Jeremiah 17:8

He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jeremiah addresses the people of Judah in a prophetic contrast: the man who trusts in the LORD (v. 7) versus the man who trusts in his own heart (v. 9). This verse is the middle link in that three-verse argument.

The words — שָׁתוּל (shatul), "planted," comes from the root שׁתל (H8362), which denotes deliberate, intentional planting rather than spontaneous growth. The tree is set by מַיִם (mayim, "waters") generally but sends its roots toward יוּבַל (yubal, "a stream"), a specific, flowing source.

The thread — Psalms 1:3 uses nearly identical language ("planted by streams of water… leaf does not wither… yields its fruit in season"). Isaiah 58:11 and Ezekiel 47:12 extend the image to divine provision in scarcity and eschatological abundance.

Why it lands — The verse does not promise ease; it promises that the one rooted in the LORD will not be the first to fail when pressure comes. It asks the reader to test whether their life shows the signs of depth or of a plant that has never felt drought.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Cross-references

Psalms 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.
Isaiah 58:11 The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Ezekiel 47:12 Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of all kinds will grow. Their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. Each month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be used for food and their leaves for healing.”
Ezekiel 31:4 The waters made it grow; the deep springs made it tall, directing their streams all around its base and sending their channels to all the trees of the field.
Psalms 92:10 But You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; with fine oil I have been anointed.
Job 8:16 He is a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden.
Jeremiah 14:1 This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought: