Jeremiah 11:14 kjv
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.
Jeremiah 11:14 nkjv
"So do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble.
Jeremiah 11:14 niv
"Do not pray for this people or offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress.
Jeremiah 11:14 esv
"Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble.
Jeremiah 11:14 nlt
"Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah. Do not weep or pray for them, for I will not listen to them when they cry out to me in distress.
Jeremiah 11 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 11 | "Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not listen when they call to you or cry for help in the time of their trouble." | Jer 11:14 (Main Verse) |
| Jeremiah 7 | "But as for you, do not pray for this people, or lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with me, for I will not listen when they call to you or cry for help in the time of their trouble." | Jer 7:16 (Similar instruction, contextual link) |
| Jeremiah 14 | "The Lord said to me, 'Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, presenting the people, my heart goes out to this people. They have been thrust out of my sight.' " | Jer 14:11 (Divine refusal of intercession) |
| Exodus 32 | "But now, if you forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out of your book that you have written.”" | Ex 32:32 (Moses interceding for Israel) |
| Numbers 14 | "Then Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid, for God has come only to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, so that you may not sin.' " | Num 14:9 (Moses pleading against judgment) |
| Ezekiel 22 | "So I sought for anyone among them who would make a wall, to stand in the breach before me for the sake of the land, that I might not destroy it, but I found none." | Ezek 22:30 (Lack of intercessors) |
| 1 Samuel 12 | "Moreover, it is unthinkable that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and right way." | 1 Sam 12:23 (Samuel's continued intercession) |
| Romans 10 | "Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is that they may be saved." | Rom 10:1 (New Testament example of prayer) |
| John 17 | "I am praying not only for these but also for those who will believe in me through their word," | John 17:20 (Jesus' intercessory prayer) |
| Hebrews 7 | "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." | Heb 7:25 (Christ's perpetual intercession) |
| Isaiah 1 | "Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil," | Isa 1:16 (Call to repentance before judgment) |
| Hosea 9 | "Ephraim has become like a foolish, uncensored dove, calling to Egypt, going to Assyria." | Hos 9:11 (Description of Judah's spiritual adultery) |
| Jeremiah 2 | "Yet you said, ‘It is hopeless, for I have loved strangers, and after them I will go.’" | Jer 2:25 (Judah's continued apostasy) |
| Deuteronomy 11 | "But you shall not obey that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, because the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you really love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." | Deut 11:13 (Consequences of disobedience) |
| Jeremiah 23 | "You shall not prophesy.”" | Jer 23:34 (Prophetic prohibition) |
| 1 Kings 18 | "And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if is Baal, then follow him.” But the people do not answer him a word." | 1 Kings 18:21 (Zeal for God's exclusivity) |
| 2 Kings 17 | "So they feared the Lord but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried captive." | 2 Kings 17:33 (Syncretism leading to judgment) |
| Amos 5 | "“But you have borne your king and your drink offering, the statue of your god that you made for yourselves," | Amos 5:26 (Idolatry and judgment) |
| Psalm 81 | "“I allowed you to have your stubborn hearts, to walk in your own counsels." | Psalm 81:12 (Abandonment due to sin) |
| Proverbs 1 | "Because I called and you refused to answer; because I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention," | Prov 1:24 (God's rejected call to repentance) |
| Matthew 23 | "“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones that are sent to her! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" | Matt 23:37 (Jesus lamenting Jerusalem's rejection) |
| Acts 7 | "“You stiffnecked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you." | Acts 7:51 (Stephen rebuking Israel's resistance) |
Jeremiah 11 verses
Jeremiah 11 14 Meaning
The Lord forbids intercession for the people of Judah, as their transgressions and apostasy have reached a point where divine judgment is inevitable. They have turned to other gods, alienating themselves from the covenant relationship.
Jeremiah 11 14 Context
Jeremiah 11:14 occurs within the broader context of Jeremiah's prophetic ministry, characterized by God's judgment upon Judah for its persistent idolatry and covenant unfaithfulness. This chapter specifically addresses the failure of the people to heed God's laws and the consequences of their apostasy. The preceding verses describe the establishment of the covenant and the blessings that would follow obedience, contrasted with the curses that would befall disobedience. Jeremiah had previously been instructed to speak out against these practices, but his message was often met with resistance and plotting against his life. The verse in question reflects God's righteous response to the nation's deep-seated rebellion, signifying a limit to divine patience and a prohibition on continued intercession for a people set for judgment. The historical backdrop involves the imminent threat of Babylonian invasion, a direct consequence of Judah's spiritual and political failings.
Jeremiah 11 14 Word Analysis
- So (VAV): This conjunction introduces a consequence or result based on the preceding declarations. It connects the command not to pray with the reasons for this prohibition.
- you (atta, Strongs H859): Plural "you," addressing Jeremiah directly as the recipient of the divine command.
- shall not (lo', Strongs H3808): A strong negative, expressing a prohibition. It emphasizes the absolute nature of God's decree.
- pray (hitpalel, Strongs H6419): The Hithpael conjugation of "palal" (to judge, intercede, pray). The reflexive/intensive meaning suggests making earnest, sustained intercession, or praying for oneself and others. Here, it is a direct command to cease such active intercession.
- for (al, Strongs H5921): Preposition indicating "upon," "against," or "for." Here it signifies interceding "for" them, i.e., on their behalf.
- this (ha·zeh, Strongs H2088): Demonstrative pronoun pointing to the specific people in question, Judah.
- people (am, Strongs H5971): Refers to the nation of Israel, specifically the people of Judah at this time.
- nor (ve·lo', Strongs H2584): Another conjunctive particle used to link negated clauses, continuing the prohibition.
- lift (nasa', Strongs H5375): Means to lift, raise, carry. Here it refers to raising one's voice in a cry or supplication.
- up (often implied in verb, but conceptually to raise the voice).
- cry (za'aqah, Strongs H2195): A loud cry, a cry of distress, or a clamorous outcry. It denotes an audible appeal for help.
- or (o, Strongs H3876): A conjunction presenting an alternative, though in this context both actions (lifting a cry and prayer) are prohibited.
- prayer (ta·han·nun, Strongs H8469): Supplication, entreaty, begging. A more intense form of prayer involving earnest pleading.
- for (bə·‘a·van·gam, Strongs H1157): Preposition indicating "in," "at," "with," "by." Here, it functions to express "for" them, directing the prayer's focus.
- them (hem, Strongs H1992): Pronoun for "they," referring to the people of Judah.
- and (ve, Strongs H1767): Conjunction connecting clauses.
- do not (al, Strongs H3808): The imperative negative, another prohibition.
- intercede (paga', Strongs H6301): To meet, strike, fall upon. In a theological context, it means to encounter God, often in a petitionary sense, to make intercession.
- with (im, Strongs H854): Preposition indicating "with" or "to."
- me (ani, Strongs H589): The first-person singular pronoun, God speaking.
- for (ki, Strongs H3588): Conjunction meaning "for," "because," "that." Introduces the reason for the prohibition.
- I (ano·ki, Strongs H589): God speaking.
- will not (lo', Strongs H3808): Future negative, expressing certainty of refusal.
- listen (shama', Strongs H8085): To hear, obey, heed. Implies attentiveness and responsiveness.
- when (ki, Strongs H3588): Temporal conjunction, "when" or "if."
- they (hem, Strongs H1992): The people of Judah.
- cry (za'aq, Strongs H6818): Verb form of "cry" (za'aqah). To cry out, wail.
- to (el, Strongs H413): Preposition indicating direction "to," "toward."
- you (atta, Strongs H859): Jeremiah.
- or (o, Strongs H3876): Conjunction.
- cry for help (sha'a, Strongs H7768): To cry out for help, implore, make supplication. A specific type of cry of distress.
- in (bə, Strongs H1410): Preposition indicating "in," "with," "at."
- the (ha, Strongs H1743): Definite article.
- time (et, Strongs H6256): A specific period, season, or occasion.
- of (often implied in construct state).
- their (hem, Strongs H1992): Possessive pronoun.
- trouble (tsarah, Strongs H6869): Adversity, distress, affliction, trouble.
Group of words analysis:
- "do not pray for this people, or lift up cry or prayer for them": This phrase encapsulates a comprehensive prohibition against all forms of intercession for Judah. It's not just about formal prayer, but any audible appeal or fervent pleading on their behalf.
- "do not intercede with me": This specifies the direction of the prohibition: the intercession should not be directed toward God ("me").
- "for I will not listen when they call to you or cry for help in the time of their trouble": This provides the reason: God's unwillingness to hear their pleas, emphasizing the futility of Jeremiah's intercession because the people themselves have become unresponsive to God's calls. Their persistent sin has created a deafening noise of transgression, drowning out any cry of appeal.
Jeremiah 11 14 Bonus Section
The command not to intercede can be understood in the context of "ear-testing" mentioned in Jeremiah 11:18, where prophets discernment is crucial. When the people cry out to Jeremiah, it's a test to see if he will obey God's clear instruction or revert to his compassionate nature. It highlights that even a prophet’s calling has divine limitations set by God's sovereign decree in the face of unrepented national sin. The verse also foreshadows a spiritual "hardness" not only in the people but in God's receptivity to their pleas due to their persistent rejection. It serves as a solemn warning about the consequences of corporate apostasy, where the cries of the ungodly might not find a hearing before God if their sin is deep-seated. This concept of limits to intercession, while specific to this context, speaks to the importance of personal repentance and continued relationship with God.
Jeremiah 11 14 Commentary
Jeremiah is told to cease interceding for Judah. This is a significant decree because throughout the Old Testament, figures like Abraham, Moses, and Samuel interceded for Israel. Jeremiah himself had previously pleaded for the nation. However, Judah’s deep-seated apostasy and idolatry have reached a point where God's judgment is final and unappealable by human intercession. God is explicitly stating that when the people call out to Jeremiah in their coming distress, Jeremiah should not offer prayers for them because God will not listen. This reflects a divine abandonment of a people who have repeatedly rejected Him, embracing foreign gods and breaking the covenant. The prohibition underscores the gravity of their sin and the severity of the impending judgment, highlighting the boundary between God's patience and His justice. This demonstrates that while God is merciful, His justice ultimately prevails when sin becomes habitual and unrepentant.