The LORD made it known to me and I knew; then you showed me their deeds.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jeremiah 11:18
What does Jeremiah 11:18 mean?
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Jeremiah 11:18
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What's striking here is the swift shift from God revealing a fact to God showing Jeremiah their actions. It moves from divine instruction to witnessing the tangible, unfolding wickedness of his own people, highlighting God's intimate knowledge of even the most hidden plots. This intimate knowledge isn't just intellectual; it's a revelation that leads directly to understanding the depth of their rebellion.
The LORD made it known to me and I knew; then you showed me their deeds.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah shifts from rebuking Judah's general sin to revealing a specific, dangerous plot against him by his own hometown, Anathoth. God had just revealed this conspiracy to Jeremiah, catching him completely by surprise, and now the prophet acknowledges this divine revelation and the wicked deeds of those plotting against him. This sets the stage for his prayer to God, seeking justice against those who intend him harm.
Jeremiah's life was in danger, and he didn't even know it! How does God reveal hidden dangers to us?
Jeremiah 11:18 marks a shift. The prophet moves from general pronouncements about Israel's sin to a very personal danger: a conspiracy against his life by his own townsmen in Anathoth. The text emphasizes that this threat was not something Jeremiah sensed or uncovered on his own.
God's Direct Intervention
It's one thing to speak judgment; it's another to be the target of it. What does this tell us about prophetic ministry?
This passage zeroes in on the intense personal cost of delivering God's message. Jeremiah wasn't just an observer; he was a target.
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Enemies in His Own Backyard
This passage reveals Jeremiah's personal danger amidst his prophetic ministry. The plot against him by his own townsfolk highlights the intense opposition he faced as he delivered God's message of judgment during a turbulent era of Judah's decline.
c. 626 BC
Jeremiah Begins Prophesying
Jeremiah is called by God to prophesy during the reign of King Josiah. This period is marked by religious reforms but also underlying societal issues and resistance to God's word.
c. 609 BC
Death of King Josiah
Josiah, a righteous king, is killed in battle. His death plunges Judah into political instability and spiritual decline, creating a more hostile environment for prophets like Jeremiah.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and begins deporting its elite to Babylon. This event signals the rising power of Babylon and the impending doom for Jerusalem.
Unknown (likely between 605-597 BC)— this verse
Plot Against Jeremiah in Anathoth
The people of Jeremiah's hometown, Anathoth, conspire to kill him because they resent his prophecies of judgment. God reveals this plot to Jeremiah, allowing him to escape or be forewarned.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Jerusalem falls to Nebuchadnezzar again, leading to a second, larger deportation of citizens, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel. Judah's sovereignty is further diminished.
587/586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and scattering the remaining population. This is the climax of the judgments Jeremiah foretold.
This passage shows God seeing and hearing the suffering of His people, similar to how He makes known the 'doings' of the conspirators to Jeremiah, indicating divine awareness of hidden actions.
Psalm 139:1-4The psalmist acknowledges God's intimate knowledge of his thoughts and actions, paralleling Jeremiah's revelation of the conspirators' deeds, emphasizing God's all-seeing nature.
Proverbs 15:3This verse states that the eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch over the evil and the good, which directly supports the idea that God reveals hidden 'doings'.
Matthew 6:4Jesus teaches that even hidden acts of righteousness are seen by God who will reward them, echoing the theme that God is aware of and reveals what is done in secret.
John 11:53This verse describes the chief priests plotting Jesus' death, highlighting how human evil plots are known to God, just as the conspirators' deeds were revealed to Jeremiah.
barnesJeremiah 11:18: "And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings."
Rather, "gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it." Jeremiah shows Jeremiah 11:18-23 , that the general conspiracy of the people against Yahweh and the special plot against himself was revealed to him by God.
pulpitJeremiah 11:18: "And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings."
Verse 18. - Here, as Naegelsbaeh puts it, begins the second stage of the "conspiracy." Hath given me knowledge, etc.; rather, gave me knowledge, and I knew it. Then; i.e. when I was in utter unconsciousness. Jeremiah had no presentiment of the murderous purpose of his townsmen, till by some "special providence" it came to his knowledge.
What's striking here is the swift shift from God revealing a fact to God showing Jeremiah their actions. It moves from divine instruction to witnessing the tangible, unfolding wickedness of his own people, highlighting God's intimate knowledge of even the most hidden plots. This intimate knowledge isn't just intellectual; it's a revelation that leads directly to understanding the depth of their rebellion.
Jeremiah shifts from rebuking Judah's general sin to revealing a specific, dangerous plot against him by his own hometown, Anathoth. God had just revealed this conspiracy to Jeremiah, catching him completely by surprise, and now the prophet acknowledges this divine revelation and the wicked deeds of those plotting against him. This sets the stage for his prayer to God, seeking justice against those who intend him harm.
Jeremiah shifts from rebuking Judah's general sin to revealing a specific, dangerous plot against him by his own hometown, Anathoth. God had just revealed this conspiracy to Jeremiah, catching him completely by surprise, and now the prophet acknowledges this divine revelation and the wicked deeds of those plotting against him. This sets the stage for his prayer to God, seeking justice against those who intend him harm.
"The LORD made it known to me and I knew; then you showed me their deeds." — What's striking here is the swift shift from God revealing a fact to God showing Jeremiah their actions. It moves from divine instruction to witnessing the tangible, unfolding wickedness of his o…
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Last reviewed October 2026