Jeremiah 11 22

Jeremiah 11:22 kjv

Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine:

Jeremiah 11:22 nkjv

therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Behold, I will punish them. The young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine;

Jeremiah 11:22 niv

therefore this is what the LORD Almighty says: "I will punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine.

Jeremiah 11:22 esv

therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: "Behold, I will punish them. The young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine,

Jeremiah 11:22 nlt

So this is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says about them: "I will punish them! Their young men will die in battle, and their boys and girls will starve to death.

Jeremiah 11 verses

Jeremiah 11 22 Meaning

Jeremiah 11:22 is a declaration of severe divine judgment from the LORD against the men of Anathoth. This judgment is a direct consequence of their specific offense: threatening Jeremiah, God's prophet, and commanding him to stop prophesying in the LORD's name, under penalty of death. The verse specifies the precise forms of punishment to befall them: their young men will die by the sword (indicating war or violent execution), and their children – both sons and daughters – will perish by famine, ensuring a multi-generational catastrophe and the utter devastation of their lineage.

Jeremiah 11 22 Context

Jeremiah chapter 11 opens with the LORD commanding Jeremiah to proclaim the terms of the broken covenant to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, urging them to return to Him and obey His voice. However, the people, hardened in heart, refused to listen and pursued their evil inclinations, worshiping other gods (vv. 8-10). The LORD then announces His impending judgment for their covenant infidelity. Amidst this broader pronouncement of national doom, the chapter suddenly shifts focus in verses 18-23 to a deeply personal betrayal against Jeremiah himself. His own townsmen from Anathoth conspired against him, seeking to kill him, explicitly stating that he should not "prophesy in the name of the LORD, lest you die by our hand" (v. 21). Jeremiah, feeling like an innocent lamb led to slaughter, cries out to the LORD, who, in response, reveals the plot and then unequivocally declares the severe and precise judgments against these specific men of Anathoth. Jeremiah 11:22 is the LORD's immediate and absolute answer to this attempted silencing and murder of His messenger.

Jeremiah 11 22 Word analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן - la·khen): A strong consequential adverb. It signifies that the preceding declaration (the plot against Jeremiah revealed in v. 21) directly leads to this pronouncement of judgment. It underscores divine justice responding to specific actions.
• thus says the LORD (כֹּה-אָמַר יְהוָה - koh-amar YHWH): The classic prophetic formula, emphasizing the authoritative, divine origin of the message. It is not Jeremiah's personal opinion but a direct utterance from God Himself.
• concerning (עַל - 'al): Implies "about" or "against." Here, it points to the specific targets of the divine message: the men of Anathoth.
• the men of Anathoth (אַנְשֵׁי עֲנָתוֹת - anshēi Anathot): Specifies the group receiving the judgment. Anathoth was a Levitical city (Josh 21:18) northeast of Jerusalem, and notably, Jeremiah's hometown (Jere 1:1). Their animosity is a personal betrayal and hypocritical, given their priestly heritage and proximity to divine service.
• who say (הָאֹמְרִים - ha-ōmrim): Refers directly to their words, which are the root cause of the judgment. Their words reveal their intentions and rebellious hearts.
• Do not prophesy (לֹא-תִנָּבֵא - lō-tin·na·bê): A direct command in the negative, forbidding Jeremiah from speaking God's word. It highlights their absolute rejection of God's message and messenger. Tin·na·bê is from naba (נבא), meaning "to prophesy," reflecting divine inspiration.
• in the name of the LORD (בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה - bə·šêm YHWH): The crucial qualifier. Their prohibition is not merely against Jeremiah speaking, but against him speaking as God's authorized representative. This elevates their threat to direct opposition against God's authority and sovereignty.
• lest you die by our hand (וְלֹא תָמוּת בְּיָדֵנוּ - və·lō ta·mūṯ bə·yā·ḏê·nū): This clause clarifies their intent. The previous command was a veiled threat. This part makes the murderous intent explicit, revealing the violent means they planned to employ to silence God's prophet.
• Behold (הִנֵּה - hin·nēh): An interjection drawing immediate attention to what follows. It introduces the pronouncement of judgment with solemn weight.
• I will punish them (פֹּקֵד אֲנִי עֲלֵיהֶם - po·qed anī 'ă·lê·hem): The Hebrew word paqad (פָּקַד) is rich in meaning: to visit, to appoint, to review, but in a judgment context, it means "to visit with punishment" or "to hold accountable." Here, it is God's direct act of retribution. The pronoun anī (אֲנִי) "I" emphasizes God's personal, sovereign initiative.
• the young men (הַבַּחוּרִים - ha·bba·ḥū·rîm): Specifically refers to the able-bodied, virile, and strong men. Their death by the sword signifies the destruction of military potential, strength, and the next generation's male leaders.
• shall die by the sword (יָמוּתוּ בַחֶרֶב - yā·mū·ṯū bā·ḥe·reḇ): Indicates violent death, likely through warfare or execution, often an outcome of conquest and divine wrath.
• their sons and their daughters (בְּנֵיהֶם וּבְנוֹתֵיהֶם - bə·nê·hem ū·ḇə·nō·ṯê·hem): Points to the complete annihilation of the family unit and lineage. The judgment extends beyond the offenders to their innocent offspring, illustrating the comprehensive and devastating nature of corporate punishment in biblical context.
• shall die by famine (יָמוּתוּ בָרָעָב - yā·mū·ṯū bā·rā·'āḇ): A death of prolonged suffering due to lack of food, often associated with sieges or widespread societal collapse caused by divine judgment. It speaks to utter destitution and breakdown of daily life.

• "Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, lest you die by our hand": This phrase encapsulates their audacious rebellion and specific crime. They sought to silence God's chosen messenger, not out of mere disagreement, but with the intent of violence and murder, thereby directly opposing the divine will and revelation. This demonstrates extreme hardness of heart and rejection of God's direct address.
• "I will punish them; the young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine": This cluster specifies a total and multi-faceted destruction of the community of Anathoth. The sword and famine represent a complete breakdown of societal order and sustenance, targeting all generations. It is a precise reversal of God's covenant blessings (Deut 28) and a full display of covenant curses, particularly impacting future generations and community viability.

Jeremiah 11 22 Bonus section

The severity of the judgment on Anathoth is magnified by its status as a priestly city and Jeremiah's own home. This implies a deeper level of hypocrisy and apostasy from a community that should have been dedicated to upholding the covenant and the Lord's word. Their plot against Jeremiah wasn't just against an individual, but against a fellow Levite, from their own priestly clan, speaking the very word of God that they, as a priestly city, were supposed to guard and propagate. This made their sin a stark betrayal of their sacred calling. Furthermore, the extension of the punishment to their children and the specification of 'sword' and 'famine' indicate a complete, comprehensive judgment, aiming to leave no trace of those who stood against God's command. This echoes earlier covenant curses, highlighting a covenant God's consistent application of justice.

Jeremiah 11 22 Commentary

Jeremiah 11:22 reveals God's unyielding intolerance for those who seek to silence His prophetic voice and harm His messengers. The men of Anathoth, likely resentful of Jeremiah's messages of impending doom and the implications for their own unrepentant lives, dared to threaten his life if he continued to speak in the Lord's name. This was not a minor disagreement but a direct affront to God's authority and a heinous plot against His prophet. God's response is swift, precise, and utterly devastating, detailing punishments of war and famine that would completely eradicate the lineage of these conspirators. This verse powerfully illustrates that opposing God's chosen vessels and suppressing His truth invites severe and inescapable divine retribution. It underscores the sanctity of prophetic ministry and the serious consequences for those who rebel against it.