Jeremiah 18:18
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Instead of just dismissing Jeremiah, his enemies claim that their established religious and wise leadership will guarantee the continuation of God’s Law, implying Jeremiah's message of destruction is therefore invalid. They then decide to "strike him with the tongue," a chilling phrase that suggests they'll use malicious slander and false accusations to silence him, rather than engaging with his actual words.
Then they said, “Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not pay attention to any of his words.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After hearing God's potter-like reshaping of their nation, Jeremiah's enemies, including priests and religious leaders, become enraged and plot his death. They justify their actions by claiming that divine guidance will always remain with their established religious and wise authorities, thus dismissing Jeremiah's prophetic warnings as illegitimate. They decide to slander and silence him, refusing to acknowledge any of his words as God's truth.
When God’s message challenges the status quo, people often cling to established religious roles and traditions, mistaking them for God’s approval.
The people in Jeremiah’s day were facing a severe warning from God, but instead of genuine repentance, they doubled down on their perceived religious stability. They declared, 'the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet.'
Relying on Titles, Not Truth
This wasn't a statement about God's faithfulness, but a declaration of their own self-assuredness. They believed that because they had priests, wise counselors, and prophets (even if these figures weren't faithfully representing God), their religious structure guaranteed them protection. They confused institutional roles and traditions with God's active favor.
The Danger of Unquestioned Authority
This mindset creates a dangerous environment where established religious leaders and traditions are placed above God's direct word. When the word of God, spoken through a prophet like Jeremiah, contradicted their comfortable view, they rejected the message, not realizing they were rejecting God. This reliance on tradition can blind people to present truth and lead them to actively oppose God's messengers.
When divine truth is unwelcome, the easiest path for opposition is often to attack the messenger, hoping to discredit the message along with them.
The people’s response to Jeremiah wasn't to wrestle with the truth he brought, but to plot against him. They decided, 'Come, let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not pay attention to any of his words.'
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The Weapon of Slander
'Smite him with the tongue' refers to verbal assault – slander, false accusations, and malicious gossip. Instead of engaging with the substance of Jeremiah’s prophecy (which came directly from God), they planned to attack his character and credibility. This is a timeless tactic used to discredit anyone speaking inconvenient truths.
Deliberate Deafness
Their resolve was further cemented with 'let us not pay attention to any of his words.' This signifies a willful blindness and deafness to God's message. They weren't just disagreeing; they were actively choosing to ignore and reject everything Jeremiah said. This deliberate refusal to listen is a grave spiritual offense, closing the door to repentance and reconciliation.
Understand the original words
torah · Hebrew Noun
Divine instruction, teaching, or authoritative guidelines provided by God to His people. It refers to the entirety of God's revealed will, intended to order the life of the covenant community.
lashon · Hebrew Noun
The act of speaking maliciously, slandering, or using speech as a weapon to destroy another person's reputation or ministry. It is a common tactic of those who oppose God's messengers.
This verse reveals the intense opposition Jeremiah faced from religious and political leaders who felt threatened by his message, highlighting a conflict between prophetic truth and established authority.
c. 626 BC
Jeremiah Begins His Ministry
Jeremiah is called by God to prophesy during the reign of King Josiah, a time of religious reform but also underlying societal corruption.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's Death
King Josiah is killed in battle, leading to a period of political instability and a reversal of his reforms under his successors.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports many prominent Judeans, including Daniel, to Babylon, marking the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a revolt, King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans are deported to Babylon, further weakening the kingdom.
c. 588-586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Temple Destruction
Babylonian forces conquer Jerusalem, destroy the Temple, and deport the majority of the remaining population, devastating the nation.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Plot Against Jeremiah
Facing Jeremiah's unwavering message of impending doom and judgment from God, his enemies, including priests and officials, plot to silence him and discredit his prophecy.
This passage highlights a similar plotting and conspiracy by religious leaders against Jesus, mirroring the enemies of Jeremiah who sought to silence him through false accusations and disregard for his message.
Luke 6:11This parallels Jeremiah's situation by showing how those in positions of authority became filled with rage and began to plot against Jesus when He challenged their established ways.
Acts 6:13Here, false witnesses are brought against Stephen, similar to how Jeremiah's enemies intended to 'smite him with the tongue' through slander and fabricated charges to discredit him.
Ezekiel 7:26This verse presents a parallel where divine judgment leads to the confusion and disappearance of law, counsel, and prophecy, echoing the enemies' belief that their established 'law from the priest' and 'word from the prophet' would not perish, even as destruction loomed.
2 Peter 2:1This passage warns of false teachers arising within the community, much like the corrupted priests and wise men Jeremiah faced, who would twist truth and lead people astray, refusing to heed true prophecy.
clarkeJeremiah 18:18: "Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words."
Come, and let us devise devices - Let us form a conspiracy against him, accuse him of being a false prophet, and a contradicter of the words of God, for God has promised us protection, and he says we shall be destroyed, a…
calvinJeremiah 18:18: "Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words."
- Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and…
Instead of just dismissing Jeremiah, his enemies claim that their established religious and wise leadership will guarantee the continuation of God’s Law, implying Jeremiah's message of destruction is therefore invalid. They then decide to "strike him with the tongue," a chilling phrase that suggests they'll use malicious slander and false accusations to silence him, rather than engaging with his actual words.
After hearing God's potter-like reshaping of their nation, Jeremiah's enemies, including priests and religious leaders, become enraged and plot his death. They justify their actions by claiming that divine guidance will always remain with their established religious and wise authorities, thus dismissing Jeremiah's prophetic warnings as illegitimate. They decide to slander and silence him, refusing to acknowledge any of his words as God's truth.
After hearing God's potter-like reshaping of their nation, Jeremiah's enemies, including priests and religious leaders, become enraged and plot his death. They justify their actions by claiming that divine guidance will always remain with their established religious and wise authorities, thus dismissing Jeremiah's prophetic warnings as illegitimate. They decide to slander and silence him, refusing to acknowledge any of his words as God's truth.
"Then they said, “Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, let us strike him with the tongue, and let us not pay attention to any…" — Instead of just dismissing Jeremiah, his enemies claim that their established religious and wise leadership will guarantee the continuation of God’s Law, implying Jeremiah's message of destruction is…
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Last reviewed October 2026
