Jeremiah 11:17 kjv
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.
Jeremiah 11:17 nkjv
"For the LORD of hosts, who planted you, has pronounced doom against you 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 to Baal."
Jeremiah 11:17 niv
The LORD Almighty, who planted you, has decreed disaster for you, because the people of both Israel and Judah have done evil and aroused my anger by burning incense to Baal.
Jeremiah 11:17 esv
The LORD of hosts, who planted you, has decreed disaster against you, because of the evil that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have done, provoking me to anger by making offerings to Baal."
Jeremiah 11:17 nlt
"I, the LORD of Heaven's Armies, who planted this olive tree, have ordered it destroyed. For the people of Israel and Judah have done evil, arousing my anger by burning incense to Baal."
Jeremiah 11 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 5:1-7 | Let me sing... for my beloved concerning his vineyard... | Israel as God's vineyard, unfruitful |
| Ps 80:8-11 | You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. | God's planting of Israel, metaphor |
| Mt 21:33-41 | Hear another parable: There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard. | Parable of wicked tenants, judgment on Israel |
| Jn 15:1-6 | I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser... | Christ as the vine, consequences of not abiding |
| Deut 28:15-68 | If you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God... all these curses... | Covenant curses for disobedience, foreshadows disaster |
| Lev 26:14-39 | If you walk contrary to me and will not listen... | Curses for breaking covenant, loss of land |
| Jer 2:13 | My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me... | Forsaking God, worshipping idols |
| Jer 7:9 | Will you steal, murder... and then come and stand before me...? | Hypocrisy and idolatry alongside temple worship |
| Jer 19:4-5 | They have filled this place with the blood of innocents... | Idolatry with child sacrifice, provoking anger |
| Judg 2:11-15 | The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. | Repeated cycle of Israel's apostasy to Baal |
| 1 Ki 11:9-11 | The LORD was angry with Solomon... for his heart had turned away from the LORD... | Solomon's idolatry and kingdom division |
| 2 Ki 17:7-18 | This occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD... | Northern kingdom's destruction due to idolatry |
| Ez 6:3-7 | I will lay your slain people before your idols... | Idolatry leads to divine judgment |
| Ez 20:28-30 | For when I had brought them into the land... they would explore every high hill and leafy tree... | Ancestors' persistent idolatry, a repeating pattern |
| Hos 4:12 | My people inquire of a piece of wood... they play the harlot... | Spiritual harlotry through idolatry |
| Rom 1:18-32 | For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness... | Universal consequence of rejecting God, idolatry |
| Deut 32:16-21 | They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods... | Provoking God to anger with idols |
| Ps 78:58 | They provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their carved images. | Historical pattern of provoking God with idols |
| Isa 65:3 | People who provoke me to my face continually... | Constant provocation by idolatry and rebellion |
| Amos 3:6 | Does disaster come to a city, unless the LORD has done it? | God's sovereign role in bringing calamity |
| Isa 45:7 | I form light and create darkness; I make well-being and create calamity... | God's sovereignty over both good and evil events |
| Jer 4:6 | I am bringing disaster from the north, and great destruction. | Divine judgment coming from the north |
| Lam 2:17 | The LORD has done what he purposed... | God's judgment and prophecy fulfilled |
Jeremiah 11 verses
Jeremiah 11 17 Meaning
Jeremiah 11:17 declares that the all-powerful Lord, who lovingly established the nations of Israel and Judah, has irrevocably determined to bring disaster upon them. This judgment stems directly from their profound and pervasive evil, notably their defiant idolatry in offering incense to Baal. Such actions represented a severe betrayal of their covenant with God and deeply provoked His righteous anger.
Jeremiah 11 17 Context
Jeremiah 11 is framed as "the words of this covenant" (v. 2), wherein God, through Jeremiah, reminds Judah of the Mosaic covenant He established with their ancestors. The chapter is a pronouncement of judgment against the nation for their repeated and persistent covenant unfaithfulness. God recounts His gracious acts of bringing them out of Egypt and planting them in a fertile land (vv. 4-5) but highlights their subsequent rebellion, echoing the stubbornness of previous generations.
The historical context is primarily the late 7th to early 6th century BCE, a tumultuous period for Judah under the looming threat of the Babylonian Empire. Despite a brief revival under King Josiah, idolatry, especially the worship of Baal and other Canaanite deities, was deeply entrenched in Judahite society. The people believed these fertility gods provided rain, good harvests, and prosperity, an attitude reflecting a profound lack of faith in YHWH.
Jeremiah 11:17 directly functions as a polemic against such contemporary beliefs. By stating that the "Lord of hosts, who planted you, has pronounced disaster," it refutes the idea that Baal or any other god controlled their destiny or welfare. Instead, the one true God, YHWH, their historical benefactor and covenant partner, is sovereignly orchestrating the impending catastrophe because their "evil," particularly burning incense to Baal, was a direct provocation to Him. This passage underscores God's absolute authority and justice over the false gods worshipped by Judah.
Jeremiah 11 17 Word analysis
- For the LORD of hosts: YHWH Ts'va'ot. "LORD" (YHWH) signifies God's personal, covenant name; "of hosts" denotes His supreme power and sovereignty, as commander of heavenly and earthly armies, indicating His omnipotent authority to execute judgment.
- who planted you: asher nata'ekha. Uses a botanical metaphor, comparing Israel to a carefully planted vine or seed. "Nata" (to plant) implies divine initiation, tender care, ownership, and the expectation of fruit. It recalls God bringing Israel into the land (Ps 80:8), highlighting His prior nurturing role.
- has pronounced disaster: dibbarti ra'ah. "Dibber" means "to speak" or "to declare decisively," emphasizing God's authoritative, irreversible word. "Ra'ah" translates to "evil," "calamity," or "disaster," not necessarily moral evil here but rather the devastating consequences brought by God.
- against you: 'aleikhem. Direct and personal, signifying the target of God's judgment: Israel and Judah collectively.
- because of the evil: 'al ra'at. Establishes the clear causal link: the disaster is a direct and justified response to their moral wickedness and sin.
- of the house of Israel and the house of Judah: Explicitly includes both kingdoms. Although the Northern Kingdom (Israel) had fallen, "house of Israel" here emphasizes the historical continuum of covenant unfaithfulness that Judah continued. It shows the comprehensive scope of God's indictment.
- which they have done for themselves: asher 'asu lahem. Highlights the deliberate and volitional nature of their sin. They brought this upon themselves through their own choices and actions, absolving God of arbitrary malice.
- to provoke Me to anger: le'akh'isheni. "Ka'as" means "to vex," "to be provoked," "to be angered." Their idolatry was not a passive neglect but an active affront that deeply offended God's holiness, exclusivity, and righteous character.
- by burning incense to Baal: lekatte'r laBa'al. Identifies the specific, primary offense. "To burn incense" was an act of worship. "Baal" (meaning "lord" or "master") was the chief Canaanite storm and fertility god. This represents a profound act of spiritual adultery and covenant breach.
Jeremiah 11 17 Bonus section
The metaphor of "planting" not only signifies God's care but also establishes His ownership and the right to harvest or uproot (cf. Jer 12:10). This resonates with ancient Near Eastern treaty agreements, where a suzerain might plant a loyal people in fertile land, expecting fealty in return. Judah's covenant failure was thus a grave political and spiritual breach. The continuous mention of "Baal" points to a religious syncretism that often blended Yahwistic worship with Canaanite practices, perceived by God as utter infidelity. The severity of "provok[ing] Me to anger" should not be understood anthropomorphically as uncontrolled rage, but as God's holy indignation against sin that violates His just character and covenantal standards.
Jeremiah 11 17 Commentary
Jeremiah 11:17 encapsulates the tragic arc of a covenant relationship shattered by willful rebellion. The verse opens by grounding the impending "disaster" in the character of the "LORD of hosts"—the omnipotent and sovereign God—who had tenderly "planted" and cultivated Israel and Judah. This establishes God's absolute right to judge the people He created and sustained. The gravity of the judgment is then directly attributed to the "evil" committed by both "houses," emphasizing the comprehensive nature of their apostasy. Crucially, their actions were "done for themselves," underscoring personal responsibility and the self-destructive nature of their sin. The ultimate act of defiance, "burning incense to Baal," serves as a potent symbol of their covenant betrayal and deep provocation of God's holy wrath. This concise verse thus illustrates divine justice, the consequences of idolatry, and the severity of breaking faith with a covenant-keeping God. It’s a somber reminder that God, as both Creator and Judge, is faithful to His promises, both of blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience.