Jeremiah 11:21 kjv
Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand:
Jeremiah 11:21 nkjv
"Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the men of Anathoth who seek your life, saying, 'Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, lest you die by our hand'?
Jeremiah 11:21 niv
Therefore this is what the LORD says about the people of Anathoth who are threatening to kill you, saying, "Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD or you will die by our hands"?
Jeremiah 11:21 esv
Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, and say, "Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, or you will die by our hand" ?
Jeremiah 11:21 nlt
This is what the LORD says about the men of Anathoth who wanted me dead. They had said, "We will kill you if you do not stop prophesying in the LORD's name."
Jeremiah 11 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 30:10 | who say to the seers, “Do not see!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy | People silencing prophets |
| Amos 2:12 | But you made the Nazirites drink wine, and commanded the prophets, saying, | Silencing God's messengers |
| Amos 7:12-13 | Go, you seer, flee away to the land of Judah... but never again prophesy | Amaziah tells Amos to leave |
| Jer 26:8-11 | the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him... for he | Jeremiah accused of deserving death |
| Jer 38:4 | So the officials said to the king, “This man should certainly be put to | Officials seek Jeremiah's death |
| Mt 23:37 | O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones | Jerusalem's history of killing prophets |
| Lk 6:22-23 | Blessed are you when people hate you... for the Son of Man's sake. | Persecution for righteousness is a blessing |
| 1 Ki 19:1-3 | Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done... Jezebel sent a messenger | Elijah threatened by Jezebel |
| 1 Ki 22:27-28 | ‘Put this fellow in prison and feed him with a meager diet... until I | Micaiah imprisoned for true prophecy |
| Acts 7:51-52 | You always resist the Holy Spirit... which of the prophets did your fathers | Stephen highlights persecution of prophets |
| 2 Tim 3:12 | Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be | Persecution for godliness |
| Jn 15:20 | If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. | Jesus warns disciples of persecution |
| Num 16:35 | and fire came out from the LORD and consumed the two hundred fifty | Judgment for rebelling against God's chosen |
| Deut 18:20 | But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not | Warning against false prophecy, not true one |
| Ps 105:15 | “Touch not my anointed ones, do my prophets no harm!” | God's protection for His prophets |
| 1 Chr 16:22 | "Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm." | God protecting His prophets |
| Rom 1:32 | They know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things | Knowing wrong, yet persisting |
| Jer 1:18-19 | I have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar... They will fight | God's promise to protect Jeremiah |
| Acts 5:28-29 | “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name... We must obey God | Peter and apostles obey God over man |
| 2 Chr 24:19-21 | Yet he sent prophets to them to bring them back... They plotted against | Killing Zechariah the prophet |
| Zec 1:5-6 | Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? | Ancestors died, yet rejected prophets' words |
| Rev 11:3-10 | And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy | Prophets' witness met with hostility |
Jeremiah 11 verses
Jeremiah 11 21 Meaning
Jeremiah 11:21 communicates a severe warning from the Lord to the men of Anathoth, Jeremiah's own hometown, who were conspiring against him. It reveals their direct threat to Jeremiah: they command him to cease prophesying in the Lord's name, specifically under penalty of death. This verse highlights the deep opposition Jeremiah faced, even from his closest community, because of the uncomfortable truths he delivered on God's behalf. It underscores their rejection of God's word and their readiness to eliminate His messenger.
Jeremiah 11 21 Context
Jeremiah 11:21 follows a major prophetic address where the Lord reminds Judah and Jerusalem of the covenant made at the exodus and warns of curses for disobedience (Jer 11:1-17). Jeremiah is portrayed as a loyal servant, actively proclaiming God's words to a resistant people. Immediately preceding verse 21, Jeremiah shares a personal "confession" (Jer 11:18-20), revealing that he was unaware of a plot against him until the Lord revealed it. This plot, a conspiracy to silence or kill him, came from "the men of Anathoth"—his own community. The previous verses speak of divine justice (Jer 11:20: "Let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause"), setting the stage for the specific divine judgment described in the subsequent verses (Jer 11:22-23) against these conspirators.
Jeremiah 11 21 Word analysis
- Therefore: (לָכֵן, lākēn) Indicates a consequence or conclusion. Here, it introduces God's response to the conspiracy revealed in the preceding verses, especially Jeremiah's appeal.
- thus says: (כֹּה־אָמַר, kôh-ʼāmar) A standard prophetic formula affirming divine authority and the message's origin directly from the Lord. It stamps the words that follow as undeniable truth from God Himself.
- the LORD: (יְהוָה, YHWH) The sacred, ineffable personal name of the God of Israel, emphasizing His covenant relationship and ultimate sovereignty. The use of YHWH underscores the gravity and divine source of the pronouncement.
- concerning the men: (עַל־הָאֲנָשִׁים, `al-hā'anāshı̂ym) Specifies the target of the divine declaration, pinpointing the human perpetrators of the plot. "Men" here can imply specific leaders or influential individuals within the community.
- of Anathoth: (מֵעֲנָתוֹת, mē`anāthôth) Jeremiah's hometown, a Levitical city designated for priests, approximately three miles northeast of Jerusalem (Josh 21:18). This detail is deeply significant as it highlights the rejection he faced from his own kin, even fellow priests. This was a profound betrayal from those who should have understood and upheld God's word.
- who seek: (הַמְבַקְשִׁים, hamvaqshı̂ym) The verb implies active pursuit or endeavor. They were actively scheming and working towards Jeremiah's demise.
- your life: (נַפְשְׁךָ, naf-shekhā) Literally "your soul," often meaning life itself, vitality, or personhood in Hebrew. They sought to kill Jeremiah, to end his existence.
- saying: (לֵאמֹר, lēʼmôr) Introduces the direct speech or explicit instruction/threat from the men of Anathoth.
- “Do not prophesy: (לֹא תִנָּבֵא, loʼ tinnāvēʼ) A clear command and prohibition. "To prophesy" means to speak by divine inspiration, to deliver God's message. Their intent was to silence God's voice through Jeremiah.
- in the name of the LORD: (בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה, be-shem YHWH) Crucial phrase indicating that Jeremiah's prophecy derived its authority and content directly from YHWH. By forbidding him to prophesy "in the name of the LORD," they were directly rejecting YHWH's authority and revelation.
- lest you die by our hand: (וְלֹא תָמוּת, ve-lōʼ tāmûth, "so that you do not die"; here interpreted as a condition "lest you die," indicating a consequence from their hand from the context) This is the explicit threat, linking his continued prophecy directly to their intent to kill him. It shows their readiness to commit murder to suppress God's truth. The omission of "by our hand" in the Hebrew text yet implicitly understood in the context highlights their direct responsibility for the threatened death.
Word-groups analysis:
- "Thus says the LORD concerning the men of Anathoth": This introduces God's formal indictment against a specific group of people, making it a powerful and personal condemnation from the ultimate authority. The reference to Anathoth stresses the personal betrayal against Jeremiah and the corruption within a priestly community.
- "who seek your life, saying": This vividly portrays their active and murderous intent. They weren't just passively disagreeing; they were conspiring and verbalizing their plot against the prophet, aiming for his destruction.
- "Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD": This command is an audacious act of rebellion. They weren't simply rejecting Jeremiah's message; they were attempting to shut down God's direct communication through His chosen messenger. They desired to muzzle God Himself, a profound act of blasphemy and a usurpation of divine authority.
- "lest you die": This is a direct death threat, demonstrating their commitment to silencing Jeremiah at all costs. It shows the depth of their fear, anger, and spiritual blindness in the face of divine truth. They would rather kill a prophet than hear a word from God that challenges their corrupt ways.
Jeremiah 11 21 Bonus section
The conspiracy from the men of Anathoth is often understood in scholarly circles not just as a reaction to Jeremiah's prophecies of judgment, but potentially also stemming from local rivalries within priestly families, possibly related to land inheritance or influence. Jeremiah's prophetic calling challenged their existing structures and comfortable interpretations of their priestly duties, leading to a personal and violent backlash. The Lord's response to this specific threat in the subsequent verses (Jer 11:22-23) reveals the serious nature of such defiance against His chosen messengers, indicating immediate and specific judgment for those who dared to touch His prophet. This personal experience likely shaped Jeremiah's deep emotional connection to his message and his later "confessions" that reflect profound anguish and trust in God's ultimate justice amidst persecution. This situation illustrates the tension between communal identity and divine truth when the two are in conflict.
Jeremiah 11 21 Commentary
Jeremiah 11:21 unveils a dark reality: the prophet's most dangerous adversaries were not foreign enemies, but his own kinsmen in Anathoth, a Levitical city meant to uphold God's law. Their demand, "Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD," reveals a blatant rejection of God's authority and a desire to impose their will over divine command. This wasn't merely disagreement; it was an attempt to physically eliminate God's messenger and thereby silence His uncomfortable message of judgment against their covenant unfaithfulness. The "lest you die" threat underscores the extremity of their hatred and their willingness to commit murder to protect their preferred narrative or lifestyle, which stood in stark opposition to God's revealed will. This verse is a microcosm of the wider biblical theme of human resistance to God's truth and the persecution faced by those who faithfully proclaim it, serving as a solemn reminder of the cost of obedience in the face of spiritual rebellion. It also foreshadows the deep animosity Jesus and his followers would face from religious leaders who preferred their own traditions over God's truth.