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Jeremiah 11:14

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 11:14 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me because of their trouble.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me because of their trouble.
Jeremiah 11:14 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
11Therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and they shall cry unto me, but I will not hearken unto them.
12Then shall the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem go and cry unto the gods unto which they offer incense: but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
13For according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.
14Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me because of their trouble.
15What hath my beloved to do in my house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness [with] many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.
16Jehovah called thy name, A green olive-tree, fair with goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.
17For Jehovah of hosts, who planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have wrought for themselves in provoking me to anger by offering incense unto Baal.
← Jeremiah 11:13Jeremiah 11:15 →
← Full Chapter 11 Jeremiah Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Therefore pray not thou for this people, etc.] If for a remnant among them, yet not for the body of the people; and if for their spiritual and eternal good, yet not for their temporal salvation; their temporal ruin was certain; the decree was gone forth, and there was no revoking it; and this is said, not so much by way of prohibition of the prophet, as by way of threatening to the people, to show that as their own prayers should not profit them, so they should not have the benefit of the prayers of good men, their sin was a sin unto death, at least temporal death, and must not be prayed for, (<620516>1 John 5:16): neither lift up a cry or prayer for them; more words are used, to show the…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“There is a climax of guilt which admits of no further intercessory prayer (Exo 32:10, in the Chaldee version, "leave off praying"; Jer 7:16; Sa1 16:1; Sa1 15:35; Jo1 5:16). Our mind should be at one with God in all that He is doing, even in the rejection of the reprobate. for their trouble--on account of their trouble. Other manuscripts read, "in the time of their trouble" a gloss from Jer 11:12.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“A parenthesis. As in Jeremiah 7:16, all intercession is forbidden, and for this reason. Prayer for others for the forgiveness of their sins avails only when they also pray. The cry of the people now was that of the guilty smarting under punishment, not of the penitent mourning over sin. Jeremiah 11:15 This passage, like Isaiah 1:12, rebukes the inconsistency of Judah’s public worship of Yahweh with their private immorality and preference for idolatry. Translate it: “What hath My beloved in My house to practice guile there? The great men and the holy flesh (i. e., the sacrifices) shall pass away from thee.” Jeremiah 11:16 The “goodly” or “shapely fruit,” signifies the righteousness and faith…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“11:14 The Lord told Jeremiah not to weep or pray for the people of Jerusalem (see 7:16); the Lord had shut his ears to any prayers they might direct to him. Because the people were committed to worshiping Baal, any prayer they offered would be a charade.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“pray: Jer 7:16, Jer 14:11, Jer 15:1; Exo 32:10; Pro 26:24, Pro 26:25; Jo1 5:16 for: Jer 11:11; Psa 66:18; Hos 5:6 trouble: Heb. evil, Jer 11:11 Jeremiah 11:15”
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Related study paths

Read Jeremiah 11 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification