Jeremiah 18:18-23

Jeremiah 18:18-23

[18] Then said  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.  and let us smite  him with the tongue,  and let us not give heed  to any of his words.  [19] Give heed  to me, O LORD,  and hearken  to the voice  of them that contend  [20] Shall evil  be recompensed  for good?  for they have digged  a pit  for my soul.  Remember  that I stood  before  thee to speak  good  for them, and to turn away  thy wrath  [21] Therefore deliver up  their children  to the famine,  and pour out  their blood by the force  of the sword;  and let their wives  be bereaved  of their children, and be widows;  be put  to death;  let their young men  be slain  by the sword  in battle.  [22] Let a cry  be heard  from their houses,  when thou shalt bring  a troop  suddenly  upon them: for they have digged  to take  me, and hid  snares  for my feet.  [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. 

What does Jeremiah 18:18-23 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This is another section that contains one of Jeremiah"s "confessions." Evidently there were several separate plots against the prophet"s life (cf. Jeremiah 11:18-23; Jeremiah 12:1-6). People hated him because he brought bad news and called them to repent and to return to Yahweh and His covenant, which most of the people did not want to do. But really the people were rejecting Yahweh (cf. 1 Samuel 8:7).