Jeremiah 11 20

Jeremiah 11:20 kjv

But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.

Jeremiah 11:20 nkjv

But, O LORD of hosts, You who judge righteously, Testing the mind and the heart, Let me see Your vengeance on them, For to You I have revealed my cause.

Jeremiah 11:20 niv

But you, LORD Almighty, who judge righteously and test the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause.

Jeremiah 11:20 esv

But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.

Jeremiah 11:20 nlt

O LORD of Heaven's Armies,
you make righteous judgments,
and you examine the deepest thoughts and secrets.
Let me see your vengeance against them,
for I have committed my cause to you.

Jeremiah 11 verses

Jeremiah 11 20 Meaning

This verse is a prayer or a declaration of confidence by Jeremiah to God, expressing his faith in God's just judgment and His ability to enact vengeance upon those who wrong Him. Jeremiah is confident that God, the righteous judge, will vindicate him and punish his enemies who have conspired against him and sought his life because he delivered God's message.

Jeremiah 11 20 Context

Jeremiah 11 takes place in Jerusalem. Jeremiah is tasked by God to declare God's judgment upon the people of Judah and the leaders of Anathoth who had conspired against him. Despite God’s covenant faithfulness, Judah had turned to idolatry and broken the covenant, leading to impending destruction. Jeremiah's prophetic ministry was met with hostility and threats. This verse, Jeremiah 11:20, appears at the end of the chapter, serving as a prayer from Jeremiah to God, expressing his deep trust in God’s justice amidst the severe persecution he faced for faithfully delivering God’s message. He is appealing to God to act as the ultimate judge and vindicate him.

Jeremiah 11 20 Word Analysis

• "O LORD of hosts":

  • Hebrew: יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת (YHWH Tsevaot)
  • YHWH (Yahweh): The personal covenantal name of God, emphasizing His existence and relationship with His people.
  • Tsevaot (צְבָאוֹת): Means "hosts" or "armies." Refers to heavenly armies (angels) and earthly armies. It highlights God's supreme power, sovereignty, and His role as the commander of all spiritual and earthly forces. It establishes His might to judge and execute.

• "righteous judge":

  • Hebrew: שֹׁפֵט צֶדֶק (shophet tzedek)
  • Shophet (שֹׁפֵט): Judge. One who dispenses justice, decides cases, and rules.
  • Tzedek (צֶדֶק): Righteousness, justice, equity. Indicates that God's judgment is always fair, moral, and aligned with His character. This attribute assures that God’s actions are not arbitrary but perfectly just.

• "who tests the minds and hearts":

  • Hebrew: בֹּחֵן כְּלוֹת וָלֵב (bokhen kilyot valev)
  • Bokhen (בֹּחֵן): Tests, examines, probes, searches. Implies an in-depth scrutiny that goes beyond outward appearance.
  • Kilyot (כְּלוֹת): Kidneys. In Hebrew physiology, kidneys were seen as the seat of emotions, deepest affections, and moral character. Metaphorically, they represent the inner being and motivations.
  • Lev (לֵב): Heart. The core of a person's being, encompassing intellect, emotions, will, and conscience.
  • Combined, this phrase emphasizes God's omniscience and His intimate knowledge of human intentions, desires, and secrets. He knows the true state of affairs and the underlying motives behind actions.

• "let me see your vengeance upon them":

  • Hebrew: הַרְאֵנִי נְקָמָתְךָ בָּם (har'eni neqamothekha bam)
  • Har'eni (הַרְאֵנִי): Cause me to see, reveal to me, grant me to witness. It’s a request for revelation or experience of God's action.
  • Neqamothekha (נְקָמָתְךָ): Your vengeance, your retribution. Refers to God's righteous judgment and punishment of wrongdoing. This is not personal revenge but divine justice against sin and evil.
  • Bam (בָּם): Upon them, against them. Referring to his enemies.

• "for to you have I committed my cause":

  • Hebrew: כִּי אֵלֶיךָ הִפְקַדְתִּי אֶת רִיבִי (ki eleykha hipqadti et rivi)
  • Ki (כִּי): For, because. States the reason for his confidence and prayer.
  • Eleikha (אֵלֶיךָ): To You. Directs the plea and commitment towards God.
  • Hipqadti (הִפְקַדְתִּי): I have committed, entrusted, deposited. Signifies placing something into God's care and keeping. It denotes surrender of the situation and faith in God's management.
  • Et rivi (אֶת רִיבִי): My cause, my plea, my dispute. Refers to the legal case or the struggle Jeremiah is involved in, the unjust treatment he is enduring.

Jeremiah 11 20 Bonus Section

The phrasing "tests the minds and hearts" echoes passages like Jeremiah 17:10, emphasizing God's comprehensive knowledge of humanity, a quality crucial for His role as a righteous judge. The surrender of one's "cause" to God is a recurring theme in Psalms (e.g., Psalm 43:1; Psalm 54:1), demonstrating that when humans are wronged unjustly, their recourse is in bringing their situation before the Lord, trusting Him to fight their battles. This is also seen in the New Testament where believers are cautioned against taking vengeance themselves, as God is the ultimate avenger (Romans 12:19). Jeremiah’s prayer reflects an understanding of divine justice that transcends human capacity and temporary circumstances.

Jeremiah 11 20 Commentary

Jeremiah's prayer is a profound expression of trust in the Lord's divine justice and power. Facing immense opposition for delivering God's message, he does not rely on his own strength or seek personal revenge. Instead, he acknowledges God's supreme authority as the "LORD of hosts," the ultimate Commander and sovereign ruler over all powers, and His role as a "righteous judge," whose verdicts are perfectly just. This recognition leads him to surrender his entire "cause" or dispute to God, confident that God, who knows the innermost thoughts and motivations ("minds and hearts"), will act appropriately. Jeremiah asks to "see" God's vengeance, not out of malice, but as a witnessing of God's power and righteousness in upholding justice against those who actively oppose His word and seek the downfall of His prophet. This verse encapsulates the prophetic attitude of enduring hardship through faith in God's ultimate vindication and judgment.