Jeremiah 11:18 kjv
And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings.
Jeremiah 11:18 nkjv
Now the LORD gave me knowledge of it, and I know it; for You showed me their doings.
Jeremiah 11:18 niv
Because the LORD revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time he showed me what they were doing.
Jeremiah 11:18 esv
The LORD made it known to me and I knew; then you showed me their deeds.
Jeremiah 11:18 nlt
Then the LORD told me about the plots my enemies were making against me.
Jeremiah 11 18 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
Gen 6:13 | "Then God said to Noah, 'The end of all flesh has come before me...'" | God reveals future judgment to His prophet. |
Psa 25:14 | "The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant." | God reveals secrets to those who fear Him. |
Psa 139:1-4 | "O LORD, you have searched me and known me! ... You discern my thoughts from afar." | God's complete knowledge of thoughts and intentions. |
Job 28:20-24 | "From where then does wisdom come? ... God understands the way to it..." | God's exclusive knowledge and revelation. |
Isa 41:26 | "Who declared it from the beginning, that we might know, and from beforehand, that we might say, 'He is right'?" | God declares things beforehand. |
Jer 1:5 | "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you..." | God's prior knowledge and calling of Jeremiah. |
Jer 15:10 | "Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land!" | Jeremiah's suffering due to his prophetic calling. |
Jer 20:7 | "O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived..." | Jeremiah's struggle and lament to God. |
Jer 38:4 | "Then the officials said to the king, 'This man should be put to death, for he is weakening the hands of the soldiers...'" | Plots against Jeremiah's life. |
Ezek 2:7 | "And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house." | Prophet sent to a rebellious people. |
Dan 2:22 | "He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with him." | God as the revealer of hidden things. |
Amos 3:7 | "For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets." | God reveals His plans to prophets. |
Hab 1:5 | "Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days..." | God revealing future divine work. |
Mat 10:26 | "So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known." | Hidden things will be revealed. |
Luk 12:2 | "Nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known." | Emphasizes revelation of hidden truths. |
John 13:21 | "When Jesus had said these things, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, 'Truly, truly, one of you will betray me.'" | Jesus aware of a plot/betrayal. |
1 Cor 2:10 | "These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God." | God reveals spiritual truths through the Spirit. |
1 Tim 5:25 | "So also good works are clearly visible, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden forever." | Hidden deeds will eventually be known. |
Heb 4:13 | "No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." | All is revealed to God's sight. |
1 Pet 4:16 | "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name." | Suffering for righteousness and Christ. |
Rev 2:9 | "I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews..." | God knows suffering and slander of His people. |
Jeremiah 11 verses
Jeremiah 11 18 Meaning
Jeremiah 11:18 reveals a crucial moment for the prophet Jeremiah. The verse states that the Lord directly informed him of a plot against his life or ministry, and Jeremiah fully comprehended the revelation. God then specifically illuminated the malevolent actions and intentions of those plotting against His servant. This signifies God's personal involvement in Jeremiah's prophetic call, warning him of imminent danger and exposing the hidden treachery of his adversaries, likely among his own people or even family.
Jeremiah 11 18 Context
Jeremiah chapter 11 begins with the Lord instructing Jeremiah to remind the people of Judah and Jerusalem about the covenant He made with their ancestors, emphasizing obedience to receive blessings and avoid curses. However, the people, influenced by widespread idolatry and unfaithfulness, have broken this covenant, clinging to false gods and refusing to listen to God's warnings. They have entered a cycle of rebellion and have hardened their hearts. Consequently, God declares that He will bring judgment upon them (Jer 11:11-13) and will not listen to their prayers (Jer 11:14). Verse 18 marks a pivot from God's general condemnation of the nation's apostasy to a specific, personal threat against Jeremiah himself. It foreshadows the direct opposition and suffering Jeremiah will endure for faithfully delivering God's unwelcome message. Historically, this occurred during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, likely during King Josiah's reign or shortly after, as Judah navigated complex political alliances and growing pressure from emerging world powers, all while internally battling deep-seated religious corruption.
Jeremiah 11 18 Word analysis
- The LORD: Hebrew: יְהוָה (YHWH), the personal covenant name of God. This highlights that the revelation comes from the supreme, sovereign, and covenant-keeping God, emphasizing His authority, omnipotence, and His special, personal relationship with Jeremiah. It underpins the divine authenticity and weight of the information.
- made it known: Hebrew: הוֹדִ֣יעַ (hodia'), Hifil stem of יָדַע (yada'). This signifies that God actively caused Jeremiah to know or perceive, indicating a deliberate and direct revelation. It implies imparting specific, important, and previously unknown information to Jeremiah. It is more than just awareness; it is an active divine disclosure.
- to me: The preposition indicates a direct and personal communication from God specifically to Jeremiah. This is not a general insight but a targeted message for His chosen prophet, highlighting the intimate nature of their prophetic relationship and the urgency of the information.
- and I understood: Hebrew: וָאֵדָֽע (wa'eda'), Qal stem of יָדַע (yada'). This shows that Jeremiah fully grasped the meaning and implications of the Lord's revelation. He didn't just receive data; he comprehended its significance and impact. This reinforces the clarity and effectiveness of the divine communication.
- then you opened my eyes: Hebrew: אָז הִרְאֵיתַ֫נִי (az hir'eitani), Hifil stem of רָאָה (ra'ah). This phrase describes another direct divine action, a spiritual enabling that allowed Jeremiah to perceive or "see" clearly what was previously hidden. "Opened my eyes" often refers to an act of divine enlightenment or revelation, where God grants insight or visual understanding of a truth.
- to their deeds: Hebrew: מַעַלְלֵיהֶֽם (ma'alehem). This refers to their actions, practices, or doings. In this context, it specifically denotes the malevolent or hostile plans and schemes of Jeremiah's adversaries. It’s not just general behavior but the specific malicious intent and covert activities aimed against him, further emphasizing the depth of the treachery.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- The LORD made it known to me and I understood: This opening phrase establishes the divine origin and Jeremiah's personal reception and comprehension of a critical truth. It underscores God's initiative in informing His prophet about a threat that Jeremiah, in his human capacity, would not have known. This emphasizes Jeremiah's role as a recipient of divine intelligence, chosen for this intimate communication.
- then you opened my eyes to their deeds: This phrase elaborates on the initial revelation, providing specific clarity or intensified insight into the nature of the threat. The "opened my eyes" suggests a heightened level of perception, a profound spiritual discernment granted by God that exposed the malicious and treacherous intentions, or "deeds," of the plotters. It signifies a transition from general knowledge of danger to a clear understanding of specific plots.
Jeremiah 11 18 Bonus section
This verse initiates the "Confessions of Jeremiah," a series of intimate laments and dialogues with God, where the prophet expresses his suffering, frustrations, and calls for divine justice. The revelation in Jeremiah 11:18 directly precedes Jeremiah's request for God to know and judge the plotting (Jer 11:20), indicating that the information received deeply affected him and spurred him to seek divine vindication. This event distinguishes Jeremiah from "false prophets" who typically avoid confrontation or deliver only palatable messages; Jeremiah's experience of facing personal danger as a direct consequence of his prophetic ministry underlines his authenticity. The specific nature of "their deeds" could imply not only their intention to kill Jeremiah but also the deceptive methods they planned to employ, likened to laying a snare or planting a poisoned tree, as elaborated in the subsequent verses. This also reinforces the spiritual battle at play; the opposition to Jeremiah's word is an opposition to God Himself, rooted in the human heart's resistance to divine truth.
Jeremiah 11 18 Commentary
Jeremiah 11:18 is a pivotal verse in the book, marking a significant shift in Jeremiah's narrative from primarily delivering messages of covenant violation to becoming the direct target of the people's hardened rebellion. The Lord's personal revelation to Jeremiah underscores the prophet's unique status as God's confidant and agent. God doesn't just send Jeremiah; He also intimately protects and forewarns him, exposing the hidden darkness of the human heart, even among those supposedly aligned with the covenant. This divine intervention highlights God's omniscience, as He is fully aware of secret plots, and His deep care for His suffering servant. For Jeremiah, this moment serves as both an affirmation of his divine calling and a grim confirmation of the personal cost of faithfulness, knowing he would now face direct, targeted opposition due to the messages God compelled him to speak. It also functions as an answer to any internal question Jeremiah might have had regarding his effectiveness or the people's response, clarifying that the opposition stemmed from a malicious intent rather than a misunderstanding of his message.