Jeremiah 11 3

Jeremiah 11:3 kjv

And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,

Jeremiah 11:3 nkjv

and say to them, 'Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "Cursed is the man who does not obey the words of this covenant

Jeremiah 11:3 niv

Tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Cursed is the one who does not obey the terms of this covenant?

Jeremiah 11:3 esv

You shall say to them, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Cursed be the man who does not hear the words of this covenant

Jeremiah 11:3 nlt

Say to them, 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Cursed is anyone who does not obey the terms of my covenant!

Jeremiah 11 verses

Jeremiah 11 3 Meaning

The Lord declares that His covenant people, Judah, have broken the covenant established with their ancestors. This breach of covenant by Judah has resulted in God's pronouncements of judgment against them.

Jeremiah 11 3 Context

Jeremiah 11 begins with the Lord instructing Jeremiah to communicate His covenant stipulations and their consequences to the people of Judah. Jeremiah is told to reiterate the foundational covenant made at Horeb (Sinai) and to remind them that their disobedience to its terms has invited God's wrath. The chapter unfolds against the backdrop of Judah's persistent idolatry and general apostasy, even as they claim to be God's people and beneficiaries of His covenant promises. Jeremiah is facing severe opposition from his own people, including threats from his hometown, Anathoth, as documented in the latter part of this chapter.

Jeremiah 11 3 Word Analysis

• Therefore (לָכֵן - lakhen): A conjunctive adverb, indicating a result or consequence based on what has been said or understood previously. It strongly links the pronouncement of judgment to the breaking of the covenant.
• O (אֹ֠וּ - 'ow): An interjection used to express lament or strong emotion, often indicating sorrow, grief, or a deep cry. It emphasizes the speaker's distress over the situation.
• Hear (שִׁמְעוּ - shim'u): The imperative form of the verb "to hear." It commands attentive listening, not merely passive reception of sound, but understanding and obedience. This call to listen is a frequent theme in prophetic literature, emphasizing the importance of heeding God's word.
• The words (דִּבְרֵי - divrei): Plural of "word" or "thing." Refers to the message or declarations of the covenant.
• Of this (הַזֶּה - hazzeh): Demonstrative pronoun, pointing specifically to the covenant being referenced, which is the covenant of the Lord.
• Covenant (בְּרִית - berith): A solemn agreement, contract, or pact, often ratified with rituals and blessings/curses. In this context, it specifically refers to the covenant God made with Israel at Sinai, establishing their unique relationship with Him.
• Which (אֲשֶׁר - 'asher): A relative pronoun connecting the covenant to the subsequent action or description.
• I made (כָּרַתִּי - karat): From the root כָּרַת (karat), meaning to cut or to cut a covenant. This verb is the standard term for making a covenant, suggesting a serious, divinely initiated and binding agreement. The perfect tense indicates a completed action in the past.
• With (אֶת־ - 'et): A preposition used here to indicate with whom the covenant was made.
• Your fathers (אֲבֹתֵיכֶם - 'avotekhem): Refers to the ancestors of the present generation of Israelites, specifically those at Mount Sinai (Horeb).
• In (בְּיוֹם־ — b'yom): Literally "in the day of."
• The day (יוֹם־ — yom): The specific time when the covenant was established.
• That (אֲשֶׁר — 'asher): A relative pronoun.
• I (אֲנִי — 'ani): Pronoun of the first person.
• Brought (הַעֲלֹתִי — ha'aloti): From the verb עָלָה ('alah), meaning to go up or bring up. This refers to bringing them out of Egypt and up to Mount Sinai. The Hiphil causative stem implies God caused this action.
• Them (אֹתָם — 'otam): Direct object pronoun referring to the fathers.
• Out of (מִמִּצְרַיִם — mimimitzrayim): "From Egypt." This immediately recalls the Exodus, the foundational event for the Mosaic Covenant.
• The land of Egypt (אֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם — eretz mitzrayim): Emphasizes the place of bondage and liberation.
• Words group: "O, hear ye the words of this covenant, which I made with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt." This phrase encapsulates the divinely ordained agreement that forms the basis of Israel's national and spiritual identity. The people are being reminded of their origins in God's redemptive act of the Exodus and the stipulations tied to that liberation.

Jeremiah 11 3 Bonus Section

The phrase "O, hear ye the words of this covenant" implies a call to both remembrance and obedience. It's not just a historical recounting but an active summoning of the people to re-engage with their foundational agreement. The inclusion of "brought them forth out of the land of Egypt" is strategically placed, reminding them that their entire existence as God's chosen people, their land, their laws, and their privileges, were all predicated on this redemptive act and the covenant that followed. This grounds their identity and obligations in God's prior faithfulness and power. The emphasis on "fathers" implies generational responsibility and the continuity of the covenant, but also highlights that the present generation has failed to uphold what their ancestors initially received.

Jeremiah 11 3 Commentary

Jeremiah's message in this verse is a stern reminder of the historical covenant. The Lord addresses Judah with a lament, highlighting their spiritual defection. He traces this back to their ancestral covenant at Horeb (Sinai), a covenant ratified after God's miraculous deliverance from Egyptian bondage. The covenant was not merely a historical document but a binding agreement for obedience and faithfulness, with blessings for adherence and curses for disobedience. Judah, by their actions, has severed this relationship, making themselves liable to the judgments detailed in the covenant stipulations, particularly those laid out in Deuteronomy. This verse sets the stage for the specific accusations and pronouncements of doom that follow. It underscores that their present troubles are not arbitrary but a direct consequence of their covenant unfaithfulness, a recurrent theme in Israel's history.