Jeremiah 17:12
in Jeremiah 17A glorious throne, exalted from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
A glorious throne, set on high from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary.
KJV
A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.
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This verse in Jeremiah 17
Commentary
13 notes on this verseA glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary. The temple, which was a sanctified place, where the holy God dwelt, his holy worship was observed, and his holy people met together. Here, from the beginning of its erection, from the time of its dedication, the Lord took up his residence; the glory of the Lord filled the house; he set up his throne in it, a high and glorious one; he dwelt between the cherubim, over the mercy seat, typical of the throne of grace. Kimchi and Ben Melech observe that R.
This site's exposition
A glorious high throne from the beginning
on Jeremiah 17:12-13
A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary turns from the deceitful human heart to the one dwelling that does not fail, the Lord's own sanctuary, exalted from the first while every human refuge falls. Barnes reads the fountain of living waters in verse 13 as the same contrast the book draws at 2:13, the Lord as the source no broken cistern can replace, so that forsaking him is forsaking the only water that does not fail. Gill notes that those who depart are written in the earth, the deliberate opposite of a name kept in a book of remembrance, recorded only in dust.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers5 voices
"The glorious throne, exalted from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary." Again the prophet denounces the wicked who put their hope in their riches. He exhorts them to think about the household of God, he who sits in the sacred place in the …
A commentator
Apostolic ConstitutionsCONSTITUTIONS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES 6:2.5 · Written before 380.
proposed
He has taken away from the ungodly the Holy Spirit and the prophetic rain and has replenished his church with spiritual grace, as the "river of Egypt in the time of firstfruits," and has advanced the same as a house on a hill or as a high mountain, as a mountain fruitful for milk and fatness, where God is pleased to dwell. "For the Lord will dwell there to the end." And he says in Jeremiah: "A glorious throne set on high from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary." And he says in Isaiah: "And it shall come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the Lord shall be glorious, and the house of the Lord shall be on the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills."
(Verse 12, 13.) The throne of glory on high from the beginning, the place of our sanctification. The expectation of Israel, O Lord, all those who forsake you shall be put to shame, those who turn away shall be written (or described) on the earth; for they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain (or source) of living waters.
A commentator
Augustine of HippoREPLY TO FAUSTUS THE MANICHAEAN 13:13 · Written in the 5th century.
proposed
As if anticipating that the inquirer would ask next by what plain mark a young disciple, not yet able to distinguish the truth among so many errors, might find the true Church of Christ. Since the clear fulfillment of so many predictions compelled him to believe in Christ, the prophet answers this question in what follows, and teaches that the Church of Christ, which he describes prophetically, is conspicuously visible. His words are: "A glorious high throne is our sanctuary." This glorious throne is the Church of which the apostle says: "The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." The Lord also, foreseeing the conspicuousness of the Church as a help to young disciples who might be misled, says, "A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."
Now the beginning of the second chapter, which was read, is this: "A throne of glory exalted from the beginning is our place, our sanctification, our support, the support of Israel. O Lord, let all who have forsaken you be put to shame; departing, let them be written upon the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of life." The blessed prophet Isaiah said, seeing the Lord and his kingdom: "I saw the Lord of Sabaoth sitting upon a throne lofty and lifted up." Jeremiah too saw how God reigns, on account of which, glorifying him, he says: "A throne of glory exalted from the beginning is our place, our sanctification." Whether you should wish to understand these words of Christ, you will not err, or of the Father, you will not think impiously: for the Savior is a lofty throne of glory and is from the beginning. "A throne of glory," because of which his kingdom is exalted; "our sanctification." [Our sanctification] is Christ; for "both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one."
6 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
As the glorious and high throne (that is, heaven) is the place of our sanctuary; so some read it. Note, All good men have a high value and veneration for the ordinances of God, and reckon the place of the sanctuary a glorious high throne. Jeremiah here mentions this either as a plea with God for mercy to their land, in honour of the throne of his glory ( ch. xiv.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
God, by the prophet, warns the people to keep holy the sabbath day, assuring them that, if they did, it should be the lengthening out of their tranquility, but that, if not, God would by some desolating judgment assert the honour of his sabbaths,
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
HENDERSON makes Jehovah, in Jer 17:13, the subject, and this verse predicate, "A throne of glory, high from the beginning, the place of our sanctuary, the hope of Israel is Jehovah." "Throne" is thus used for Him who sits on it; compare thrones (Col 1:16). He is called a "sanctuary" to His people (Isa 8:14;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
THIS book of Jeremiah is a very thorny one—it might be called, like his smaller work, "The Book of Lamentations." Our text is as a lily among thorns, as a rose in the wilderness. The solitary place shall be glad for it and the desert shall rejoice. The words sound like sweet music amid the crash of tempest. The bitter tree yields us sweet fruit. The weeping Prophet wipes away our tears.
THIS book of Jeremiah is a very thorny one—it might be called, like his smaller work, "The Book of Lamentations." Our text is as a lily among thorns, as a rose in the wilderness. The solitary place shall be glad for it and the desert shall rejoice. The words sound like sweet music amid the crash of tempest. The bitter tree yields us sweet fruit. The weeping Prophet wipes away our tears. I do not know that the whole of Scripture contains more delightful promises than those which fell from the lips of this son of sorrow who has been to so many a son of consolation! May God grant that this lily, today, may be exceeding lovely in your eyes as you see it in the sunlight of the Holy Spirit. It seems to me that in this passage the mourning Prophet is sitting alone in communion with his God, speaking out his steadfast faith, and washing the feet of his sorrows in the laver of the promises. The singular change of the pronoun from You to Me shows how near the Lord was to him—so near, indeed, that Jehovah not only speaks by the Prophet, but breaks in with personal language and speaks, Himself All men who have to deal with great multitudes of people for God must be much alone or they will lose their power. Jeremiah was sick at heart, for he prophesied, but he was not believed. He entreated and persuaded, but his affectionate appeals were rejected. He saw the nation hastening to destruction and he could not avert the doom! All this made him cry out in the anguish of his soul, "I am the man that has seen affliction." And, therefore, he could not have lived if he had not found sanctuary in his God. He often stole away into secret places that he might pour out his breaking heart before the Lord and commit himself to the tender care of Him whom he so faithfully served.
A glorious high throne - As he is cursed who trusts in man, so he is blessed who trusts in God. He is here represented as on a throne in his temple; to him in the means of grace all should resort. He is the support, and a glorious support, of all them that trust in him.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
The Lord Who is the source of the hopes of Israel sits upon it. Therefore, all that forsake You shall be shamed.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
6 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כִּסֵּ֣א | kise' | [is] a throne of | H3678 → | 135 times |
| כָב֔וֹד | khavod | glory | H3519 → | 200 times |
| מָר֖וֹם | marom | a high place | H4791 → | 54 times |
| מֵֽרִאשׁ֑וֹן | merishon | from first [time] | H7223 → | 182 times |
| מְק֖וֹם | mekom | [the] place of | H4725 → | 401 times |
| מִקְדָּשֵֽׁנוּ׃ | mikdashenu | sanctuary our | H4720 → |
כִּסֵּ֣א[is] a throne of
kise'H3678 →135 times
כָב֔וֹדglory
khavodH3519 →200 times
מָר֖וֹםa high place
maromH4791 →54 times
מֵֽרִאשׁ֑וֹןfrom first [time]
merishonH7223 →182 times
מְק֖וֹם[the] place of
mekomH4725 →401 times
מִקְדָּשֵֽׁנוּ׃sanctuary our
mikdashenuH4720 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 96:6Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty fill His sanctuary.
it leads to
- Psalms 63:2–3
So I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and glory.
- Psalms 63:2–3
Through
Ezekiel 1:26Above the expanse over their heads was the likeness of a throne with the appearance of sapphire, and on the throne high above was a figure like that of a man.
it leads to
- Ezekiel 10:1
And I looked and saw above the expanse, above the heads of the cherubim, the likeness of a throne of sapphire.
- Exodus 24:10
and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet was a work like a pavement made of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.
- Ezekiel 10:1
Through
Jeremiah 3:17At that time Jerusalem will be called The Throne of the LORD, and all the nations will be gathered in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. They will no longer follow the…
it leads to
- Ezekiel 43:7
and He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place for the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the Israelites forever. The house…
- Micah 4:1–5
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to…
- Ezekiel 43:7
Through
Jeremiah 14:21For the sake of Your name do not despise us; do not disgrace Your glorious throne. Remember Your covenant with us; do not break it.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 14:7
Although our iniquities testify against us, O LORD, act for the sake of Your name. Indeed, our rebellions are many; we have sinned against You.
- Jeremiah 14:7
Through
Ezekiel 43:7and He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place for the soles of My feet, where I will dwell among the Israelites forever. The house…
it leads to
- Ezekiel 43:9
Now let them remove far from Me their prostitution and the funeral offerings for their kings, and I will dwell among them forever.
- Psalms 47:8
God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.
- Ezekiel 43:9
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About Jeremiah
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Apostolic Constitutions, CONSTITUTIONS OF THE HOLY APOSTLES 6:2.5; Augustine of Hippo, REPLY TO FAUSTUS THE MANICHAEAN 13:13; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1786: “Our Sanctuary” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); Ephrem the Syrian, COMMENTARY ON JEREMIAH 17:12; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Jeremiah; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JEREMIAH 17.