Jeremiah 11

This chapter belongs to the early part of the book of Jeremiah. Whereas Jeremiah 10 contrasts idols with the true God, chapter 11 opens a new section and indicts Judah's betrayal, with "the words of this covenant" at its center.

Outline

• Verses 1–5: God commands Jeremiah to proclaim to Judah and Jerusalem the covenant He made with their fathers when He brought them out of Egypt. Jeremiah responds, "Amen."
• Verses 6–8: Jeremiah declares that because the fathers did not obey, the curses written in the covenant came upon them.
• Verses 9–13: Judah's service of other gods is called a conspiracy, and an inescapable disaster is declared. The people's gods are said to be as many as their cities, and their altars for burning incense to Baal as many as their streets.
• Verses 14–17: God commands Jeremiah not to pray for this people. The nation God once called "a green olive tree" is set on fire, and its branches are broken.
• Verses 18–20: Jeremiah becomes aware of a plot against him and appeals to God, who judges righteously.
• Verses 21–23: Punishment by sword and famine is pronounced on the men of Anathoth, who threatened him so that he would stop prophesying.

Key Verses

• Jeremiah 11:4: "so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God." This is the central formula of the Old Testament covenant.
• Jeremiah 11:14: "Therefore pray not thou for this people." This verse shows the certainty of judgment.
• Jeremiah 11:19: "But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter." This image depicts the suffering the prophet endures.

People and Places

• Jeremiah: the prophet who proclaims the words of the covenant.
• The men of Anathoth: the people of Jeremiah's hometown. Anathoth was a priestly town in the land of Benjamin (Jeremiah 1:1).
• Egypt and Jerusalem.

Points for Reflection

• Many interpreters read the covenant sermon of verses 1–8 in connection with the covenant renewal under Josiah (2 Kings 22–23), although the text itself gives no indication of date.
• The passage running from verse 18 through verse 6 of Jeremiah 12 is generally regarded as the first part of the lament passages commonly called the "Confessions of Jeremiah."
• The lamb imagery of verse 19 resembles verse 7 of Isaiah 53. Some Christian interpreters read it alongside the sufferings of Christ, but the person the text directly refers to is Jeremiah himself.
• The plea for vengeance in verse 20 is often considered together with the teaching of Romans 12:17–21, which instructs believers to leave their enemies to God.
• The broken olive branches of verse 16 connect with the image in Romans 11:17–24. The broken covenant forms the background for the later promise of the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31–34).