Jeremiah 11:12 kjv
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.
Jeremiah 11:12 nkjv
Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they offer incense, but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
Jeremiah 11:12 niv
The towns of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they will not help them at all when disaster strikes.
Jeremiah 11:12 esv
Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to whom they make offerings, but they cannot save them in the time of their trouble.
Jeremiah 11:12 nlt
Then the people of Judah and Jerusalem will pray to their idols and burn incense before them. But the idols will not save them when disaster strikes!
Jeremiah 11 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 32:37-38 | He will say: "Where are their gods, the rock in whom they took refuge? Let them rise up and help you!" | YHWH mocks the powerlessness of pagan gods when true help is needed. |
| Judg 10:13-14 | But you have forsaken me and served other gods... "Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen... let them save you!" | God's indignant challenge to Israel to seek help from their chosen idols. |
| Isa 44:9-20 | All who fashion idols are nothing... they cannot deliver themselves. | Comprehensive critique of idol worship, emphasizing their lifelessness. |
| Isa 45:20-22 | Assemble yourselves and come... Look to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth! | God asserts His uniqueness and exclusive power to save, contrasting with idols. |
| Psa 115:3-8 | Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases... Their idols are silver and gold... they have mouths, but do not speak. | Vivid description of the contrast between the omnipotent God and powerless idols. |
| Jer 2:28 | But where are your gods that you made for yourselves? Let them arise... if they can save you in your time of trouble. | Directly echoes Jer 11:12, challenging the efficacy of Judah's idols. |
| Jer 7:17-19 | Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood... to burn incense to the queen of heaven. | Shows the widespread and systemic idolatry that provoked God's wrath. |
| Jer 10:1-16 | Learn not the way of the nations... Their idols are like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak. | Contrasts the living God with dead, useless idols worshiped by nations. |
| Jer 19:13 | The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of Judah, which have been defiled by all the altars... and by all the incense that they have offered to all the host of heaven. | Indicates the deep saturation of idolatry within the very fabric of Judah. |
| Hab 2:18-19 | What value has an idol...? A silent stone! Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, "Awake!" | The utter inability of idols to respond, hear, or give counsel. |
| Mic 3:4 | Then they will cry to the LORD, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time. | Prophetic parallel illustrating God's refusal to respond to those who turned away. |
| Zech 10:2 | For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see false visions; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. | False prophets and idols offering no real guidance or comfort. |
| Ezek 14:1-11 | These men have set up their idols in their hearts... I will answer him myself. | God's judgment upon those who entertain idolatry in their inner being. |
| Zeph 1:4-6 | I will stretch out my hand against Judah... those who bow down on the roofs to the host of the heavens, those who bow down and swear to the LORD and yet swear by Milcom. | God's judgment specifically targeting those practicing syncretic idolatry. |
| Hos 8:4-7 | They make for themselves idols of their silver... They sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind. | Connection between manufacturing idols and facing destructive consequences. |
| Deut 28:15 | But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD... then all these curses shall come upon you. | Foundational Old Covenant warning of curses for disobedience, underlying Jeremiah's message. |
| Lev 26:14-39 | If you spurn my decrees and abhor my rules... I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies. | Detailed outline of the covenant curses that are fulfilled in Jeremiah's prophecies. |
| Psa 50:15 | Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me. | Contrasts the futility of calling on idols with the efficacy of calling on YHWH. |
| Joel 2:32 | And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. | Highlights the power of YHWH's name for salvation, exclusive to Him. |
| Rom 1:21-25 | They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man... | New Testament perspective on the sin of idolatry and its inherent folly. |
| 1 Cor 10:20 | No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. | Explains the spiritual reality behind pagan worship, attributing it to demonic influence. |
| Gal 4:8 | Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. | A New Testament statement that highlights the powerlessness and non-divine nature of false gods. |
| Acts 4:12 | And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mankind by which we must be saved. | Underscores the exclusive nature of salvation through Jesus, the embodiment of God's power to save. |
| Isa 1:15 | When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you... your hands are full of blood. | God's refusal to hear even legitimate cries when hands are stained with sin and idolatry. |
| 1 Kin 18:26-29 | So they took the bull that was given them and prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning even until noon... "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no voice. | A historical demonstration of the powerlessness of Baal compared to YHWH. |
Jeremiah 11 verses
Jeremiah 11 12 Meaning
Jeremiah 11:12 warns the people of Judah and Jerusalem that despite their future cries of distress, the false gods to whom they offered incense will utterly fail to deliver them from their coming calamity. This verse underscores the complete impotence of idolatry and the sole power of the LORD in times of trouble. It highlights the divine justice for their covenant breaking through worshipping other deities.
Jeremiah 11 12 Context
Jeremiah 11 is a pivotal chapter within what scholars call Jeremiah's "Confessions" or "Covenant Lawsuit" against Judah. The LORD instructs Jeremiah to proclaim the terms of the covenant to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, reminding them of the covenant made at Sinai (vv. 1-8). This covenant involved blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, particularly the prohibition of idolatry. The chapter accuses the people of Judah of systematically breaking this covenant, particularly through their persistent worship of false gods (vv. 9-13). Jeremiah 11:12 specifically details the consequences: in their coming distress—likely referring to the impending Babylonian invasion—their reliance on these idols will be completely in vain, emphasizing God's sole authority and justice in judgment.
Jeremiah 11 12 Word analysis
Then the cities of Judah: This phrase, ʿārê yəhūdāh (עָרֵי יְהוּדָה), signifies not just the urban centers but collectively represents the entire populace and governance of the southern kingdom. It emphasizes the widespread nature of their transgression and subsequent suffering.
and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: və-yōšəḇê yərūšālāyim (וְיֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלַיִם) specifically points to the capital city and its populace. Jerusalem, being the religious and political heart, carried a greater responsibility and represents the epicenter of both the sin and the judgment. The inclusion highlights that no one is exempt.
will go and cry: və-hāləḵū (וְהָלְכוּ) "they will go" depicts an active, intentional move, suggesting a desperate turning in a time of crisis. və-zāʿăqū (וְזָעֲקוּ) "and they will cry out" conveys a loud, distressed, desperate plea for help. This is often used for cries of people in dire circumstances, but here, tragically, misdirected.
to the gods: ʾel-hāʾělōhîm (אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים) literally "to the gods," referring to the pagan deities. The definite article "the" indicates these are specific, familiar objects of their worship, not merely abstract deities. It's a clear statement of their idolatrous practices.
to whom they offer incense: ʾăšer hēm məqaṭṭərîm lāhem (אֲשֶׁר הֵם מְקַטְּרִים לָהֶם). The Hebrew term məqaṭṭərîm (from qaṭar) implies "burning incense" or "making smoke offerings." This was a common ritual in ancient Near Eastern religions to honor or appease deities. The continuous participle emphasizes that this was a habitual and pervasive practice of Judah. It directly links their present idolatrous actions to the futility they will face.
but they will not save them at all: və-hôšēaʿ lōʾ-yôšîʿū lāhem (וְהוֹשֵׁעַ לֹא־יוֹשִׁיעוּ לָהֶם). This is a strong, emphatic negation. The use of the infinitive absolute hôšēaʿ before the imperfect verb yôšîʿū strengthens the denial: "no saving will they save," or "they will absolutely not save them." This rhetorical device highlights the absolute impotence and worthlessness of the idols. It directly contrasts with the true power of God, the Yahweh-Yireh (YHWH Provides) and Yahweh-Nissi (YHWH Our Banner) and Yahweh-Shammah (YHWH is There), and above all, Yahweh-Yasha (YHWH Saves).
in the time of their trouble: bəʿēt rāʿātām (בְּעֵת רָעָתָם) "in the time of their evil/calamity." This refers to the period of suffering, distress, or national disaster that God would bring upon them as a consequence of their disobedience and idolatry. It signifies the crisis point where their true allegiance and reliance will be revealed to be misplaced.
Words-group Analysis:
- "cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem": This pairing comprehensively refers to the entire population and all political entities, from the most distant town to the very heart of the kingdom. It shows that no corner of the nation would be exempt from the impending judgment or their misplaced hope.
- "will go and cry to the gods to whom they offer incense": This phrase succinctly links their habitual idolatrous practices with their desperate but futile plea. It shows a predictable, yet tragically misguided, reaction to trouble, turning to the very sources of their offense.
- "but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble": This powerful conclusion delivers the core message of divine judgment and the emptiness of idol worship. It highlights the decisive and absolute failure of false deities to provide the promised protection and rescue, contrasting with YHWH's exclusive capacity for salvation.
Jeremiah 11 12 Bonus section
The historical backdrop to Jeremiah 11:12 hints at a deeply ingrained syncretism within Judahite religion. Often, people did not entirely abandon YHWH but incorporated the worship of other deities (like Baal, Asherah, and the "queen of heaven") alongside Him. This verse directly confronts this dangerous blend, indicating that in moments of extreme crisis, their divided loyalties would lead them to seek help from the impotent entities they simultaneously appeased, resulting in a stark realization of their folly. It underscores a key theological point: divine judgment often entails allowing people to experience the full consequence of their choices, proving the emptiness of their alternative loyalties. The very act of "crying out" signifies a belief in the agency of these gods, yet the prophecy assures a resounding silence and powerlessness.
Jeremiah 11 12 Commentary
Jeremiah 11:12 serves as a stern prophecy, vividly illustrating the theological and practical consequences of idolatry. Despite generations of warnings, the people of Judah consistently chased after false gods, particularly evident in their ritualistic offering of incense. This verse declares that their future pleas for help, born out of desperate circumstances brought by divine judgment, will be directed towards these very idols—but to no avail. The strong, emphatic negation signifies that these "gods," which are ultimately powerless inventions of man, cannot provide any deliverance whatsoever. This passage profoundly exposes the spiritual futility of syncretism and polytheism, affirming the singular sovereignty and saving power of the LORD. It's a foundational message underscoring that turning away from the one true God for manufactured deities inevitably leads to abandonment in crisis.
- Example for Practical Usage: A nation, faced with an economic downturn or social unrest, might be tempted to prioritize policies or leaders that offer immediate, but ultimately superficial, relief, ignoring deeper moral or spiritual issues. This verse warns against seeking solutions from "false gods" (whether ideological, financial, or political) that are incapable of true, lasting salvation, when only a turning to the LORD offers genuine hope.