Jeremiah 8:17

¹⁵ We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble!

¹⁶ The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein.

For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.

¹⁸ When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.

¹⁹ Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “For behold, I will send snakes among you, vipers that cannot be charmed, and they will bite you,” declares the LORD.
KJV: For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the LORD.
WEB: “For, behold, I will send serpents, adders among you, which will not be charmed; and they will bite you,” says the LORD.
ASV: For, behold, I will send serpents, adders, among you, which will not be charmed; and they shall bite you, saith Jehovah.
DARBY: For behold, I send among you serpents, vipers against which there is no charm, and they shall bite you, saith Jehovah.
BLB: “For behold, I am sending you⁺ among serpents—vipers that [there is] not unto them a charm, and they will bite you⁺,” a declaration of YHWH.

ÅB: For se, jeg sender ormer iblant dere, basilisker som ingen besvergelse hjelper mot, og de skal bite dere, sier Herren.
OTB: "For se, jeg sender slanger blant dere, giftige slanger som ikke kan sjarmers, og de skal bite dere," erklærer Herren.
B1930: For se, jeg sender ormer iblandt eder, basilisker som ingen besvergelse hjelper mot, og de skal bite eder, sier Herren.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 58:4–5
Their poison is like the poison of a serpent: they are like the deaf adder that stoppeth her ear;
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Ecclesiastes 10:11
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
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Deuteronomy 32:24
They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.
Read in context
Isaiah 14:29
Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent’s root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent.
Read in context
Numbers 21:6
And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
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Revelation 9:19
For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.
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Amos 5:19
As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.
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Amos 9:3
And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:
Read in context