Jeremiah 16 11

Jeremiah 16:11 kjv

Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;

Jeremiah 16:11 nkjv

then you shall say to them, 'Because your fathers have forsaken Me,' says the LORD; 'they have walked after other gods and have served them and worshiped them, and have forsaken Me and not kept My law.

Jeremiah 16:11 niv

then say to them, 'It is because your ancestors forsook me,' declares the LORD, 'and followed other gods and served and worshiped them. They forsook me and did not keep my law.

Jeremiah 16:11 esv

then you shall say to them: 'Because your fathers have forsaken me, declares the LORD, and have gone after other gods and have served and worshiped them, and have forsaken me and have not kept my law,

Jeremiah 16:11 nlt

"Then you will give them the LORD's reply: 'It is because your ancestors were unfaithful to me. They worshiped other gods and served them. They abandoned me and did not obey my word.

Jeremiah 16 verses

Jeremiah 16 11 Meaning

This verse describes a judgment on Judah, stating that they have forsaken God and turned to false gods. The consequence of this apostasy will be God’s withdrawal of His favor and presence, symbolized by turning His back on them and delivering them to destruction. The destruction will be comprehensive, leaving them exposed and vulnerable.

Jeremiah 16 11 Context

Jeremiah chapter 16 continues God's pronouncements of judgment against Judah for their pervasive sin and apostasy. Specifically, verse 11 is part of a passage where God commands Jeremiah not to marry or have children in Judah. This directive underscores the impending desolation of the land. The people's sin is portrayed as a severe abandonment of their covenant relationship with God, preferring to serve other deities. This act of turning away from God leads directly to divine judgment, characterized by His withdrawal and the pronouncement of complete disaster upon the nation. The context highlights the theme of covenant unfaithfulness and its inevitable consequences.

Jeremiah 16 11 Word Analysis

• They have forsaken me (Hebrew: ‘azab-ūni):
  • ‘azab: To forsake, abandon, leave, depart from. Emphasizes a deliberate act of turning away.
  • ‘azab is used frequently for abandoning God or His covenant (Deut 12:30, Psa 27:10, Isa 54:7).
• and worshiped other gods (Hebrew: wə-yištaḥăwū lĕ‘ălōhîm ‘ūt):
  • yištaḥăwū: To bow down, prostrate oneself, worship. Indicates full allegiance and adoration.
  • ‘ălōhîm ‘ūt: Other gods. Refers to deities other than the God of Israel, often associated with Canaanite or Babylonian religions. This signifies a direct violation of the first commandment.
• Therefore I will inflict punishment upon this place (Hebrew: lākēn ’ănî’ĕḵap-‘āl-hammāqōm-hazeh):
  • lākēn: Therefore, for this reason. Connects the cause (forsaking God) to the effect (punishment).
  • ‘ănî’ĕḵap: I will be angry, I will punish. The Hebrew ‘ēḵep (anger, wrath) is active here.
  • ‘āl-hammāqōm-hazeh: Upon this place. Refers to Judah, specifically Jerusalem and its territory, which was the object of God's covenant love but now subject to His wrath.
• and bring upon it all the disaster that I have pronounced (Hebrew: wə-hēbē’tî ‘ālāyw ’eṯ-kāl-hārā‘ ’ăšer-dabbarti):
  • hēbē’tî: I will bring. Asserts God's active involvement in carrying out the judgment.
  • kāl-hārā‘: All the disaster/evil. Signifies complete and utter destruction and misfortune.
  • ’ăšer-dabbarti: That I have spoken. Refers to the curses and warnings previously given by God through prophets like Moses (Deut 28).
• I will turn My back on them (Hebrew: wə-hēsēbhakti ’et-panay ’aley-hēm):
  • hēsēbhakti ’et-panay: I will turn My face. A very strong idiom indicating complete withdrawal of favor, protection, and presence. God’s face being turned away means His approval and active support are removed.
• and will not listen to them (Hebrew: wə-lō’ ’ešma‘h-lāhem):
  • lō’ ’ešma‘h: I will not hear. Implies a refusal to grant prayer, to respond to their pleas, or to offer any intervention. It signifies the finality of their separation from God.

Jeremiah 16 11 Bonus Section

The imagery of God "turning His back" is profound. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, turning one's face away often indicated displeasure, dismissal, or contempt. For God to do this signifies His deliberate refusal to engage with or support His people because of their persistent unfaithfulness. The severity of this statement is amplified by the preceding verses which commanded Jeremiah not to marry. This lack of familial continuation reflects a national dying out, a land barren and forsaken because its inhabitants turned from the source of life. The phrase "disaster that I have pronounced" connects this specific judgment back to the conditional covenant curses detailed in Deuteronomy.

Jeremiah 16 11 Commentary

Jeremiah 16:11 serves as a critical indictment against Judah for their spiritual adultery, their turning away from Yahweh to embrace pagan deities. The verse lays bare the cause and effect of this sin: abandonment of God leads to God’s abandonment of them. The consequence is not merely a temporary setback but the "utter disaster" promised for covenant breakers. God's act of turning His "back" signifies the severing of the relationship and the forfeiture of His protection and favor. The inability to be heard in their distress underscores their isolation and the finality of the judgment. This declaration foreshadows the Babylonian exile, where Judah would indeed be cast out of their land and into foreign service. The people's action of worshipping other gods is the gravest sin, as it negates the very foundation of their covenant with the God of Israel, who is exclusively the true God.