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Jeremiah 11:20

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 11:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But, O Jehovah of hosts, who judgest righteously, who triest the heart and the mind, I shall see thy vengeance on them; for unto thee have I revealed my cause.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But, O Jehovah of hosts, who judgest righteously, who triest the heart and the mind, I shall see thy vengeance on them; for unto thee have I revealed my cause.
Jeremiah 11:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
18And Jehovah gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it: then thou showedst me their doings.
19But I was like a gentle lamb that is led 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.
20But, O Jehovah of hosts, who judgest righteously, who triest the heart and the mind, I shall see thy vengeance on them; for unto thee have I revealed my cause.
21Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Thou shalt not prophesy in the name of Jehovah, that thou die not by our hand;
22therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine;
23and there shall be no remnant unto them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.
← Jeremiah 11:19Jeremiah 11:21 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But, O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously, etc.] This is the prophet’s appeal to God, as the Judge of the whole earth, who will do right; he found there was no justice to be done him among men; he therefore has recourse to a righteous God, who he knew judged righteous judgment: that triest the reins and the heart; of all men; as of his own, so of his enemies; and which he mentions, not so much on his own account as theirs: let me see thy vengeance on them; which imprecation arose from a pure zeal for God, for his glory, and the honour of his justice; and not from private revenge; and so no ways inconsistent with the character of a good man; though some consider the words as a prediction…”
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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
“triest . . . heart-- (Rev 2:23). revealed--committed my cause. Jeremiah's wish for vengeance was not personal but ministerial, and accorded with God's purpose revealed to him against the enemies alike of God and of His servant (Psa 37:34; Psa 54:7; Psa 112:8; Psa 118:7).”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“11:20 Jeremiah wanted the Lord to punish his enemies since the Lord knew their deepest thoughts and secrets. As events unfolded, Jeremiah discovered that the Lord had his own way of dealing with his foes.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“judgest: Jer 12:1; Gen 18:25; Psa 98:9; Act 17:31 triest: Jer 17:10, Jer 20:12; Sa1 16:7; Ch1 28:9, Ch1 29:17; Psa 7:9; Rev 2:23 let: Jer 15:15, Jer 17:18, Jer 18:20-23; Ti2 4:14; Rev 6:9, Rev 6:10, Rev 18:20 revealed: Sa1 24:15; Job 5:8; Psa 10:14, Psa 10:15, Psa 35:2, Psa 43:1, Psa 57:1; Phi 4:6; Pe1 2:23 Jeremiah 11:21”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification