BOOK 24 OF 66 · MAJOR PROPHETS · KING JAMES BIBLE

Jeremiah 11

Jeremiah book home•Chapter 11 of 52•23 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Jeremiah 11 Overview

Jeremiah proclaims the covenant curses against a people who refuse the words given at the exodus, exposes a conspiracy of idolatry throughout Judah, and learns that men of his own hometown Anathoth are plotting to kill him.

JeremiahBook

11Chapter

23Verses

Major ProphetsDivision

Before you read Jeremiah 11

Coming from

Jeremiah contrasts powerless handmade idols with the living Creator-King, warns that Judah’s coming upheaval is deserved, and ends with a prayer for measured correction rather than annihilating anger.

In this chapter

Leads into

Jeremiah asks why the wicked prosper and receives an answer that harder trials are ahead; the LORD laments His forsaken heritage, announces judgment on evil neighbors, yet also promises to restore both Judah and surrounding nations if they learn His ways.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The chapter roots Jeremiah’s warnings explicitly in the Mosaic covenant. National disobedience and personal persecution meet in the prophet’s experience.

The interpretive center of Jeremiah 11 is the chapter’s own movement: covenant judgment is not arbitrary. Read its poetry, signs, historical references, and later biblical connections from that center rather than treating isolated phrases as detached slogans.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Covenant judgment is not arbitrary

The coming curse corresponds to Israel’s longstanding refusal to obey the covenant.

Widespread religious conspiracy can normalize apostasy

Cities and streets multiply altars to false gods.

Faithful proclamation can provoke hostility from familiar people

Jeremiah’s own townsmen want him silenced.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Deuteronomy 27–28

The blessings and curses provide the covenant framework for Jeremiah 11.

Galatians 3:10

Paul quotes Deuteronomy’s curse principle when explaining the law and justification.

Matthew 13:57

Jesus’ rejection in His own country provides a later parallel to a prophet facing hostility among familiar people.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not confuse the Mosaic covenant curse with the way a person receives eternal life.

Jeremiah is addressing Israel’s national covenant obligations.

Do not assume Jeremiah’s 'lamb to the slaughter' language is itself a direct messianic prophecy.

It describes Jeremiah’s own unsuspecting vulnerability, though it may echo broader righteous-sufferer patterns.

Read Jeremiah 11 watching for…

the covenant command to obey

the iron-furnace exodus memory

many altars

God telling Jeremiah not to pray

the murder plot from Anathoth

Chapter outline3 sections

1-10Judah has broken the covenant their fathers were commanded to obey 11-17Disaster comes because Judah turned to other gods, and Jeremiah is told not to pray for them 18-23The men of Anathoth plot against Jeremiah, and the LORD promises to judge them

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings.

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.

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.

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:

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:

And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.

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Jeremiah 11:21

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