Jeremiah 17:9 bbe — The heart is a twisted thing, not to be searched out by man: who is able to have knowledge of it?

Bible in Basic English

"The heart is a twisted thing, not to be searched out by man: who is able to have knowledge of it?"

— Jeremiah 17:9, Bible in Basic English

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Jeremiah 17 — Context

6

For he will be like the brushwood in the upland, and will not see when good comes; but his living-place will be in the dry places in the waste land, in a salt and unpeopled land.

7

A blessing is on the man who puts his faith in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

8

For he will be like a tree planted by the waters, pushing out its roots by the stream; he will have no fear when the heat comes, but his leaf will be green; in a dry year he will have no care, and will go on giving fruit.

9

The heart is a twisted thing, not to be searched out by man: who is able to have knowledge of it?

10

I 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.

11

Like the partridge, getting eggs together but not producing young, is a man who gets wealth but not by right; before half his days are ended, it will go from him, and at his end he will be foolish.

12

A seat of glory, placed on high from the first, is our holy place.

Jeremiah 17:9 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Jeremiah 17:9 say?
Jeremiah 17:9 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “The heart is a twisted thing, not to be searched out by man: who is able to have knowledge of it?”
Where is Jeremiah 17:9 in the Bible?
Jeremiah 17:9 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of Jeremiah, chapter 17, verse 9.
Who wrote Jeremiah?
Jeremiah is traditionally attributed to Jeremiah, with scribal help from Baruch. It was written c. 627–580 BC.
What is the book of Jeremiah about?
Jeremiah, the "weeping prophet," ministered through Judah's slow-motion collapse — pleading with kings and people to repent, suffering imprisonment for his message, and ultimately watching Jerusalem fall. Yet in the midst of judgment he promises a new covenant written on the heart.
What are the major themes of Jeremiah?
Jeremiah explores themes including Judgment, Repentance, New Covenant, Suffering Prophet, Hope. These themes shape the meaning and context of Jeremiah 17:9.
What translation should I read Jeremiah 17:9 in?
Jeremiah 17:9 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Jeremiah 17:9?
Jeremiah 17:9 reads (BBE): “The heart is a twisted thing, not to be searched out by man: who is able to have knowledge of it?” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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