Jeremiah 11:19 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jeremiah, innocent as a lamb, was unaware of a plot to kill him and erase his memory.
The Context of Jeremiah 11:19
Jeremiah's enemies plot to kill him and erase his memory without his awareness.
What Does Jeremiah 11:19 Mean?
Jeremiah describes his innocence using the image of a lamb or ox being led to slaughter—a creature unaware of its fate, helpless and condemned. He was naive to the danger around him, not suspecting the conspiracy forming against him. His enemies devise a plot with lethal intent: to 'destroy the tree with the fruit thereof' (eliminating him and his legacy) and to 'cut him off from the land of the living' (to kill him).
The aim to make him forgotten—'that his name may be no more remembered'—adds another dimension to the threat: not just death, but obliteration of memory. His enemies want to erase him entirely from history and collective memory. This makes their conspiracy not merely murderous but intent on total annihilation of the prophet's existence and influence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jeremiah 11:19
What does Jeremiah 11:19 mean?
Jeremiah, innocent as a lamb, was unaware of a plot to kill him and erase his memory.
What is the context of Jeremiah 11:19?
Jeremiah's enemies plot to kill him and erase his memory without his awareness.