The Meaning of Jeremiah 15:11 Explained

Jeremiah 15:11

KJV: The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

YLT: Jehovah said, Did I not direct thee for good? Did not I intercede for thee in a time of evil, And in a time of adversity, with the enemy?

Darby: Jehovah said, Verily I will set thee free for thy good; verily I will cause the enemy to meet thee kindly in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

ASV: Jehovah said, Verily I will strengthen thee for good; verily I will cause the enemy to make supplication unto thee in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

The LORD  said,  Verily  it shall be well  with thy remnant  {08675;08293>; verily  I will cause the enemy  to entreat  thee [well] in the time  of evil  and in the time  of affliction. 

What does Jeremiah 15:11 Mean?

Study Notes

the Lord said
The Remnant, of whom Jeremiah was the representative, are carefully distinguished from the unbelieving mass of the people. The coming captivity, which they must share, for they too have sinned Jeremiah 15:13 though Jehovah's judgment upon the nation, will be but a purifying chastisement to them, and they receive a special promise Jeremiah 15:11 . Verses Jeremiah 15:15-18 give the answer of the Remnant to verses Jeremiah 15:11-14 . Two things characterize the believing Remnant always-loyal to the word of God, and separation from those who mock at that word Jeremiah 15:16 ; Jeremiah 15:17 Cf. Revelation 3:8-10 .

Verse Meaning

The Lord told Jeremiah that He would set him free (of his own frustrations) so that he would be a force for good in the coming national crisis. Another view is that God meant He would strengthen or support Jeremiah for the prophet"s own good. [1] The enemy of Judah would even ask him for help in the coming distress (cf. Jeremiah 21:1-7; Jeremiah 37:1-10; Jeremiah 38:14-18; Jeremiah 42:1-6). Jeremiah would emerge from this catastrophe a tower of strength. The Lord had similarly encouraged His prophet previously ( Jeremiah 12:5-6), after he had voiced his discouragement the first time ( Jeremiah 12:1-4). And He would do so again, in the next pericope ( Jeremiah 15:15-21).

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 15

1  The utter rejection and manifold judgments of the people
10  Jeremiah, complaining of their spite, receives a promise for himself;
12  and a threatening for them
15  He prays;
19  and receives a gracious promise

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 15:11 mean?

Said Yahweh truly surely - with your remnant it will be well surely not I will cause to intercede with you in the time of adversity and in the time of affliction - the enemy
אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה אִם־ לֹ֥א [שרותך] (שֵֽׁרִיתִ֖יךָ‪‬) לְט֑וֹב אִם־ ל֣וֹא ׀ הִפְגַּ֣עְתִּֽי בְךָ֗ בְּעֵ֥ת־ רָעָ֛ה וּבְעֵ֥ת צָרָ֖ה אֶת־ הָאֹיֵֽב

אָמַ֣ר  Said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אִם־  truly 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
לֹ֥א  surely 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
[שרותך]  - 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
(שֵֽׁרִיתִ֖יךָ‪‬)  with  your  remnant 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁרַר 
Sense: father of Ahiam, one of David’s mighty warriors.
לְט֑וֹב  it  will  be  well 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
אִם־  surely 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
הִפְגַּ֣עְתִּֽי  I  will  cause  to  intercede 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: פָּגַע  
Sense: to encounter, meet, reach, entreat, make intercession.
בְךָ֗  with  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
בְּעֵ֥ת־  in  the  time 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
רָעָ֛ה  of  adversity 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
וּבְעֵ֥ת  and  in  the  time 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: עֵת  
Sense: time.
צָרָ֖ה  of  affliction 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: צָרָה 
Sense: straits, distress, trouble.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הָאֹיֵֽב  the  enemy 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אֹיֵב  
Sense: (Qal) enemy.