Jeremiah 49:11 kjv
Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.
Jeremiah 49:11 nkjv
Leave your fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; And let your widows trust in Me."
Jeremiah 49:11 niv
'Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive. Your widows too can depend on me.'?"
Jeremiah 49:11 esv
Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in me."
Jeremiah 49:11 nlt
But I will protect the orphans who remain among you.
Your widows, too, can depend on me for help."
Jeremiah 49 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 49:11 | Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in me. | Jeremiah 49:11 (main) |
| Psalm 10:14 | But you have seen, for you have observed both trouble and vexation, that you may take it into your hand; the helpless commits himself to you; you have been the helper of the fatherless. | Direct parallel of divine help for fatherless |
| Psalm 27:10 | When my father and mother forsake me, the LORD shall take me in. | Personal application of God's adoption |
| Isaiah 1:17 | Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring prosperity to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause. | Command to care for vulnerable, God's prior commitment |
| Deuteronomy 10:18 | He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. | God's character and action concerning orphans and widows |
| Luke 18:3-5 | and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ But he was unwilling for a while. Afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I do not fear God or respect man, yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice, so that she may not end up last of all by her coming.’ | Parable emphasizing persistent plea for justice for the widow |
| James 1:27 | Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. | Practical demonstration of true faith for widows and orphans |
| Matthew 5:4 | “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” | Comfort in times of distress, applicable to widows/fatherless |
| Psalm 68:5 | Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. | Affirmation of God's specific care for the fatherless and widows |
| Proverbs 3:9-10 | Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. | Trusting God brings provision |
| Romans 8:28 | We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose. | God's overarching plan for the righteous, even in suffering |
| Zechariah 7:9-10 | Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and compassion to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor. And let none of you meditate evil against his brother in his heart. | Warning against oppressing the vulnerable, God's focus on justice for them |
| Jeremiah 7:5-7 | For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own ruin, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever. | Conditions for dwelling in the land linked to justice for vulnerable |
| Malachi 3:5 | Then I will draw near to you for judgment. And I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and me, because they do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts. | God's judgment on oppressors of the vulnerable |
| 1 Kings 17:8-16 | Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. God provides for the widow and her son. | Example of God's miraculous provision for a widow in need |
| Jeremiah 49:2 | “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I shall visit Elam and bring back her captives.” | Broader context of judgment and restoration for nations |
| 1 Peter 5:7 | casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. | Exhortation to trust God with worries, mirroring the verse's assurance |
| Proverbs 14:31 | Whoever oppresses the poor insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. | Connection between treatment of the poor and honoring God |
| Isaiah 25:4 | For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm and a shade from the heat when the blast of the terrible ones is like a storm against the wall. | God as refuge for the distressed and vulnerable |
| Psalm 82:3-4 | Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked! | Direct command to ensure justice for the vulnerable, mirroring God's action |
Jeremiah 49 verses
Jeremiah 49 11 Meaning
This verse speaks of the divine assurance given to the defenseless, specifically to orphans and widows, that they will be cared for and provided for. It promises that their basic needs will be met and their despair turned to hope.
Jeremiah 49 11 Context
Jeremiah 49 contains prophecies against various nations surrounding Israel, including Edom, Moab, Ammon, and Elam. The prophecy against Elam, to which this verse belongs, speaks of their downfall and scattering due to God's judgment. However, amidst the pronouncements of doom upon the nations, God interjects a promise of faithfulness and provision to the vulnerable who would be affected by these judgments. This particular verse is God's direct address, offering comfort and security to the fatherless and widows, assuring them that even in the face of widespread disaster and the collapse of their own society (or as a result of others' actions), His care will remain. It highlights God's consistent heart for the weak and defenseless, regardless of broader political or national events.
Jeremiah 49 11 Word analysis
Leave: (Hebrew: shalach) - In this context, it means to entrust, to let go or set aside into God's care. It is not abandonment, but a relinquishing into God's protection.
your: (Hebrew: `eqqeb) - Refers to those who belong to or are dependent upon those who will be judged or will suffer calamity.
fatherless children: (Hebrew: yathom) - This word specifically denotes orphans, those who have lost their fathers. In ancient patriarchal societies, a father's absence was catastrophic due to the lack of provision, protection, and legal standing.
I: (Hebrew: ani) - The personal pronoun, emphasizing God's direct involvement and active role.
will keep alive: (Hebrew: chayithi) - This means to preserve life, to sustain, to keep in existence. It is a promise of active sustenance and survival.
and: (Hebrew: w`) - A conjunctive particle.
let: (Hebrew: nathan) - To allow, to permit, to commit or entrust.
your: (Hebrew: `eqqeb) - Again referring to those dependent.
widows: (Hebrew: almanah) - Widows, in a similar vein to fatherless children, were particularly vulnerable in ancient society. They often faced economic hardship, social marginalization, and lack of legal protection without a male provider.
trust: (Hebrew: batach) - To lean upon, to rely on, to have confidence and security in.
Word Groups:
- "Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive" - This phrase encapsulates a divine directive to abandon the responsibility of earthly fathers, followed by God's solemn promise to personally fulfill the role of protector and sustainer for these vulnerable children.
- "and let your widows trust in me" - This phrase conveys permission for widows to release their burdens and fears, placing their complete reliance on God for their well-being and security, knowing He is their advocate.
Jeremiah 49 11 Bonus section
The phrasing "Leave your fatherless children" can be interpreted as a directive for those in positions of authority or those whose society is being judged to surrender their reliance on human means of protecting the fatherless, recognizing God's ultimate responsibility. Similarly, "let your widows trust in me" encourages the widows to cease their anxious striving for security and place their complete faith in God. This echoes Jesus' teaching to "not be anxious about your life" (Matthew 6:25), emphasizing dependence on God. The verse highlights that God's actions and promises are consistent throughout Scripture, appearing in both judgment passages and individual instances of care (like Elijah and the widow of Zarephath, 1 Kings 17). It is a fundamental aspect of God's character as described in James 1:27: true religion involves caring for the helpless.
Jeremiah 49 11 Commentary
This verse is a profound declaration of God's commitment to the most vulnerable segments of society: orphans and widows. It's framed within a prophecy of judgment against Elam, suggesting that even as nations face divine retribution, God's compassionate and protective care remains for those who have no earthly protection. The command to "leave" and "let" is not an instruction to abandon them to despair, but rather an assurance that the human custodians are removed (or unable to fulfill their role), so that God can step in supremely. It's a statement of God's sovereignty, power, and deeply relational nature, prioritizing those who are easily overlooked or exploited. This promise underscores that God is not indifferent to human suffering, especially that of the helpless. It is a call to trust in His unfailing provision and love, a testament to His faithfulness that transcends societal structures or political upheaval.