Jeremiah 11:19
But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.
Original Language Analysis
אַלּ֖וּף
or an ox
H441
אַלּ֖וּף
or an ox
Strong's:
H441
Word #:
3 of 21
familiar; a friend, also gentle; and so, a chieftain (as notable, like neat cattle)
יוּבַ֣ל
that is brought
H2986
יוּבַ֣ל
that is brought
Strong's:
H2986
Word #:
4 of 21
properly, to flow; causatively, to bring (especially with pomp)
וְלֹֽא
H3808
וְלֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
6 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יָדַ֜עְתִּי
and I knew
H3045
יָדַ֜עְתִּי
and I knew
Strong's:
H3045
Word #:
7 of 21
to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
8 of 21
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
עָלַ֣י׀
H5921
עָלַ֣י׀
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
9 of 21
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
חָשְׁב֣וּ
not that they had devised
H2803
חָשְׁב֣וּ
not that they had devised
Strong's:
H2803
Word #:
10 of 21
properly, to plait or interpenetrate, i.e., (literally) to weave or (generally) to fabricate; figuratively, to plot or contrive (usually in a maliciou
מַחֲשָׁב֗וֹת
devices
H4284
מַחֲשָׁב֗וֹת
devices
Strong's:
H4284
Word #:
11 of 21
a contrivance, i.e., (concretely) a texture, machine, or (abstractly) intention, plan (whether bad, a plot; or good, advice)
נַשְׁחִ֨יתָה
against me saying Let us destroy
H7843
נַשְׁחִ֨יתָה
against me saying Let us destroy
Strong's:
H7843
Word #:
12 of 21
to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)
עֵ֤ץ
the tree
H6086
עֵ֤ץ
the tree
Strong's:
H6086
Word #:
13 of 21
a tree (from its firmness); hence, wood (plural sticks)
בְּלַחְמוֹ֙
with the fruit
H3899
בְּלַחְמוֹ֙
with the fruit
Strong's:
H3899
Word #:
14 of 21
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
וְנִכְרְתֶ֙נּוּ֙
thereof and let us cut him off
H3772
וְנִכְרְתֶ֙נּוּ֙
thereof and let us cut him off
Strong's:
H3772
Word #:
15 of 21
to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e., make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutt
חַיִּ֔ים
of the living
H2416
חַיִּ֔ים
of the living
Strong's:
H2416
Word #:
17 of 21
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
וּשְׁמ֖וֹ
that his name
H8034
וּשְׁמ֖וֹ
that his name
Strong's:
H8034
Word #:
18 of 21
an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character
לֹֽא
H3808
לֹֽא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
19 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
Cross References
Jeremiah 20:10For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.Psalms 83:4They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.Jeremiah 18:18Then said they, Come, 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. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.Job 28:13Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.Psalms 31:13For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.Psalms 27:13I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.Numbers 1:14Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.Isaiah 38:11I said, I shall not see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.Isaiah 32:7The instruments also of the churl are evil: he deviseth wicked devices to destroy the poor with lying words, even when the needy speaketh right.Psalms 116:9I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
Historical Context
The lamb imagery anticipates Isaiah 53:7's suffering servant. Jeremiah's innocence contrasts with the guilt of his accusers. Anathoth's priests may have opposed Jeremiah's message because it threatened their religious establishment. The desire to eliminate his 'name' reflects ancient Near Eastern belief that remembrance extended existence—total forgetting equaled true death.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the lamb imagery connect Jeremiah's suffering to the later Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53?
- What drives the desire not just to kill but to obliterate even the memory of God's messengers?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
This verse describes Jeremiah's innocence: 'But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter.' The Hebrew keves alluf (כֶּבֶשׂ אַלּוּף, trusting lamb) and similar phrases picture innocent, unsuspecting vulnerability. 'And I knew not that they had devised devices against me.' Jeremiah was unaware of the conspiracy until God revealed it. 'Saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.' The plotters wanted complete elimination—person, posterity, and memory. 'The tree with its fruit' may mean killing him and his message, or him and any descendants. 'Cut off from the land of the living' is a death sentence; 'name no more remembered' seeks total obliteration.