Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Jeremiah 11
Jeremiah 11:3-4And say to them, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Cursed be the man who does not hear the words of this covenant. which I commanded your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Listen to my voice, and do all that I command you. So shall you be my people, and I will be your God,
Jeremiah 11:10They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. And they have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers.
Here, God delivers the verdict that both Israel and Judah have broken the covenant by turning to other gods. This isn't a minor slip-up but a deliberate return to the sins of their ancestors.Jeremiah 11:21Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, and say, "Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord, or you will die by our hand" -
The chapter becomes intensely personal as God reveals a plot against Jeremiah's life by his own kinsmen. Their rejection of God's message had turned into a murderous hatred for the messenger.
Historical & Cultural Context
A Call to Remember the Covenant
The chapter opens with God giving Jeremiah a specific and urgent task: to travel through the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem with a powerful message. He is to remind the people of the covenant, the foundational agreement God made with their ancestors when He rescued them from slavery in Egypt. This was a call to remember who they were and whose they were, not just a history lesson. Their identity was grounded in God's saving act.
A Conspiracy of Disobedience
The tone shifts from a reminder to a harsh indictment. God reveals to Jeremiah that the people's disobedience is not random or accidental. It is a 'conspiracy.' They have collectively turned their backs on God, following the rebellious path of their forefathers and chasing after idols like Baal. The charge is clear: the covenant has been deliberately and completely broken, rendering their religious activities in the temple meaningless.
A Plot Against the Prophet
The chapter concludes with a shocking and personal revelation. God shows Jeremiah that the opposition to his message has become a plot against his life, orchestrated by the men of his own hometown, Anathoth. They threaten him with death if he continues to prophesy in the Lord's name. In response, God promises swift and total judgment upon them, showing that He is the ultimate defender of His prophet.
Jeremiah's Covenant Lawsuit
In Jeremiah 11, the prophet acts as God's prosecuting attorney, delivering a lawsuit against Judah for breach of contract. The scene moves from a public proclamation of the covenant's terms to a divine verdict on the people's guilt. The chapter culminates in a personal threat against Jeremiah, revealing the extent of the people's fall.
The Covenant's Terms Recalled (Jeremiah 11:1-8)
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:
2 "Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem."
3 And say to them, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Cursed be the man who does not hear the words of this covenant.
4 which I commanded your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Listen to my voice, and do all that I command you. So shall you be my people, and I will be your God,
5 that I may confirm the oath that I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day.” Then I answered, “So be it, Lord.”
6 And the Lord said to me, "Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: Hear the words of this covenant and do them.
7 For I solemnly warned your fathers when I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, warning them persistently, even to this day, saying, Obey my voice.
8 Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but everyone walked in the stubbornness of his evil heart. So I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not."
Commentary:
God reminds Judah of the covenant's conditions and their long history of failing to meet them.
The Covenant Broken by Idolatry (Jeremiah 11:9-13)
9 And the Lord said to me, “A conspiracy has been found among the men of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10 They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words. And they have gone after other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their fathers.
11 Therefore, thus says the Lord, Behold, I am bringing disaster upon them that they cannot escape. Though they cry to me, I will not listen to them.
12 Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to whom they make offerings, but they cannot save them in the time of their trouble.
13 For your gods have become as many as your cities, O Judah, and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to shame, altars to make offerings to Baal.
Commentary:
Judah's rampant idol worship is a deliberate breaking of the covenant, and judgment is now certain.
A Point of No Return (Jeremiah 11:14-17)
14 "Therefore do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble."
15 What right has my beloved in my house, when she has done many vile deeds? Can even sacrificial flesh avert your doom? Can you then exult?
16 The Lord once called you ‘a green olive tree, beautiful with good fruit.’ But with the roar of a great tempest he will set fire to it, and its branches will be consumed.
17 The Lord of hosts, who planted you, has decreed disaster against you, because of the evil that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have done, provoking me to anger by making offerings to Baal.
Commentary:
The people's sin is so deep that intercession is futile. Their relationship with God is broken, and judgment is set.
The Prophet's Life in Danger (Jeremiah 11:18-23)
18 The Lord made it known to me and I knew; then you showed me their deeds.
19 But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter.
20 But, O Lord of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.
21 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, and say, "Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord, or you will die by our hand" -
22 therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: "Behold, I will punish them. The young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine,
23 And there will be no remnant left of them, for I will bring disaster upon the men of Anathoth, the year of their punishment.
Commentary:
Jeremiah learns of a death plot against him by his own people, and God promises to bring justice.
Core Truths in a Broken Relationship
The Gravity of Covenant
This chapter underscores that a covenant with God is a deeply serious and binding relationship, not a casual agreement. God faithfully upholds His promises, but He also holds His people accountable for their end of the deal - loyalty and obedience. Breaking the covenant is portrayed as the ultimate act of betrayal.
Idolatry as Spiritual Adultery
Jeremiah 11 exposes idolatry as a significant betrayal of a relationship. It is more than a flawed belief system. By setting up countless altars to Baal, the people were cheating on God, the one who had rescued and planted them. This theme reveals that who or what we worship is the most fundamental aspect of our lives.
The Inevitability of Consequences
The chapter powerfully teaches that actions have consequences, especially in our relationship with God. Because the people persistently chose disobedience, judgment was no longer a distant threat but an imminent reality. God's justice requires that sin be addressed, and He makes it clear that a point can be reached where disaster is inescapable.
The Loneliness of Faithfulness
Jeremiah's personal experience highlights the cost of being faithful to God in a faithless culture. His message of truth was met not with repentance, but with death threats from his own community. This shows that standing for God can lead to isolation and persecution, even from those who should be allies.
Connecting the Covenant to Our Lives
Jeremiah 11 reminds you that your relationship with God through Jesus is also a covenant, one sealed by His grace. While it's not based on your perfect performance, it does call for your loyal and loving response. The chapter challenges you to move beyond mere religious motions and to live in genuine, heartfelt obedience to the God who has saved you.
This verse pushes you to identify the 'altars' in your own life. Modern idols might not be statues, but they can be anything that takes God's rightful place, such as career success, financial security, personal comfort, or even the approval of others. The chapter is a warning to honestly assess what you truly worship and where your ultimate loyalty lies.
Jeremiah's story encourages you to find your ultimate security in God, not in the acceptance of others. When you face opposition for your faith, Jeremiah 11:20 shows the importance of committing your cause to God, trusting Him as your righteous judge and defender. It teaches that true faithfulness is possible even in isolation, because God sees your heart and stands with you.
Broken Promises Have Real Consequences
Jeremiah 11 is a powerful declaration that our relationship with God is built on a sacred promise He takes with the utmost seriousness. The covenant was the bedrock of Israel's identity, and their casual betrayal of it through idolatry was a relational earthquake. God's message through Jeremiah is that faithfulness is not optional, and persistent disobedience leads to a point of no return. The chapter serves as a timeless warning: our choices have eternal weight, and turning from God invites disaster.
What This Means for Us Today
The stark message of the broken covenant serves as a mirror for our own hearts. It calls us to examine the subtle ways we might be taking God's grace for granted or building altars to modern idols. Jeremiah 11 is an invitation to return to wholehearted faithfulness, remembering that our relationship with God is a sacred trust that demands our full loyalty.
- Are there any promises I've made to God that I have neglected?
- What modern 'altars' in my life compete for the worship that belongs to God alone?
- How can I respond with faithfulness today, even if it costs me something?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter sets the stage by contrasting the power of the living God with the complete worthlessness of man-made idols, which is the central sin addressed in chapter 11.
Following the plot against his life, Jeremiah questions God about why the wicked prosper, a raw and honest complaint that flows directly from the events of chapter 11.
Connections Across Scripture
This chapter provides the detailed list of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience that formed the basis of the covenant Jeremiah preaches about.
This passage describes King Josiah's religious reforms, where he rediscovered the Book of the Law and called the nation back to the covenant, providing the likely historical setting for Jeremiah's sermon.
This New Testament passage explains how Jesus establishes a 'new covenant' that is superior, fulfilling the promises that were broken under the old one Jeremiah described.
Discussion Questions
- God tells Jeremiah not to pray for the people (Jeremiah 11:14). What does this extreme command teach us about the seriousness of persistent, unrepentant sin?
- The people of Judah were repeating the same mistakes their ancestors made. In what ways do we see patterns of sin or disobedience passed down through generations or cultures today?
- Jeremiah was like a 'gentle lamb led to the slaughter' (Jeremiah 11:19), unaware of the plot against him. How does this image foreshadow Jesus, and what does it teach us about the nature of suffering for righteousness?