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Jeremiah 11

23 verses

TL;DR

Jeremiah warns Judah and Jerusalem of impending judgment for breaking the covenant, condemning idol worship and disobedience to God's law.

Summary

Jeremiah receives a divine message reminding the people of the covenant made at Mount Sinai and the promise of a fertile land. He proclaims that those who do not obey the covenant are cursed, and that Judah and Jerusalem have repeatedly turned away from God's commands, falling back into the iniquities of their ancestors. The Lord declares that the people will suffer severe judgment, including famine, war, and the destruction of their cities, and that their prayers for relief will be ignored. The passage also mentions a specific threat to the men of Anathoth, warning that they will be struck by sword and famine with no remnant. Jeremiah calls the people to repentance, reminding them of God's righteous judgment, yet the text emphasizes that the covenant cannot be restored until the people genuinely turn back to God.

Outline
  1. God’s covenant reminder and the curse on disobedience (verses 1‑8)
  2. Declaration of judgment and idolatry in Judah and Jerusalem (verses 9‑17)
  3. Specific threat to Anathoth and call for repentance (verses 18‑23)
Themes
Covenant faithfulness and disobedienceJudgment and divine wrathIdolatry and its consequences
Keywords
covenantobediencejudgmentidolatryBaalJerusalemJudahanathothfamineswordolive treeincense
People
JeremiahThe LORD (God)Men of Anathoth
Places
JudahJerusalemAnathothEgypt
Things
CovenantOathIron furnaceLand of milk and honeyIncenseBaalAltarsGreen olive treeJudgment (sword, famine)
Key Verses
  • Jeremiah 11:3: God pronounces the curse on those who break the covenant.
  • Jeremiah 11:10: Highlights the broken covenant and the people's turn to other gods.
  • Jeremiah 11:14: Declares that prayers will be ignored, underscoring the severity of judgment.
  • Jeremiah 11:23: States the final outcome—no remnant—emphasizing total judgment.
Questions
  • What does Jeremiah mean by ‘cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant’?
  • How does the passage connect the people’s idolatry to the predicted judgment?
  • Why is Anathoth singled out, and what does this suggest about localized judgment?
  • In what ways does the language of judgment in this chapter compare to other prophetic warnings?
  • How can modern readers interpret the call to repentance amid the harsh condemnation?
Sentiment

negative
The passage conveys strong judgment, condemnation, and a warning of impending destruction.