Jeremiah 11:18-19
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This verse isn't just Jeremiah stating a fact; it's him marveling at how God's revelation actively brought him to a place of knowing and understanding, shifting him from unawareness to full insight about the wicked plots against him. It highlights that knowing God's truth about evil often comes through direct divine unveiling, not just our own observations.
The LORD made it known to me and I knew; then you showed me their deeds. But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me they devised schemes, saying, “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Suddenly, Jeremiah shifts from denouncing the nation's sins to revealing a specific, dangerous plot against him by the men of his own hometown, Anathoth. God directly informed Jeremiah of this murderous conspiracy and showed him the malicious deeds his neighbors were planning. This personal attack, revealed by God, fuels Jeremiah's subsequent lament and prayer.
Jeremiah didn't have eyes everywhere, yet he knew about a deadly plot. How did God step in?
This verse reveals a crucial moment where God directly intervenes to inform Jeremiah about a conspiracy against his life. Jeremiah was unaware of the murderous intentions of his townsmen in Anathoth until the LORD "gave him knowledge" and "showed him their doings." This wasn't guesswork; it was a supernatural unveiling. It highlights God's protective care for His prophet, equipping him with foreknowledge of the danger he was in. The shift in person from "the LORD" to "you" (referring to God) emphasizes the intimate and direct communication of this warning.
Why did God reveal the "doings" of Jeremiah's enemies? What does this teach us about God's perspective?
The phrase "their doings" points to more than just the plot against Jeremiah; it encompasses the overall wicked actions and malicious intent of his adversaries. God doesn't just warn Jeremiah about physical harm; He exposes the heart of the opposition. This unveiling serves multiple purposes: it validates Jeremiah's prophetic message by showing the violent reaction against truth, it comforts the prophet by showing he's not paranoid but rightly perceived, and it lays the groundwork for God's judgment against the wicked. God sees the hidden conspiracies and the character behind the actions.
Understand the original words
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kebes · Hebrew Noun
A figure often used in Scripture to represent innocence, vulnerability, and vicarious sacrifice; specifically pointing toward the Messiah in prophetic imagery.
chayyim · Hebrew Noun
The state of being alive on earth; often used in Scripture to contrast the physical domain of God's covenant promises with the realm of the dead.
The prophet Jeremiah finds himself in a time of national crisis and personal danger. This verse highlights God's direct intervention, revealing the specific plot of his own townspeople against his life amidst the broader backdrop of Judah's unfaithfulness and impending doom.
Late 7th century BC
Josiah's Reforms
King Josiah implemented sweeping religious reforms across Judah, purging idolatry and centralizing worship. This period saw a renewed emphasis on the Law, creating a context where prophets like Jeremiah spoke forcefully against lingering disobedience.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's Death at Megiddo
King Josiah, a righteous ruler, was killed in battle against the Egyptians. His death plunged Judah into political instability and spiritual uncertainty, creating fertile ground for both the people's continued unfaithfulness and the prophet's warnings.
Early 6th century BC
Assyrian and Babylonian Pressure
The Neo-Assyrian Empire was weakening, and the Neo-Babylonian Empire was rising. Judah found itself caught between these superpowers, facing increasing demands and threats that amplified the urgency of Jeremiah's prophecies about judgment.
Early 6th century BC— this verse
Conspiracy Against Jeremiah
The people of Anathoth, Jeremiah's hometown, plotted to kill him because they were angered by his prophecies of doom. God revealed this plot to Jeremiah, giving him knowledge of their murderous intentions and their wicked deeds.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and many Judean leaders and skilled workers were exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. This event marked a significant step toward the ultimate destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, fulfilling Jeremiah's warnings.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon. This was the culmination of the judgment Jeremiah had proclaimed for decades, a devastating consequence of Judah's persistent rebellion.
This passage highlights Jesus' experience of undeserved hatred, mirroring Jeremiah's situation where the people plotted against him for speaking God's truth, fulfilling prophecy without cause.
Psalm 27:11Jeremiah cries out for guidance in the face of enemies, and this psalm echoes that plea, asking God to show him the way because of his adversaries.
Acts 23:11Here, the Lord directly speaks to Paul in a vision, reassuring him and giving him knowledge of what lay ahead, much like God revealed the plots to Jeremiah.
Exodus 23:1This verse warns against spreading false reports and participating in injustice, directly relating to the deceitful deeds of the men of Anathoth that God 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.
This verse isn't just Jeremiah stating a fact; it's him marveling at how God's revelation actively brought him to a place of knowing and understanding, shifting him from unawareness to full insight about the wicked plots against him. It highlights that knowing God's truth about evil often comes through direct divine unveiling, not just our own observations.
Suddenly, Jeremiah shifts from denouncing the nation's sins to revealing a specific, dangerous plot against him by the men of his own hometown, Anathoth. God directly informed Jeremiah of this murderous conspiracy and showed him the malicious deeds his neighbors were planning. This personal attack, revealed by God, fuels Jeremiah's subsequent lament and prayer.
Suddenly, Jeremiah shifts from denouncing the nation's sins to revealing a specific, dangerous plot against him by the men of his own hometown, Anathoth. God directly informed Jeremiah of this murderous conspiracy and showed him the malicious deeds his neighbors were planning. This personal attack, revealed by God, fuels Jeremiah's subsequent lament and prayer.
"The LORD made it known to me and I knew; then you showed me their deeds. But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me they devised schemes, saying, “Let us destroy the…" — This verse isn't just Jeremiah stating a fact; it's him marveling at how God's revelation actively brought him to a place of knowing and understanding, shifting him from unawareness to full insight…
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Last reviewed October 2026
