Jeremiah 17 · Verse 10

Jeremiah 17:10

I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
Jeremiah 17:10, King James Version

Jeremiah 17:10 in other translations

BSBI, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
WEB“I, the LORD, search the mind. I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”
ASVI, Jehovah, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
YLTI Jehovah do search the heart, try the reins, Even to give to each according to his way, According to the fruit of his doings.
DARBYI Jehovah search the heart, I try the reins, even to give each one according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.
BBEI the Lord am the searcher of the heart, the tester of the thoughts, so that I may give to every man the reward of his ways, in keeping with the fruit of his doings.
WebsterI the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

What does Jeremiah 17:10 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
10. Lest any should infer from Jr 17:9, "who can know it?" that even the Lord does not know, and therefore cannot punish, the hidden treachery of the heart, He says, "I the Lord search the heart," &c. (1Ch 28:9; Psa 7:9; Pr 17:3; Re 2:23). even to give--and that in order that I may give (Jr 32:19).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 10 I the Lord search the heart - The Lord is called by his apostles, Act 1:24, Καρδιογνωστης, the Knower of the heart. To him alone can this epithet be applied; and it is from him alone that we can derive that instruction by which we can in any measure know ourselves.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Jeremiah 17:5-11

He who puts confidence in man, shall be like the heath in a desert, a naked tree, a sorry shrub, the product of barren ground, useless and worthless. Those who trust to their own righteousness and strength, and think they can do without Christ, make flesh their arm, and their souls cannot prosper in graces or comforts. Those who make God their Hope, shall flourish like a tree always green, whose leaf does not…

Read the full comment on Jeremiah 17:5-11 →

Jeremiah 17:10 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

אֲנִ֧י'a.NiIH589
יְהוָ֛הYah.wehYahwehH3068
חֹקֵ֥רcho.Ker[am] searchingH2713
לֵ֖בlev[the] heartH3820
בֹּחֵ֣ןbo.Chen[am] testingH974
כְּלָי֑וֹתke.la.Yot[the] kidneysH3629
וְלָתֵ֤תve.la.Tet<and> to giveH5414
לְאִישׁ֙le.'Ishto everyoneH376
כִּדְרָכָ֔יוke.dar.kovaccording to ways hisH1870
כִּפְרִ֖יkif.Riaccording to [the] fruit ofH6529
מַעֲלָלָֽיו\׃\ \סma.'a.la.Lavdeeds hisH4611

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Jeremiah 17:10

  • 1 Samuel 16:7

    But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

  • Romans 8:27

    And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

  • Jeremiah 11:20

    But, O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.

  • Revelation 2:23

    And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.

  • Hebrews 4:12-13

    For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

  • Psalms 139:23-24

    Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

  • Jeremiah 32:19

    Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:

  • Jeremiah 20:12

    But, O Lord of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.

  • 1 Chronicles 28:9

    And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.

  • Galatians 6:7-8

    Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

  • Proverbs 17:3

    The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.

  • Psalms 62:12

    Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the Lord.
11:20; 20:12; 1Sa 16:7; 1Ch 28:9; 29:17; 2Ch 6:30; Ps 7:9
Ps 139:1,2,23,24; Pr 17:3; Joh 2:25; Ro 8:27; Heb 4:12,13; Re 2:23
even.
32:19; Ps 62:12; Mt 16:27; Ro 2:6-8; Re 20:12; 22:12
fruit.
21:14; 32:19; Isa 3:10,11; Mic 7:13; Ro 6:21; Ga 6:7,8

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Jeremiah 17:9

    The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

  • Jeremiah 17:10

    I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

  • Jeremiah 17:11

    As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool.

Read all of Jeremiah 17

Jeremiah 17:10 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Yo Jehová, que escudriño el corazón, que pruebo los riñones, para dar á cada uno según su camino, según el fruto de sus obras.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Moi, l’ Éternel, je sonde le cœur, j’éprouve les reins; et cela pour rendre à chacun selon ses voies, selon le fruit de ses actions.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ich, Jehova, erforsche das Herz und prüfe die Nieren, und zwar um einem jeden zu geben nach seinen Wegen, nach der Frucht seiner Handlungen. -
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Ego Dominus scrutans cor, et probans renes: qui do unicuique juxta viam suam, et juxta fructum adinventionum suarum.