Jeremiah 11:14
“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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
God here tells Jeremiah not to pray for the people because their "cry" isn't one of repentance, but of pain from their own sin. Their pleas are just the wails of people caught in the trouble they brought on themselves, not the heartfelt sorrow of those turning back to God.
God has just declared that judgment is coming upon Judah for their persistent disobedience, which is rooted in breaking their covenant with Him. Jeremiah is told not to waste his breath praying for this people, because their current "trouble" is a consequence of their sins and their cries will be those of distress, not genuine repentance, so God will not listen. This directive builds on earlier pronouncements where God commanded Jeremiah not to intercede for the people, highlighting the severe, determined nature of the coming punishment.
Why would God tell His prophet, Jeremiah, to stop praying for his people? It sounds harsh, but it reveals something crucial about God's justice.
A Final Word on Intercession
God tells Jeremiah, "do not pray for this people." This isn't a casual suggestion; it's a divine pronouncement that the window for intercessory prayer has closed for the nation as a whole. This echoes what God told Moses in Exodus 32:10, "Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them..."
The Reason: Unrepentant Cries
The key here is why the prayers won't be heard. It’s not that God doesn't want to listen, but that the people's cries come from a place of pain, not true repentance. They cry out because they're suffering the consequences of their sin, not because they're mourning over their rebellion against God. Their prayers are like a patient crying out from surgery pain, not one seeking the doctor for healing from a deep sickness.
A Prophet's Heart
Jeremiah, like Moses before him, had a heart that deeply grieved for his people. It's natural to want to plead for mercy, especially for those we love. But God's command highlights that true prayer aligns with His justice. When judgment is determined because of persistent, unrepentant sin, even a prophet's prayers can't override the established consequences.
God says He 'will not listen' when they call. What does this mean? Does it mean God stops caring, or is there a deeper theological truth at play?
Hearing with Intent
When the Bible says God 'will not hear,' it doesn't mean His ears are suddenly closed. God hears everything. Instead, it means He will not respond favorably or grant their petitions. His hearing is always righteous and aligned with His will.
When Cries Are Not Heard
Understand the original words
tephillah · Hebrew Noun
The formal act of petitioning God, acknowledging His sovereignty and human dependence, or conversely, performing pagan rituals intended to influence a false deity.
Jeremiah's message comes at a time when Judah is facing escalating judgment from God due to persistent unfaithfulness, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem. The verse highlights that God's justice is active, and at this point, repentance is too late to avert the immediate calamity, even the prophet's intercession is forbidden.
c. 627 BC
Jeremiah Begins Prophesying
Jeremiah starts his prophetic ministry during the reign of King Josiah, a time of religious reform but also underlying unfaithfulness.
609 BC
Death of King Josiah
Josiah is killed in battle at Megiddo, a significant blow to Judah's stability and spiritual direction, leading to political turmoil.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar deports a portion of the Judean elite, including Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's vassalage to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a revolt, Jerusalem is besieged, and King Jehoiachin and more of the population, including Ezekiel, are exiled to Babylon.
This passage, also from Jeremiah, shows God commanding him not to intercede for the people, highlighting a consistent theme of divine judgment when repentance is absent.
Exodus 32:10Here, God tells Moses to stop praying for the Israelites after the golden calf incident, illustrating a similar divine prohibition on intercession when a people's sin is severe.
1 John 5:16This New Testament passage speaks of a 'sin leading to death' for which one should not pray, echoing the idea that there are times when intercession is not divinely sanctioned due to the finality of sin.
Proverbs 1:28-29This proverb describes a future time when those who reject wisdom will call out to God but will not be answered, paralleling Jeremiah's situation where the people's 'trouble' cry comes too late.
barnesJeremiah 11:14: "Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble."
A parenthesis. As in Jeremiah 7:16 , all intercession is forbidden, and for this reason. Prayer for others for the forgiveness of their sins avails only when they also pray. The cry of the people now was that of the guilty smarting under punishment, not of the penitent mourning over sin.
cambridgeJeremiah 11:14: "Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble."
14 . Therefore pray not thou ] Cp. ch. Jeremiah 7:16 .
God here tells Jeremiah not to pray for the people because their "cry" isn't one of repentance, but of pain from their own sin. Their pleas are just the wails of people caught in the trouble they brought on themselves, not the heartfelt sorrow of those turning back to God.
God has just declared that judgment is coming upon Judah for their persistent disobedience, which is rooted in breaking their covenant with Him. Jeremiah is told not to waste his breath praying for this people, because their current "trouble" is a consequence of their sins and their cries will be those of distress, not genuine repentance, so God will not listen. This directive builds on earlier pronouncements where God commanded Jeremiah not to intercede for the people, highlighting the severe, determined nature of the coming punishment.
God has just declared that judgment is coming upon Judah for their persistent disobedience, which is rooted in breaking their covenant with Him. Jeremiah is told not to waste his breath praying for this people, because their current "trouble" is a consequence of their sins and their cries will be those of distress, not genuine repentance, so God will not listen. This directive builds on earlier pronouncements where God commanded Jeremiah not to intercede for the people, highlighting the severe, determined nature of the coming punishment.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Jeremiah 11:14 is available in the Sola app.
God's promise to hear is often conditional on our obedience and the state of our hearts. In this case, the people's trouble is a direct result of their turning away from God. Their prayers are essentially pleas for relief from consequences they brought upon themselves, without any genuine remorse or change of heart.
A Warning for All Times
This isn't just about ancient Israel. It’s a profound reminder that while God is merciful, His justice is also real. He desires a genuine relationship, characterized by confession and repentance, not just a transactional plea for help when things get tough.
c. 588-586 BC— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple after a prolonged siege. The remaining population is largely deported, fulfilling prophetic warnings.
"“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." — God here tells Jeremiah not to pray for the people because their "cry" isn't one of repentance, but of pain from their own sin. Their pleas are just the wails of people caught in the trouble they b…
