Jeremiah 18:19 kjv
Give heed to me, O LORD, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.
Jeremiah 18:19 nkjv
Give heed to me, O LORD, And listen to the voice of those who contend with me!
Jeremiah 18:19 niv
Listen to me, LORD; hear what my accusers are saying!
Jeremiah 18:19 esv
Hear me, O LORD, and listen to the voice of my adversaries.
Jeremiah 18:19 nlt
LORD, hear me and help me!
Listen to what my enemies are saying.
Jeremiah 18 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 18:18 | "...Let us devise plans against Jeremiah... Come, let us strike him with the tongue..." | Jeremiah 18:18 |
| Ps 31:13 | "For I hear the slander of many, terror on every side, as they conspire together against me..." | Psalm 31:13 |
| Ps 35:4 | "May those who seek my life be put to shame and confusion; may those who devise my downfall be turned back in disgrace." | Psalm 35:4 |
| Acts 6:11 | "Then they secretly instigated some men to say, 'We have heard Stephen utter blasphemies against Moses and against God.'" | Acts 6:11 |
| Acts 7:57 | "At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him..." | Acts 7:57 |
| Acts 12:2 | "He had James, the brother of John, killed with a sword." | Acts 12:2 |
| Acts 21:27 | "When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple and stirred up the whole crowd..." | Acts 21:27 |
| Matt 26:59 | "The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they could put him to death." | Matthew 26:59 |
| John 18:35 | "‘Am I a Jew?’ Pilate answered. ‘It is your own people and your chief priests who have handed you over to me. What have you done?’" | John 18:35 |
| Luke 6:22 | "“Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man." | Luke 6:22 |
| 1 Pet 4:12 | "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has taken place among you to test you, as if some strange thing were happening to you." | 1 Peter 4:12 |
| Ps 55:12 | "If an enemy were insulting me, I could endure it; if a foe were boasting against me, I could hide from him." | Psalm 55:12 |
| Prov 26:28 | "A lying tongue goes hatred, and a deceitful mouth causes ruin." | Proverbs 26:28 |
| Isa 30:10 | "They say to the seers, 'See no visions,' and to the prophets, 'Give us no prophecy or truth.'" | Isaiah 30:10 |
| Mic 2:11 | "If a wind stirred by a prophet came along saying, 'I will preach to you when you have plenty of wine and beer,' he would be the favorite prophet for this people!" | Micah 2:11 |
| Acts 18:12 | "But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with a single mind attacked Paul and brought him to the judgment seat." | Acts 18:12 |
| Acts 19:28 | "The whole city was filled with confusion, and they rushed into the amphitheater together, dragging Gaius and Aristarchus..." | Acts 19:28 |
| Rom 3:4 | "Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: 'So that you may be proved right when you speak and vindicated when you judge.'" | Romans 3:4 |
| 2 Tim 4:14 | "Alexander the metalworker did me a great amount of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done." | 2 Timothy 4:14 |
| Deut 18:20 | "But the prophet who presumptuously speaks a word in my name which I have not commanded him to speak, or which he speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die." | Deuteronomy 18:20 |
| Jer 17:1 | "“The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron; with a point of a diamond it is engraved on the tablet of their hearts and on the horns of their altars..." | Jeremiah 17:1 |
Jeremiah 18 verses
Jeremiah 18 19 Meaning
This verse reflects the accusations brought against Jeremiah. His accusers claim he is conspiring with the enemy, advising the people to surrender to the Babylonians, and therefore deserves punishment, suggesting he be struck down. They see his prophecy as a betrayal and a threat to national security and their religious traditions.
Jeremiah 18 19 Context
Jeremiah 18:19 is part of a larger section (Jeremiah 18-20) where Jeremiah is facing severe opposition from his own people, including religious and civic leaders. In chapter 18, God uses the analogy of the potter and the clay to illustrate His sovereign power and freedom to shape nations. Jeremiah had just witnessed the potter molding the clay and being able to reshape it, which God then applied to Judah. When Jeremiah later demonstrated this principle to the people, they rejected his message and, according to this verse, conspired against him. This verse reveals the depth of animosity and misunderstanding Jeremiah faced. His prophecies, meant to bring about repentance and avert judgment, were perceived by many as treasonous and destructive to the nation's well-being. They wanted him silenced.
Jeremiah 18 19 Word Analysis
- Come: An imperative verb, calling for unified action.
- let us: Indicates a shared intention or proposal among the group.
- devise: To plot, invent, or plan. In this context, it implies malicious scheming.
- plans: Designs, schemes, or plots. These are not for construction but for destruction.
- against Jeremiah: Directly targeting the prophet himself.
- for he: Introduces the reason or justification for their actions.
- hearken: To listen attentively, to heed. Here it's used sarcastically or accusatorily.
- to us: Referring to the leaders and people who oppose Jeremiah.
- with the tongue: Implies speaking or using words, but in the context of the previous verse ("strike him with the tongue"), it refers to slander, false accusation, or malicious gossip rather than constructive dialogue. The idea is to condemn him verbally and to spread false accusations. This refers to "wit-striking," a common method of verbal attack in ancient times, or simply condemning with words.
- devise: Repeated from earlier, reinforcing the premeditated nature of their scheme.
- plots: Similar to "plans," signifying schemes, often with negative connotations.
- against Jeremiah: Again, emphasis on the target.
- the tongue: Reiteration of the instrument of their attack – their words and speech.
- seek his life: Explicitly stating their murderous intent or desire for his destruction.
Group Analysis
- "Come, let us devise plans against Jeremiah": This phrase highlights a unified conspiracy by Jeremiah's enemies. The "come" signifies an invitation to join their wicked endeavor, and "devise plans" shows premeditated malicious intent, not a spontaneous outburst.
- "for he hearkeneth not to us": This is their justification. They are angered not by any legitimate offense, but because Jeremiah refused to align his message with their desires and reject God's word. He would not be swayed by their arguments or threats.
- "with the tongue, devise plots against him": This expands on their method. Their attack would be primarily verbal and deceitful, using slander and false accusations ("with the tongue") to engineer his downfall ("devise plots"). This is a spiritual warfare waged through deceitful communication and propaganda to "seek his life."
Jeremiah 18 19 Bonus Section
The sentiment in this verse, where a prophet is accused of working against his own people because he delivers unwelcome truths, is echoed throughout scripture. From Moses facing rebellion for obeying God (Numbers 16) to Jesus being handed over by his own religious leaders, God's faithful spokespersons often faced persecution for speaking divine truth. The methods of opposition – conspiracy, slander, and a desire to silence – are consistent tactics used against those who stand for righteousness. This verse also underscores the severe consequence for false prophecy (Deut 18:20), creating a fear and anger among those whose prophecies are questioned by God's true prophets like Jeremiah.
Jeremiah 18 19 Commentary
Jeremiah's enemies were not just disagreeing with him; they were actively plotting his destruction. They felt he was undermining their authority and the nation's security by speaking God's word, which included pronouncements of judgment. Their plan was to silence him through slander and false accusations ("with the tongue"). They interpreted his obedience to God as disobedience to them and an act of betrayal, especially because he urged them to submit to Babylon, which they saw as an unacceptable proposal. This reflects a common spiritual conflict where God's messengers are often attacked by the very people they are sent to warn. The enemy's aim was ultimately to "seek his life," indicating a desire for complete elimination of the prophet and his message.