Jeremiah 11:20

20 But, O LORD of hosts, who 1judges righteously, Who 2tries the feelings and the heart, Let me see Your vengeance on them, For to You have I committed my cause.

Jeremiah 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 ) .
FOOTNOTES:

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

Jeremiah 11:20 In-Context

18 Moreover, the LORD made it known to me and I knew it; Then You showed me their deeds.
19 But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; And I did not know that they had devised plots against me, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, And let us cut him off from the land of the living, That his name be remembered no more."
20 But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, Who tries the feelings and the heart, Let me see Your vengeance on them, For to You have I committed my cause.
21 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, "Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD , so that you will not die at our hand ";
22 therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, "Behold, I am about to punish them! The young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters will die by famine;

Cross References 2

  • 1. Genesis 18:25; Psalms 7:8; Jeremiah 20:12
  • 2. 1 Samuel 16:7; Psalms 7:9; Jeremiah 17:10

Footnotes 2

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