Jeremiah 17:11As the partridge that sits on eggs which she has not laid, so is he who gets riches, and not by right; in the midst of his days they shall leave him, and at his end he shall be a fool.
The setting
Ancient Israel, ~605 BC. Wealthy merchants are hoarding grain during a famine, charging extortionate prices. Jeremiah uses a bird illustration everyone understood...
The emotion here: frustrated with seeing the wicked prosper while knowing their end
The original word
qōrē' (קֹרֵא) — a partridge that steals eggs from other nests, but the chicks abandon her when they hatch
Why it matters
Partridges in ancient Israel were known for stealing eggs, but the chicks would follow their real mother's call when hatched
Read with care
What most readers miss in Jeremiah 17:11
This isn't just about money — it's about anything gained through deception eventually abandoning you
Common misconceptionPeople think this is only about stealing money, but it applies to any success built on lies — relationships, reputation, even ministry built on false foundations.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Jeremiah 17:11
Bible Genome reading
Jeremiah 17:11 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Jeremiah 17:11 comes from the book of Jeremiah, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Jeremiah. The dominant emotion in this verse is deciding, with a comfort power of 30% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the poetry genre of biblical literature. Key themes include wealth, justice, consequences. Notable phrases: partridge that sits; riches not by right.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same deciding
“"You shall have no other gods before me.”
— Deuteronomy 5:7
“"You shall not murder.”
— Exodus 20:13
“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
— Matthew 23:12
“For God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control.”
— 2 Timothy 1:7
“But Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I have, that I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!"”
— Acts 3:6
Your reflection
What does Jeremiah 17:11 mean to you, today?
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