Jeremiah 11:18-20
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
What's striking here is the shift in pronouns: Jeremiah moves from saying "The LORD made it known to me" to "then you showed me their deeds." This isn't just a grammatical change; it highlights how God's revelation directly fuels Jeremiah's knowledge of his enemies' specific actions, turning divine insight into personal awareness of their plots.
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.” But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah abruptly shifts from speaking about the general unfaithfulness of Israel to revealing a specific, violent plot against him by his own townsmen in Anathoth. He explains that God suddenly made this conspiracy known to him, revealing the wicked actions of those who sought his life. This personal danger and God’s direct revelation set the stage for Jeremiah’s lament and God's response to this plot.
Ever felt blindsided by someone's betrayal? Jeremiah did, but he had a unique source of insight.
Jeremiah 11:18 highlights a crucial aspect of prophetic ministry: direct divine revelation. The verse states, 'The LORD made it known to me and I knew.' This wasn't guesswork or deduction. God Himself directly informed Jeremiah about the plots against him and the wickedness of his people.
This isn't just about Jeremiah; it reveals God's heart to communicate with His chosen messengers. He doesn't leave them in ignorance, especially when danger looms or deep sin is at play. This knowledge was a gift, empowering Jeremiah to understand the gravity of the situation and respond faithfully, even when it meant facing personal peril.
Speaking truth can make you a target. Jeremiah learned this the hard way from his own neighbors.
The latter part of verse 18, 'then you showed me their deeds,' shifts focus to the specific threat against Jeremiah from his own townsmen in Anathoth. They were plotting against his life simply because he was God's mouthpiece, calling out their sin.
This illustrates a recurring theme in prophetic ministry: the deep personal cost of obedience. Those who faithfully deliver God's message often face opposition, rejection, and even physical danger from those who refuse to hear. Jeremiah's experience reminds us that standing for truth can lead to isolation and peril, but it's a path walked with God's watchful eye.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
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.
lebab · Hebrew Noun
A theological term for the seat of human intellect, will, and emotional life; the inner person that God searches to determine true character.
kilyah · Hebrew Noun
The innermost thoughts, motives, and reasoning processes of a person; the invisible depths of the human spirit known fully only to God.
neqamah · Hebrew Noun
God’s righteous retribution against sin; His active work in history to uphold justice and protect the integrity of His covenant.
Jeremiah's personal peril in his hometown of Anathoth, a microcosm of Judah's larger rebellion, unfolds against the backdrop of political upheaval and impending national catastrophe.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's Death at Megiddo
King Josiah, a righteous ruler, is killed in battle. This event plunges Judah into political instability and spiritual confusion, creating fertile ground for the wickedness Jeremiah condemns.
c. 609-598 BC
Reign of Jehoiakim
Josiah's son Jehoiakim rules as a puppet king under Egyptian influence, characterized by corruption and oppression. Jeremiah's prophetic ministry intensifies during this tumultuous period.
c. 609 BC— this verse
Conspiracy in Anathoth
The people of Anathoth, Jeremiah's hometown, plot against his life because he continues to deliver God's warnings of judgment against their wickedness.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin and many prominent citizens are exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. This event marks a significant escalation of God's judgment on Judah.
c. 597-586 BC
Reign of Zedekiah
Zedekiah, another son of Josiah, reigns as the last king of Judah, ultimately leading the nation into further rebellion and destruction.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and scattering the remaining population into exile. This is the ultimate consequence of Judah's persistent sin.
Jesus speaks of His followers being hated without cause, mirroring Jeremiah's experience of being targeted by his own people despite delivering God's message.
Psalm 31:13The psalmist describes the widespread slander and conspiracy against him, echoing Jeremiah's distress over the plots revealed by God.
Acts 23:12-14This passage shows a similar situation where a dangerous plot is uncovered, highlighting how God can reveal hidden dangers to His servants.
Luke 6:11The religious leaders' hostility toward Jesus is described, illustrating the theme of opposition against a divine messenger that Jeremiah also faced.
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 shift in pronouns: Jeremiah moves from saying "The LORD made it known to me" to "then you showed me their deeds." This isn't just a grammatical change; it highlights how God's revelation directly fuels Jeremiah's knowledge of his enemies' specific actions, turning divine insight into personal awareness of their plots.
Jeremiah abruptly shifts from speaking about the general unfaithfulness of Israel to revealing a specific, violent plot against him by his own townsmen in Anathoth. He explains that God suddenly made this conspiracy known to him, revealing the wicked actions of those who sought his life. This personal danger and God’s direct revelation set the stage for Jeremiah’s lament and God's response to this plot.
Jeremiah abruptly shifts from speaking about the general unfaithfulness of Israel to revealing a specific, violent plot against him by his own townsmen in Anathoth. He explains that God suddenly made this conspiracy known to him, revealing the wicked actions of those who sought his life. This personal danger and God’s direct revelation set the stage for Jeremiah’s lament and God's response to this plot.
"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…" — What's striking here is the shift in pronouns: Jeremiah moves from saying "The LORD made it known to me" to "then you showed me their deeds." This isn't just a grammatical change; it highlights how…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
