The Meaning of Jeremiah 11:9 Explained

Jeremiah 11:9

KJV: And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

YLT: And Jehovah saith unto me: 'A conspiracy is found in the men of Judah, And in the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Darby: And Jehovah said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

ASV: And Jehovah said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  said  unto me, A conspiracy  is found  among the men  of Judah,  and among the inhabitants  of Jerusalem. 

What does Jeremiah 11:9 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Another word from the Lord informed Jeremiah of a conspiracy among his people.

Context Summary

Jeremiah 11:1-20 - The Penalty Of A Broken Covenant
This and the following two chapters belong to the earlier ministry of Jeremiah, when he still dwelt in his native home of Anathoth. The prophet refers to the covenant which had been lately renewed by Josiah, 2 Kings 22:1-20 and 2 Kings 23:1-37, and quotes largely from the book of Deuteronomy, which had been recently read in the hearing of the people. To that covenant the prophet reverently gives his endorsement, Jeremiah 11:5. His amen reminds us of Him who is God's Amen, and in whom all the promises of God are ratified forever, 2 Corinthians 1:20. Shall we not learn, like our Lord in Matthew 11:26, to look into the Father's face and say, "Even so?" We must do so, that one day we may join with the redeemed in crying, "Amen, Hallelujah," Revelation 19:4.
The repeated relapses of Israel into idolatry were in part due to the licentious rites associated with such worship. The people were seduced from their allegiance to Jehovah by the fascination of passion; and herein we are reminded of the many times that we have been beguiled into sinful thoughts and imaginings, in spite of God's earnest solicitations and protestation, "rising early and protesting." As long as the soul is wedded to its evil ways, it is impervious to the entrance of God's light and love. "There is a sin unto death," says the Apostle, "I do not say that he shall pray for it," a saying which is closely akin to the solemn prohibition of Jeremiah 11:14, "Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them." [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 11

1  Jeremiah proclaims God's covenant;
8  rebukes the peoples' disobeying thereof;
11  prophesies evils to come upon them;
18  and upon the men of Anathoth, for conspiring to kill him

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 11:9 mean?

And said Yahweh to me has been found a conspiracy among the men of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה אֵלָ֑י נִֽמְצָא־ קֶ֙שֶׁר֙ בְּאִ֣ישׁ יְהוּדָ֔ה וּבְיֹשְׁבֵ֖י יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֵלָ֑י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
נִֽמְצָא־  has  been  found 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
קֶ֙שֶׁר֙  a  conspiracy 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֶשֶׁר  
Sense: conspiracy, treason, (unlawful) alliance.
בְּאִ֣ישׁ  among  the  men 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
יְהוּדָ֔ה  of  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
וּבְיֹשְׁבֵ֖י  and  among  the  inhabitants 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: יָשַׁב 
Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם  of  Jerusalem 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: יְרוּשָׁלַםִ  
Sense: the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split.