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.

Partridge - (1 Samuel 26:20). Hebrew [koree'] 'Korea,' from a root [ qaaraa' (H7121)] to call, alluding to its cry: a name still applied to a bustard by the Arabs.

Sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not - does not succeed in bringing forth to the light the eggs which she has sat on. Its nest is liable, being on the ground, to be trodden under foot, or robbed by carnivorous animals, notwithstanding all the beautiful maneuvers of the parent-birds to save the brood. The translation of Henderson and others, 'sitteth on eggs which it has not laid,' alludes to the ancient notion that she stole the eggs of other birds and hatched them as her own, and that the young birds when grown left her for the true mother. It is not needful to make Scripture allude to an exploded notion, as if it were true. I prefer the English version. The partridge sits on eggs, and yet does not succeed in bringing them forth to the light [ yaalaad (H3205)] Maurer thinks the reference is to Jehoiakim's grasping cupidity (Jeremiah 22:13), which appropriated his neighbour's goods. Probably the sense is more general; as previously he condemned trust in man (Jeremiah 17:5), he now condemns another object of the deceitful hearts' trust; unjustly gotten riches (Psalms 39:6; Psalms 49:16; Psalms 55:23; Proverbs 23:5).

At his end shall be a fool - (Luke 12:20; "This their way is their folly," Psalms 49:13). Himself, and all, shall at last perceive he was not the wise man he thought he was.