Jeremiah 17:13

O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall bee written in the earth, because they haue forsaken the Lord the fountaine of liuing waters. Jeremiah 17:13 (KJV)

Jeremiah prophesied during a critical period in Judah when the nation had turned away from God and embraced idolatry and disobedience. In this verse he declares the Lord as the hope of Israel, emphasizing the trust and reliance that the faithful remnant placed in God. The wording underscores that those who turn away from the Lord will experience shame and be “written in the earth,” a phrase that suggests a record of disgrace and oblivion, as if their names are inscribed in dust.

The expression “fountain of living waters” highlights the abundant, life‑giving nature of God’s presence and blessings. While the verse itself couples this image with the warning of forsaking, the phrase also appears in Jeremiah 2:13, where it is used to describe God as the source of spiritual vitality. Both drafts agree that rejecting this source means denying the very sustenance of true life.

The warning is clear: abandonment of the Lord leads to loss of honor and remembrance. Jeremiah’s broader prophetic message consistently links rebellion with judgment and the erosion of communal reputation. The “written in the earth” motif therefore serves as a vivid illustration of the ultimate fate of those who abandon the covenant relationship.

Understanding this passage calls the reader to recognize God as Israel’s enduring hope and the wellspring of spiritual life. Faithfulness secures hope and blessing, while forsaking the Lord brings shame and a figurative erasure from memory. The study of this verse therefore reinforces the timeless biblical principle that reliance on God yields life, whereas turning away results in spiritual desolation.