The Bible Says
Jeremiah 11:18-20 Meaning

In Jeremiah 11:18, the prophet Jeremiah testifies that, "The LORD made it known to me and I knew it; Then You showed me their deeds" (v. 18). Jeremiah served during the late seventh to early sixth century BC, a tumultuous period when the kingdom of Judah faced imminent threat from powerful empires. By revealing the secret plots of those who wished him harm, God granted Jeremiah insight into schemes that were set against him. This divine disclosure underscores God’s intimate care for His servants. Even when the world or one’s neighbors plot in secret, God ensures His faithful messenger is not taken by surprise. The context of Jeremiah’s ministry shows that he lived during the last decades of the kingdom of Judah, under kings such as Josiah (640-609 BC) and Jehoiakim (609-598 BC). His role as a prophet in that specific time frame made him a prime target of hostility.

Moreover, by saying, "The LORD made it known" (v. 18), Jeremiah not only demonstrates God’s act of revealing hidden truths to the prophet, but also highlights a recurring biblical principle that nothing escapes God’s sight (Psalm 139). Jeremiah’s personal testimony here serves as a reminder that those who walk faithfully with God can trust Him to uncover the harmful intentions of others. In drawing out this principle, the verse resonates beyond Jeremiah’s historical situation, reminding believers that God sees and cares for all situations.

The phrase, "Then You showed me their deeds" (v. 18), underscores the contrast between what people try to conceal and what God chooses to unveil. Jeremiah realized that his life was under threat, yet knowing the intentions of his enemies allowed him to depend even more on God’s protection. Jeremiah’s final years were steeped in persecution and danger, but this verse underscores that even amid such hostility, the prophet had a steadfast assurance in God’s guiding hand.

Next, Jeremiah lays out the depth of that threat by declaring that he was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter (v. 19). This poignant imagery evokes a sense of innocent surrender, illustrating how Jeremiah’s heart was pure in his ministry, even though others were conspiring to kill him. This language also foreshadows the New Testament depiction of Christ as the Lamb led to the slaughter (John 1:29), bringing to mind the ultimate innocent sacrifice. In Jeremiah’s immediate context, it highlights the betrayal he faced and the gravity of his enemies’ intentions.

The words, "I did not know that they had devised plots against me" (v. 19) reveal Jeremiah’s initial lack of awareness about the danger lurking around him. His calling from God obligated him to speak unpopular truths to Judah, causing him to earn enemies in his hometown of Anathoth, located northeast of Jerusalem. Ultimately, their plan was to silence his warning against their disobedience, showing how those closest to him could become powerful adversaries.

When Jeremiah says, "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit" (v. 19), he conveys the devastating scope of the conspiracy. He likens his life and ministry to a tree that produces fruit, with his words of prophecy being that fruit. His enemies wanted to take his life and extinguish the fruit of his prophetic message. This reveals the spiritual battle at play, as those resisting God’s word sought to eliminate the very voice God had chosen to announce His truth.

Finally, with a sense of surety, Jeremiah calls upon the LORD: "But, O LORD of hosts, who judges righteously, Who tries the feelings and the heart, Let me see Your vengeance on them, For to You I have committed my cause" (v. 20). This heartfelt plea reveals Jeremiah’s confidence in God as the just Judge over all matters. He acknowledges that God knows the secret motives of every human heart and that ultimate vindication lies in God’s perfect judgment. Jeremiah’s prayer shows that he rests not on his own ability to exact justice but relies on the LORD’s capacity to do right on behalf of the innocent.

Calling God as the One who judges righteously (v. 20) reminds readers that God’s justice is the final standard. It also bears witness to God’s role as the defender of His faithful servants, especially in moments of severe persecution. Jeremiah entrusts his cause to the LORD rather than seeking revenge himself. In the broader narrative of Scripture, this principle resonates powerfully in the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to leave room for the wrath of God and not take matters of vengeance into their own hands (Romans 12:19).

The concluding thrust of Jeremiah 11:20 states, "For to You I have committed my cause" (v. 20), and indicates the security believers can find when they surrender their plight to God. Jeremiah stands as an example of faith, trusting that God both sees the hidden dangers and is fully capable of addressing wrongdoing. While Jeremiah lived and prophesied in a complex era shortly before the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC, his prayer serves as a timeless model of relying on God in the face of adversity.