Yirmeyah 11:20

20 But, Hashem Tzva’os, Shofet Tzedek, that testeth the kelayot (kidneys) and the lev, let me see Thy vengeance on them; for unto Thee have I committed my cause.

Yirmeyah 11:20 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 11:20

But, O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously
This is the prophet's appeal to God, as the Judge of the whole earth, who will do right; he found there was no justice to be done him among men; he therefore has recourse to a righteous God, who he knew judged righteous judgment: that triest the reins and the heart;
of all men; as of his own, so of his enemies; and which he mentions, not so much on his own account as theirs: let me see thy vengeance on them;
which imprecation arose from a pure zeal for God, for his glory, and the honour of his justice; and not from private revenge; and so no ways inconsistent with the character of a good man; though some consider the words as a prediction of what would befall them, and he should live to see accomplished; and render them, "I shall see &c." ^F17; and so the Targum,

``I shall see the vengeance of thy judgment on them:''

for unto thee have I revealed my cause;
as a client to his patron; told his whole case, and left it with him, believing he would manage it for him, and do him justice. The Apostle Peter seems to have this passage in view, when speaking of Christ, ( 1 Peter 2:23 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (hara) "videbo", Munster, Schmidt; "visurus sum", Junius & Tremellius.

Yirmeyah 11:20 In-Context

18 And Hashem hath given me da’as (knowledge) of it, and I know it; then Thou opened my eyes to their deeds.

19 But I was like an innocent keves (lamb) that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised machashavot (plots) against me, saying, Let us destroy the etz (tree) with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from Eretz Chayyim, that shmo may be no more remembered.

20 But, Hashem Tzva’os, Shofet Tzedek, that testeth the kelayot (kidneys) and the lev, let me see Thy vengeance on them; for unto Thee have I committed my cause.

21 Therefore thus saith Hashem of the anshei Anatot, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not B’Shem Hashem, that thou die not by our yad;

22 Therefore thus saith Hashem Tzva’os, Look! I will punish them; the bochurim shall die by the cherev; their banim and their banot shall die by ra’av (famine);