Jeremiah 11:21 - “Therefore Yahweh says concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, ‘You shall not prophesy in Yahweh’s name, that you not die by our hand;’
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Jeremiah 11:21" mean?
This verse from Jeremiah 11:21 is a pivotal point in understanding the prophet Jeremiah's struggle and the resistance he faced. Let's break it down:
"Therefore Yahweh says concerning the men of Anathoth...": This establishes that the following statement is a direct message from God (Yahweh) specifically regarding the inhabitants of Anathoth. Anathoth was Jeremiah's hometown (Jeremiah 1:1).
"...who seek your life...": This is the crucial part: The people of Anathoth were actively trying to kill Jeremiah.
"...saying, ‘You shall not prophesy in Yahweh’s name, that you not die by our hand;’": This reveals the reason why they wanted to kill him. They wanted to silence him. They told him to stop prophesying in God's name, and the threat was clear: If he continued, they would kill him themselves.
In essence, the verse means:
God is speaking about the people of Jeremiah's hometown, Anathoth. These people were threatening to kill Jeremiah if he continued to speak prophecies in God's name. They didn't want to hear his message and were willing to resort to violence to silence him.
Significance and Context:
Rejection of Jeremiah's Message: This verse highlights the rejection Jeremiah faced, not just from the general public, but even from his own family and neighbors. His message was likely one of doom and judgment (as Jeremiah's prophecies often were), which was not what the people wanted to hear. They preferred the comforting, often false, messages of other prophets.
Prophet's Persecution: It illustrates the common fate of prophets who delivered unpopular messages. Throughout the Bible, prophets often faced opposition, persecution, and even death for speaking truth to power.
Jeremiah's Dilemma: This verse sets up a major conflict for Jeremiah: Should he obey God and risk death, or should he remain silent to save his life? It explores the tension between obedience to God and self-preservation.
Irony: The irony is palpable. They were trying to prevent death by violence and disobedience to God, while Jeremiah was likely prophesying about the death and destruction that would come upon them precisely because of their violence and disobedience.
This verse underscores the difficult and dangerous role of a true prophet, who must speak God's truth even when it is unwelcome and even when it puts their own life at risk. It's a powerful statement about the cost of faithfulness and the price of rejecting God's word.
Jeremiah 11:21 - “Therefore Yahweh says concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, ‘You shall not prophesy in Yahweh’s name, that you not die by our hand;’
What does "Jeremiah 11:21" mean?
This verse from Jeremiah 11:21 is a pivotal point in understanding the prophet Jeremiah's struggle and the resistance he faced. Let's break it down:
"Therefore Yahweh says concerning the men of Anathoth...": This establishes that the following statement is a direct message from God (Yahweh) specifically regarding the inhabitants of Anathoth. Anathoth was Jeremiah's hometown (Jeremiah 1:1).
"...who seek your life...": This is the crucial part: The people of Anathoth were actively trying to kill Jeremiah.
"...saying, ‘You shall not prophesy in Yahweh’s name, that you not die by our hand;’": This reveals the reason why they wanted to kill him. They wanted to silence him. They told him to stop prophesying in God's name, and the threat was clear: If he continued, they would kill him themselves.
In essence, the verse means:
God is speaking about the people of Jeremiah's hometown, Anathoth. These people were threatening to kill Jeremiah if he continued to speak prophecies in God's name. They didn't want to hear his message and were willing to resort to violence to silence him.
Significance and Context:
Rejection of Jeremiah's Message: This verse highlights the rejection Jeremiah faced, not just from the general public, but even from his own family and neighbors. His message was likely one of doom and judgment (as Jeremiah's prophecies often were), which was not what the people wanted to hear. They preferred the comforting, often false, messages of other prophets.
Prophet's Persecution: It illustrates the common fate of prophets who delivered unpopular messages. Throughout the Bible, prophets often faced opposition, persecution, and even death for speaking truth to power.
Jeremiah's Dilemma: This verse sets up a major conflict for Jeremiah: Should he obey God and risk death, or should he remain silent to save his life? It explores the tension between obedience to God and self-preservation.
Irony: The irony is palpable. They were trying to prevent death by violence and disobedience to God, while Jeremiah was likely prophesying about the death and destruction that would come upon them precisely because of their violence and disobedience.
This verse underscores the difficult and dangerous role of a true prophet, who must speak God's truth even when it is unwelcome and even when it puts their own life at risk. It's a powerful statement about the cost of faithfulness and the price of rejecting God's word.