Jeremiah 11 11

Jeremiah 11:11 kjv

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.

Jeremiah 11:11 nkjv

Therefore thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them.

Jeremiah 11:11 niv

Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them.

Jeremiah 11:11 esv

Therefore, thus says the LORD, Behold, I am bringing disaster upon them that they cannot escape. Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them.

Jeremiah 11:11 nlt

Therefore, this is what the LORD says: I am going to bring calamity upon them, and they will not escape. Though they beg for mercy, I will not listen to their cries.

Jeremiah 11 verses

Jeremiah 11 11 Meaning

Jeremiah 11:11 declares a stark and unyielding judgment from the LORD against the people of Judah. It prophesies an imminent, overwhelming disaster that they will be utterly unable to escape. Furthermore, it reveals a chilling divine silence: despite any desperate cries they might utter during their tribulation, the LORD will refuse to listen or intervene on their behalf. This verse signifies the dire consequences of their persistent covenant breaking and idolatry, indicating that a threshold of divine patience has been crossed, leading to an inevitable, just recompense.

Jeremiah 11 11 Context

Jeremiah chapter 11 opens with the LORD recalling the covenant made at Sinai with their ancestors, emphasizing His bringing them out of the "iron furnace" of Egypt to a land flowing with milk and honey. This covenant included strict stipulations of obedience, accompanied by blessings for adherence and curses for transgression (v. 1-5). The LORD commissions Jeremiah to reiterate this covenant to the people of Judah. However, the chapter quickly reveals Judah's profound betrayal: they have not only failed to obey but have actively "turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers" and "broken My covenant" (v. 10). They have followed other gods, mirroring the very acts of idolatry against which the covenant explicitly warned. Verse 11, therefore, is the LORD's decisive verdict and the direct consequence of this blatant apostasy. Historically, Judah found itself at a critical juncture, having backslidden significantly under various kings, despite reforms attempted by King Josiah. The threat of the Babylonian empire loomed large, a tool in God's hand for bringing this decreed "disaster" upon His people for their unfaithfulness.

Jeremiah 11 11 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן - lachen): This is a strong connective word, functioning as a conclusion or logical consequence. It directly links the preceding actions of Judah's covenant-breaking and idolatry (Jer 11:8-10) to the ensuing divine judgment. It emphasizes that the judgment is not arbitrary but a just response to their disobedience.

• thus says the LORD (כֹּה־אָמַר יְהוָה - koh amar YHWH): This is a classic prophetic formula, underscoring the divine authority and origin of the message. It asserts that these are not Jeremiah's personal opinions but the absolute decree of YHWH, the covenant God of Israel. The use of "YHWH" (the sacred Name) is significant, highlighting that the very God with whom they have a covenant relationship is the one pronouncing judgment upon its breach.

• Behold (הִנְנִי - hineni): A particle signaling immediate attention or impending action. It often conveys "Here I am, about to do..." or "Listen, this is about to happen..." It intensifies the announcement, emphasizing the certainty and immediacy of God's intervention.

• I am bringing (מֵבִיא - mevi'): A present participle, indicating an active, ongoing, or certainly impending divine action. God is personally and actively orchestrating this. This is not a passive event but an act of sovereign will.

• disaster (רָעָה - ra'ah): This Hebrew term is broad, meaning "evil," "calamity," "adversity," or "misfortune." In this context, it refers not to moral evil, but to the devastating, divinely appointed punishment and consequences for moral evil. It denotes a severe judgment or tribulation that comes upon people. The Septuagint translates it as kaká, meaning "evils" or "harm."

• upon them (עֲלֵיהֶם - aleihem): Clearly identifies the specific target of this judgment: the disobedient people of Judah, specifically those in Jerusalem and its cities who have broken the covenant and followed other gods.

• which they will not be able (אֲשֶׁר לֹא־יוּכְלוּ - asher lo-yukelu): This phrase powerfully stresses the utter impossibility of avoidance or escape. "Will not be able" implies a complete lack of strength, resources, or avenues of evasion on their part. Their own ingenuity or military might will fail them.

• to escape (לָצֵאת מִמֶּנָּה - latzet mimmennah): Literally, "to go out from it." This signifies being caught, trapped, or entirely encompassed by the calamity with no way out, no loophole, no deliverance. It underlines the finality and inescapability of the decreed judgment.

• Though they cry to me (וְזָעֲקוּ אֵלַי - veza'aku elai): This introduces a hypothetical, but anticipated, desperate act. "Cry" (za'ak) denotes a loud, urgent, desperate cry for help, typically from deep distress, suffering, or oppression. It implies a recognition, even belated, that only God can deliver. The "to me" (elai) indicates that despite their idolatry, their ultimate cry for deliverance will turn to Yahweh.

• I will not listen to them (וְלֹא אֶשְׁמַע אֲלֵיהֶם - velo eshma aleihem): This is a profound and terrifying statement of divine withdrawal. God, who is characteristically a hearer of prayers (Psa 34:17, Exo 2:23-24), will deliberately and explicitly refuse to listen to their desperate pleas. This divine silence is the most devastating consequence, indicating a complete rupture of the merciful aspect of the covenant relationship in the face of their profound and prolonged rebellion. It underscores the reciprocal nature of listening: they refused to listen to God, so God will refuse to listen to them.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I am bringing disaster upon them which they will not be able to escape": This section highlights God's sovereignty in judgment and the certainty of its arrival. The "disaster" (ra'ah) is a direct consequence of Judah's unfaithfulness, and its unescapable nature underscores the finality and severity of God's righteous verdict against their sin. There is no human recourse or ability to deflect this divinely ordained punishment.
  • "Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them": This represents the crushing climax of the verse. It reveals the tragic breakdown of the covenant relationship. While in ordinary times God encourages prayer and promises to hear, here, due to their repeated and persistent rejection of His word, His mercy in terms of immediate deliverance from this decreed judgment is withdrawn. This serves as a grim warning that persistent rebellion can lead to a point where even the most fervent, albeit belated, pleas for relief from consequence may be met with divine silence.

Jeremiah 11 11 Bonus section

• Polemics against Idolatry: This verse subtly functions as a powerful polemic against the efficacy of idol worship. If the Almighty Yahweh Himself, the one true God, will not answer His covenant people when they cry to Him in their dire straits, how much less could the mute and powerless idols they worshipped (cf. Jer 11:13) provide any salvation or relief? Their reliance on false gods is exposed as utterly futile in the face of divine judgment.
• Echoes in Lamentations: The fulfillment of this prophesied suffering and unanswered cries finds its stark reality described in the book of Lamentations. Amidst the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile, the people cry out in anguish (Lam 1:9, 2:18, 3:8), yet the immediate deliverance they hoped for is not granted in the midst of their deserved suffering. The painful silence prophesied here is concretely experienced.
• Theological Implications of ra'ah: The use of ra'ah for "disaster" or "calamity" from God emphasizes that suffering is not always a random misfortune but can be a deliberate act of divine justice, ordained by the Creator as a consequence for sin. This perspective aligns with passages like Isaiah 45:7 and Amos 3:6, affirming God's sovereignty over both blessing and tribulation, for His righteous purposes.

Jeremiah 11 11 Commentary

Jeremiah 11:11 stands as a powerful testament to the justice and sovereignty of God in the face of persistent human rebellion. Having laid out Judah's grave transgressions—their adoption of idolatry and their deliberate breaking of the Sinai covenant—the LORD announces an imminent and inescapable calamity. This is not an arbitrary act but the just consequence of their unfaithfulness. The term "disaster" (ra'ah) speaks to the profound suffering and hardship that awaits them, explicitly ordained by God as corrective judgment.

The most poignant and devastating aspect of this verse lies in the declaration of divine silence: "Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them." For a people whose history was defined by calling on their God for deliverance, this pronouncement signifies the ultimate breakdown in their relationship. God, who heard the cries of Israel in Egypt and led them to freedom, will now purposefully turn a deaf ear to their cries during their self-inflicted tribulation. This rejection of their prayers reflects their prior rejection of His warnings and laws (Zech 7:13). It highlights that there is a boundary to divine patience and a point where God's just decree for consequence overrides immediate appeals for mercy from the deserved suffering. The verse, therefore, serves as a solemn warning against taking God's grace for granted and underscores the serious repercussions of sustained covenantal unfaithfulness.

• Example: When a child consistently disobeys parental rules, repeatedly ignores warnings, and engages in dangerous behavior, a loving but firm parent may allow the child to face the natural consequences of their actions, even if it brings pain, to teach a profound lesson, at times remaining silent to desperate pleas if it serves a greater corrective purpose.