Jeremiah 18 19

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 verses

Jeremiah 18 19 Meaning

Jeremiah 18:19 is a direct, urgent plea from the prophet Jeremiah to Yahweh. Amidst intense opposition and threats from his own people, Jeremiah cries out for divine attention, asking God not only to hear his voice but also to observe the malicious intentions and actions of those who contend against him. It expresses Jeremiah's distress, his reliance on God's intervention, and his hope that God will act as his advocate and judge against his persecutors.

Jeremiah 18 19 Context

Jeremiah chapter 18 begins with God instructing Jeremiah to go to the potter's house, where the shaping and reshaping of clay illustrate God's sovereign power over nations. God demonstrates His right to build up or tear down any nation based on its response to Him (Jer 18:1-12). He calls Judah to repent, warning of impending disaster. However, the people arrogantly refuse, stating, "We will walk after our own plans, and each one of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart" (Jer 18:12). This defiance escalates God's judgment.

Following this, God laments Israel's unnatural sin of forsaking Him for idols, an unheard-of abandonment (Jer 18:13-17). Their apostasy is deeper than any other nation. Directly preceding verse 19, in Jeremiah 18:18, Jeremiah's enemies—likely the false prophets, priests, and the powerful—plot against him: "Come and let's devise plans against Jeremiah. Surely the law will not be lost from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come and let's strike him with our tongue, and let's not pay attention to any of his words." They conspire to discredit, silence, and perhaps physically harm him. Verse 19 is Jeremiah’s immediate, agonizing prayerful response to this direct threat, laying bare his vulnerability and profound reliance on God for justice and deliverance in the face of such betrayal.

Jeremiah 18 19 Word analysis

• Give heed: (הַקְשִׁיבָה haqshīvah) - This is an imperative verb, a strong command or urgent plea. It means "to cause to listen intently," "to pay close attention." It's not a casual request to hear but an urgent appeal for full, responsive divine engagement. The prophet demands God’s complete attention, not just auditory, but an active, judicial listening that leads to action.
• to me, O Lord, (אֵלַי יְהוָה ’elay YHWH) - "To me, O YHWH." "O Lord" refers to YHWH, the personal covenant name of God. This address underscores the deep, personal relationship Jeremiah has with God, allowing him to boldly appeal. He approaches God as one who knows and has a right to appeal for divine intervention.
• and listen: (וּשְׁמַע u sh’ma’) - Another imperative, emphasizing the act of hearing. While similar to "give heed," "shĕmaʿ" (from which sh'ma') carries the nuance of hearing, understanding, and consequently, acting. The repetition of verbs of hearing amplifies Jeremiah's desperation and desire for God not only to be attentive but to process and respond to the situation. It points to a need for divine comprehension and decisive intervention.
• to the voice (קֹול qol) - "Voice" or "sound," but often refers to a plea, a cry, a complaint, or the legal argument in a court setting. Here, it refers to the inner distress and perhaps unspoken plea of Jeremiah, but also implicitly the clamor of his adversaries.
• of those who contend with me. (יָרִיבַי yārîvay) - Literally, "my contenders" or "those who strive with me." This term riv (from which yarivay) suggests a legal adversary or someone involved in a quarrel, dispute, or lawsuit. These are individuals who are actively opposing Jeremiah, engaging in a "legal" or "moral" struggle, implicitly with false accusations or malicious intent (as revealed in Jer 18:18).

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "Give heed to me, O Lord, and listen": This opening phrase is an intense double plea for God's full attention. It conveys a prophet pushed to his limits, demanding God's personal and judicial hearing. It's an affirmation of his complete reliance on divine justice. The combined imperative reflects a strong personal faith and bold access to God, common in prophetic laments, but rarely expressed with such direct urgency. It’s a cry for not just auditory perception but understanding and active response.
• "to the voice of those who contend with me": Jeremiah does not just ask God to hear him, but to hear them—or more accurately, to hear his voice regarding their contention. This indicates his profound belief that God is the ultimate judge who can discern the truth amidst the falsehood and malevolence of his adversaries. It's a prayer for God to witness the injustice and the plot unfolding, invoking God as the divine arbiter in this adversarial conflict. This also implies Jeremiah seeks vindication and justice against their wrongful accusations and harmful intentions.

Jeremiah 18 19 Bonus section

The intensely personal and even confrontational tone of Jeremiah’s prayer here (and in his other laments, often called "confessions") provides significant insight into the nature of prophecy and human interaction with God. Jeremiah isn’t simply resigning himself; he's actively calling upon the God of Israel to intervene as the righteous judge. This prayer is part of a larger literary pattern in Jeremiah's laments, where he struggles with his calling, expresses raw human emotion—including despair and a desire for retribution (seen in Jer 18:21-23 immediately following)—but always returns to his reliance on God's character. This blend of lament and trust shows that profound faith can coexist with human struggle and petition. The idea of God "listening" in a judicial sense ties back to ancient Near Eastern legal concepts where a just king or deity was expected to hear the pleas of the wronged and administer justice. Jeremiah, through his suffering, foreshadows the righteous sufferer motif that culminates in the person of Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 18 19 Commentary

Jeremiah 18:19 encapsulates the prophet's deep personal suffering and his unwavering commitment to God's justice. After observing God's sovereign right over the nations and facing the unrepentant heart of Judah, Jeremiah himself becomes a target. His response is not to seek personal vengeance or human aid, but to turn directly to Yahweh in a passionate plea. This prayer underscores a critical theological principle: that when facing unjust opposition and persecution for faithfulness to God, the believer's primary recourse is to God himself. Jeremiah is not just asking for comfort; he is presenting his case before the ultimate Judge, asking for a hearing that would result in divine intervention. This specific prayer introduces Jeremiah’s third lament (often starting around 18:18 and extending to 20:18), reflecting his ongoing struggle as God’s mouthpiece in a hostile environment. His request for God to "give heed" and "listen" reveals a profound trust in God's righteousness and capacity to discern true justice. It's a testament to leaving the battles that belong to the Lord in His hands.

Examples:

• For Personal Usage: When unjustly criticized or slandered for doing what is right, one can pray, "O Lord, see and hear those who falsely accuse me, and judge righteously."
• For Ministry Leaders: Facing opposition or misunderstanding, a leader can pray, "Lord, pay attention to the voices of those who challenge my intentions, and let Your truth prevail."