Jeremiah 11:19
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Jeremiah emphasizes his shocked betrayal by highlighting his own innocence and lack of suspicion, like a "tame lamb" raised within the household, completely unaware of the lethal schemes being hatched. The attackers' proverb, "destroy the tree with its fruit," wasn't just about ending Jeremiah's life, but about eradicating his entire existence, legacy, and message—utter obliteration.
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)
Jeremiah reveals that his own townsfolk from Anathoth are plotting against him, viewing him as an innocent, unsuspecting lamb. They conspire to destroy him entirely, not just his life but his name and message, using a proverb to express their desire for his complete annihilation. This betrayal comes from those closest to him, whom he had no reason to suspect would harm him.
Jeremiah felt completely blindsided by the plots against him. How could he be so unaware when his own neighbors were scheming?
Jeremiah compares himself to a 'gentle lamb led to the slaughter.' This wasn't just any lamb; the original language suggests a 'tame' or 'familiar' lamb, one raised within the household, trusting and unaware of the danger. He saw his townsmen of Anathoth, people he likely grew up with and considered friends, as part of his community. He never suspected they harbored such deadly intentions.
This profound sense of betrayal stems from his innocence. He wasn't acting with malice or retaliation, which might have made him suspicious of others' motives. Instead, he was living with a pure heart, focused on his prophetic calling, completely unsuspecting of the plots being hatched against him. It highlights a painful truth: genuine innocence can sometimes make us vulnerable to the schemes of those who are not innocent.
The enemies' plan wasn't just to kill Jeremiah; they wanted to erase him completely. What does their chilling phrase reveal about their motives?
The enemies declared, '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.' This is more than a desire to kill the prophet; it's a desire for total annihilation.
The 'Tree and its Fruit': This imagery, often interpreted as a proverb, signifies destroying someone and everything connected to them – their lineage, their work, their legacy. Some scholars suggest 'fruit' might have originally meant 'bread' or even 'sap,' emphasizing complete destruction from root to branch, from sustenance to very life force. It's a comprehensive plan to eradicate not just the person, but any trace of his existence and message.
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'Cut him off from the land of the living': This isn't just about death; it's about obliteration from memory and impact. They wanted to sever him from the community of the living, ensuring his name, his prophecies, and any influence he had would vanish forever.
Understand the original words
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.
This verse captures Jeremiah's personal anguish as he faced plots from his own community in Anathoth. It reveals a prophet who, despite delivering God's severe judgments, felt deeply betrayed and vulnerable, portraying himself as an innocent victim targeted for destruction.
c. 627 BC
Jeremiah Begins Prophesying
Jeremiah receives his call from God to prophesy, likely during the reign of Josiah, a time of religious reform.
609 BC
Death of Josiah
King Josiah is killed in battle at Megiddo, a significant blow to Judah's stability and reform efforts.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar's forces deport some Judean nobles and intellectuals, including Daniel, to Babylon.
c. 600 BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Persecution in Anathoth
Jeremiah faces intense opposition and plotting from his own townsmen in Anathoth, his family's home village.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
More Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, are exiled to Babylon after a brief rebellion.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling most of the remaining population to Babylon.
This passage directly parallels Jeremiah's experience, describing the suffering Servant who was 'led like a lamb to the slaughter' and remained silent, highlighting the profound injustice and innocence of the victim.
Psalm 22:12-13This psalm vividly portrays enemies surrounding the psalmist as 'strong bulls of Bashan,' emphasizing the violent and overwhelming opposition faced, similar to the 'schemes' devised against Jeremiah.
John 11:53This verse describes the Jewish leaders plotting to kill Jesus, showing how this pattern of 'devised schemes' against God's messengers, even leading to death, has a long history within God's people.
Matthew 26:50When Jesus is arrested, He addresses Judas and the crowd by calling him 'friend' in a moment of betrayal, echoing Jeremiah's unsuspecting 'gentle lamb' disposition, even as the plot unfolds.
Lamentations 3:15Jeremiah himself laments that God has filled him with bitterness and made him drink poison, which resonates with the imagery of his enemies wanting to destroy his 'tree with its fruit' or poison his sustenance.
cambridgeJeremiah 11:19: "But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered."
19 . The prophet no more expected harm from his kindred than does the pet lamb from the family with which it lives (cp. 2 Samuel 12:3 ). gentle ] A.V. “an ox” represents the Hebrew word identical in form indeed…
barnesJeremiah 11:19: "But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered."
Like a lamb or an ox - Rather, "like a tame lamb." Jeremiah had lived at Anathoth as one of the family, never suspecting that, like a tame lamb, the time would come for him to be killed. The tree with the fruit…
Jeremiah emphasizes his shocked betrayal by highlighting his own innocence and lack of suspicion, like a "tame lamb" raised within the household, completely unaware of the lethal schemes being hatched. The attackers' proverb, "destroy the tree with its fruit," wasn't just about ending Jeremiah's life, but about eradicating his entire existence, legacy, and message—utter obliteration.
Jeremiah reveals that his own townsfolk from Anathoth are plotting against him, viewing him as an innocent, unsuspecting lamb. They conspire to destroy him entirely, not just his life but his name and message, using a proverb to express their desire for his complete annihilation. This betrayal comes from those closest to him, whom he had no reason to suspect would harm him.
Jeremiah reveals that his own townsfolk from Anathoth are plotting against him, viewing him as an innocent, unsuspecting lamb. They conspire to destroy him entirely, not just his life but his name and message, using a proverb to express their desire for his complete annihilation. This betrayal comes from those closest to him, whom he had no reason to suspect would harm him.
"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,…" — Jeremiah emphasizes his shocked betrayal by highlighting his own innocence and lack of suspicion, like a "tame lamb" raised within the household, completely unaware of the lethal schemes being hatche…
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Last reviewed October 2026
