Jeremiah 11:18-23

18 The LORD made it known to me and I knew; then you showed me their deeds.
19 But I was 1like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know 2it was against me they devised schemes, saying, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, 3let us cut him off from 4the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more."
20 But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, who 5tests 6the heart and the mind, 7let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.
21 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the men of 8Anathoth, 9who seek your life, and say, 10"Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, or you will die by our hand"--
22 therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: "Behold, I will punish them. The young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine,
23 and none of them shall be left. For I will bring disaster upon the men of 11Anathoth, 12the year of their punishment."

Jeremiah 11:18-23 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 11

This chapter gives an account of the covenant God had made with the people of the Jews; their breach of it; and the evils threatened them on that account; and particularly against the men of Anathoth, for their ill treatment of the prophet. It begins with the order to Jeremiah to rehearse the words of the covenant in the ears of the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Jer 11:1-3, which covenant is described by the sanction of it; a curse in case of disobedience; and a promise of being their God, and bringing them into the good land, in case of obedience; and by the time when it was made, when the Israelites were brought out of Egypt, Jer 10:3-5, which order, the prophet agreeing to, is repeated, Jer 10:5,6 declaring the earnest protestation and exhortation of God to obey it, which they not observing, were threatened with the curses of it, Jer 11:7,8, the present Jews doing as their forefathers had done, breaking the covenant, particularly by their idolatry, are threatened also with punishment they should not escape, Jer 11:9-11 which is aggravated by a resolution to show no regard to their cries, Jer 11:11, by the impotence of their idols to save them, though so numerous, Jer 11:12,13, by forbidding the prophet to pray for them, Jer 11:14, by their having no longer a place and protection in the house of God, because of their wickedness, Jer 11:15, by comparing their former and present state together, having been as a beautiful and fruitful olive tree, but now burnt, and its branches broken, Jer 11:16, next follows an account of a design of the men of Anathoth against the prophet, to take away his life, which he was ignorant of, till the Lord gave him knowledge of it, Jer 11:17-19, when he imprecates vengeance on them, Jer 11:20, and, under a spirit of prophecy from the Lord, foretells their utter ruin and destruction, Jer 11:21,22.

Cross References 12

  • 1. Isaiah 53:7; [Revelation 5:6]
  • 2. Jeremiah 18:18; Lamentations 3:60, 61
  • 3. Psalms 83:4; Isaiah 53:8
  • 4. Psalms 27:13
  • 5. Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 20:12; Psalms 7:9; Revelation 2:23
  • 6. See 1 Samuel 16:7
  • 7. Jeremiah 15:15; Jeremiah 17:18; Jeremiah 20:12; Lamentations 3:64
  • 8. Joshua 21:18
  • 9. [Jeremiah 12:6; Matthew 13:57]
  • 10. Isaiah 30:10
  • 11. Joshua 21:18
  • 12. Jeremiah 23:12
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.