
The Deceitfulness of Sin
Jeremiah 17:9 also highlights the deceitfulness of sin. Even when we are committing wickedness, sin distorts our perspective so that we cannot accurately evaluate ourselves. In his sermon “The Deceitfulness of Sin” Charles Spurgeon stated:
It is the worst thing that sin does, this deceiving us. Other things are bad, but this is worst. It touches the vital part, and the most dangerous thing about man is—his heart; and the most deceitful thing about him is—his heart; and the most dangerously deceitful thing about him is his desperately deceitful heart.
The deceit of our hearts explains why repentance and spiritual rebirth are necessary to live a godly life. Our natural state as sinners prevents us from perceiving the depth of our own depravity.
The Limitations of Human Wisdom
Jeremiah’s rhetorical question “Who can know it?” is also meant to humble human pride and strength. On our own, it is impossible to fully understand everything in our own hearts, let alone to change our nature. We cannot save ourselves from sin or transform our hearts. Commentator John Gill wrote concerning this verse:
All this neighbouring nations being ignorant of, and the people of the Jews themselves being deceived, and concealing their wickedness, as much as they could, from the prophets of the Lord that were sent unto them, as also from themselves; so that no man can sufficiently know the wickedness of his own heart…
Only through God revealing our inner selves, giving us new hearts, and sending the Holy Spirit can we be transformed and walk in righteousness.
The Deceitful Heart in Action
The book of Jeremiah provides concrete examples of the deceitfulness of the human heart among God’s people Judah in his day. Despite the warnings of impending judgment from the Lord, the leaders and false prophets continually insisted things were well, exhibiting an inability to perceive their own spiritual condition (Jer 5:31). Jeremiah rebukes the people:
“Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush.” (Jer 6:15)
Here was a classic example of the deceitful heart confidently justifying great wickedness. Jeremiah later warns:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.” (Jer 17:9-10)
In the very next verse, God asserts His ability to rightly judge the heart, even when we cannot perceive our own condition.
The Wicked Heart and God’s Judgment
The desperate wickedness of the human heart is the reason we all deserve God’s just punishment for our sin. In Romans 1, Paul points to the universal condition of sinful humanity:
God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice.
(Rom 1:26-29)
Paul teaches that the wicked behavior he lists out comes from hearts given over to evil desires. All humanity stands condemned due to the sin in our hearts. As Jeremiah states:
“The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.” (Jer 17:9-10, NASB)
But the good news is that God can transform even the most desperately wicked heart!
The Solution is Spiritual Rebirth
If left in our natural state, no human heart can be righteous before God. This is why Jesus emphasized the necessity of spiritual rebirth to even perceive the kingdom of God:
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3)
God promised in Ezekiel 36:26:
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezek 36:26)
This spiritual transformation was purchased through Christ’s atoning death and is applied by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. When we repent and believe the Gospel, we are made new creations (2 Cor 5:17). Our desperately wicked hearts can be cleansed and renewed.
The Ongoing Battle with Sin
Although born again Christians have had the penalty of sin removed through justification and have a new nature implanted by the Holy Spirit, we still battle the presence of sin until glorification. Our old nature with its propensity toward sin has been definitively defeated positionally, but we still fight its influence practically. As believers we can never claim to have achieved perfect holiness in this life:
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (1 John 1:8)
But we have been freed from bondage to sin and empowered to resist it:
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Rom 6:14)
Although our hearts’ capacity for wickedness has been forgiven and muted, we still wage war against the vestiges of indwelling sin.
Dependence on the Holy Spirit
In light of the remaining influence of our fallen nature, believers must depend continually on the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in our lives:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Gal 5:22-23)
We engage in spiritual disciplines not to earn righteousness, but to avail ourselves of the Spirit’s transforming power. But the battle will not be completed until we receive our glorified bodies free forever from the presence of sin.
Implications for Christian Living
Recognizing that the natural human heart is desperately wicked should profoundly impact how Christians view themselves and others. Here are some implications:
- We cannot trust our own hearts – We must depend on God’s Word and Spirit to instruct and guide us, not our own reasoning or intentions. “The heart is deceitful above all things…who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9)
- We should show grace to others – Remembering the sinful tendencies in our own hearts should make us more merciful and less judgmental toward others. “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matt 7:3)
- We must preach the Gospel to ourselves daily – Our hearts are prone to wander from God, so we regularly need to repent, believe afresh, and rely on the Spirit. “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Prov. 4:23)
- We look forward to glorification – When Christ returns, our curse of indwelling sin will finally be completely removed once and for all! “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” (Phil 3:20-21)
Recognizing the deceitfulness of our hearts should therefore humble us and lead us to deeper dependence and delight in the gracious Savior whose blood cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7).
Conclusion
Jeremiah 17:9’s sobering pronouncement that “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked” reminds us of human depravity and our need for salvation. The natural human heart is corrupted at its very core with sin and incapable of fully understanding or overcoming its own darkness. This truth should lead us to humility, grace, continual repentance and reliance on the Spirit’s transformative power in our lives. Although we wage war with remaining sin, as believers our desperately wicked hearts have been renewed and redeemed by Christ. We rejoice that His grace is greater than all our sins and he will complete His sanctifying work within us.