Jeremiah 26:11

Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man [is] worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.

Then spake {H559} the priests {H3548} and the prophets {H5030} unto the princes {H8269} and to all the people {H5971}, saying {H559}, This man {H376} is worthy {H4941} to die {H4194}; for he hath prophesied {H5012} against this city {H5892}, as ye have heard {H8085} with your ears {H241}.

The cohanim and prophets said to the officials and all the people, "This man deserves a death sentence, because he has prophesied against this city; you have heard it with your own ears."

Then the priests and prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man is worthy of death, for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears!”

Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy of death; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.

Jeremiah 26:11 captures a pivotal moment in the prophet Jeremiah’s ministry, highlighting the intense opposition he faced for faithfully delivering God’s uncomfortable message to Judah.

Context

This verse immediately follows Jeremiah's bold "Temple Sermon" (recorded in Jeremiah 26:1-6), where he warned Jerusalem and its inhabitants that if they did not repent of their wicked ways and obey the Lord, their beloved Temple would be destroyed like Shiloh, and the city would become "a curse to all the nations of the earth." Such a prophecy was deeply offensive to the religious and political establishment, who believed Jerusalem and the Temple were inviolable due to God's presence. In response, the corrupt priests and false prophets, feeling their authority and popularity threatened, quickly moved to accuse Jeremiah before the princes and the people, demanding his execution.

Key Themes

  • Persecution of Truth: Jeremiah’s experience vividly illustrates the common fate of true prophets who speak God’s unvarnished truth, especially when it challenges the status quo or popular misconceptions. His message was not what the people wanted to hear, leading to accusations rather than reflection.
  • Conflict Between True and False Prophecy: The "prophets" mentioned here were likely those who prophesied peace and prosperity regardless of the people's sin, offering a comfortable but ultimately deceptive message (compare Jeremiah 14:14). Their accusation against Jeremiah exposes their antagonism towards genuine divine revelation.
  • Rejection of Repentance: The demand for Jeremiah's death signifies a profound rejection of God's call to repentance. Instead of heeding the warning, the leaders sought to silence the messenger, believing that by eliminating Jeremiah, they could avoid the prophecy.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "worthy to die" (Hebrew: mishpat mavet) signifies a legal verdict or sentence of death. It indicates that the priests and false prophets were not merely expressing anger but were formally accusing Jeremiah of a capital crime. They perceived his prophecy against the city as an act of treason or blasphemy against God and the nation, making him liable for execution under Mosaic Law, particularly as it applied to those who might lead the people astray or speak presumptuously in God's name (see Deuteronomy 18:20).

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God's truth is not always popular or convenient. For believers today, it underscores the importance of:

  • Discerning Truth: We must carefully discern between messages that affirm God's word and those that merely cater to popular sentiment or comfort, even if presented by religious figures.
  • Courage in Conviction: Like Jeremiah, we are sometimes called to stand for truth even when it means facing opposition or misunderstanding.
  • The Need for Repentance: God's warnings are ultimately an invitation to turn back to Him and avoid destructive consequences. Ignoring or silencing the warning does not negate the reality of the impending judgment.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 38:4

    Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.

  • Deuteronomy 18:20

    But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

  • Matthew 26:66

    What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.

  • Acts 6:11

    Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and [against] God.

  • Acts 6:14

    For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.

  • Jeremiah 18:23

    Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay [me]: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal [thus] with them in the time of thine anger.

  • Acts 25:2

    Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him,

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