CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
Jeremiah 11
Chapter 11 of 52
Chapter Overview
What happens in Jeremiah 11
God reminds the people of the covenant he made with their ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt. Because they have broken that covenant and worshipped other gods, judgment is coming. The men of Jeremiah's hometown of Anathoth plot to kill him for his preaching.
Scripture
Jeremiah 11
The Broken Covenant
Study note
God sends Jeremiah to remind the people of the covenant made at Mount Sinai. The agreement was simple: obey God and be his people. But generation after generation refused to listen, choosing instead to follow their own sinful desires.
1 Here is the message the Lord gave to Jeremiah: The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 "Pay attention to what this covenant says. Then tell the people of Judah and the people of Jerusalem." Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
3 "Say to them, 'The Lord, the God of Israel, says this. A curse falls on anyone who will not obey this covenant.'" And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,
4 "This is the covenant I made with your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, out of that place that was like a blazing hot furnace. I told them, 'Obey me and do everything I command you. Then you will be my people, and I will be your God.'" Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:
5 "I made this promise so I could keep the oath I swore to your ancestors — to give them a land overflowing with milk and honey, the very land you live in today." I answered, "Yes, Lord, let it be exactly as you say." That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.
6 Then the Lord told me, "Go announce all these words throughout the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. Say, 'Listen to what this covenant says, and do what it tells you.'" Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.
7 "I brought your fathers out of Egypt. From that day to this, I told them over and over: 'Obey me.'" For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.
8 "But they wouldn't listen, and they wouldn't pay attention. Each person stubbornly followed their own evil desires. So I brought on them every punishment the covenant warned about — the covenant they were supposed to follow but didn't." Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.
A Conspiracy Among the People
Study note
God reveals that the people of Judah and Jerusalem have joined together in a conspiracy against him. They have gone back to the same sins as their ancestors and worship many false gods. Their idols are as many as their cities.
9 Then the Lord said to me, "The people of Judah and Jerusalem are making plans against me." And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10 "They have gone right back to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to listen to my words. They have run after other gods to worship them. Both Israel and Judah have broken the covenant I made with their ancestors." They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.
11 "So the Lord says this: 'I am going to bring a disaster on them, and they will not be able to escape. Even if they cry out to me for help, I will not listen.'" Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.
12 "Then the people of Judah's towns and Jerusalem will run to the gods they've been burning incense to and beg for help. But those gods won't be able to do a single thing for them when disaster hits." Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
13 "Judah, you have as many gods as you have towns! And you've put up just as many altars for burning incense to Baal as there are streets in Jerusalem." For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.
Prayer Forbidden
Study note
God tells Jeremiah not to pray for the people because he will not listen when they cry out in their time of trouble. Judah was once like a beautiful olive tree, but God will set it on fire because of their worship of Baal.
14 "So Jeremiah, don't pray for these people. Don't beg me or cry out to me on their behalf, because I will not listen when they come crying to me in their time of trouble." Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.
15 "What right do my beloved people have to be in my Temple when they've done so many evil things? Can holy meat save you when you keep sinning? You celebrate even while doing wrong." What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.
16 The Lord once called you a beautiful olive tree loaded with lovely fruit. But now, with a roaring storm, he will set that tree on fire and its branches will snap. The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.
17 The Lord of Armies, the one who planted you, has announced that disaster is coming for you. This is because both Israel and Judah have done evil and provoked the Lord by burning incense to Baal. For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.
The Plot Against Jeremiah
Study note
God reveals to Jeremiah that the men of his own hometown of Anathoth are plotting to kill him. They want to silence his prophetic voice. God promises to punish them severely for their conspiracy against his prophet.
18 The Lord let me know what was going on, and I found out the truth. He showed me exactly what they were planning. And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings.
19 Before that, I had been like a trusting lamb being led off to be butchered. I had no idea they were making plans against me. They were saying, "Let's destroy the tree while it's still full of life. Let's get rid of him so that even his name is forgotten." But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.
20 But you, Lord of Armies, you judge fairly. You examine what people think and feel deep inside. Let me watch as you pay them back, because I have handed my case over to you. But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.
21 The Lord then gave this warning about the men from Anathoth who wanted to kill me. They had said, "Stop speaking in the Lord's name, or we will kill you ourselves." Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand:
22 So the Lord of Armies says, "I will punish them. Their young men will die in battle. Their sons and daughters will die from starvation." Therefore thus saith 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 "Not a single one of them will survive. I will bring disaster on the men of Anathoth when the time comes for them to be punished." And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.
Key Themes
Themes in Jeremiah 11
Covenant faithfulness and covenant breakingConspiracy of disobedienceThe plot against jeremiah's lifeConsequences of abandoning the covenantGod's justice against treachery
Apply This Today
Living Jeremiah 11
Covenants with God carry real obligations, and breaking them has real consequences. When opposition comes for doing what is right, God sees and defends His servants. The people closest to us may resist the truth most fiercely, but faithfulness to God must come first.
Go Deeper
Study Jeremiah in Covenant Path
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