Jeremiah 11:14Therefore don't pray for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry to me because of their trouble.
The setting
Jerusalem, ~605 BC. God tells Jeremiah to stop interceding. The prophet who wept for his people must now be silent. Modern-day Jerusalem, Israel/Palestine.
The emotion here: forced to deliver the most painful message of his ministry
The original word
šāma' (שמע) — to hear with intent to respond and help, not just auditory hearing
Why it matters
This is the only time in scripture God explicitly forbids a prophet from praying for Israel
Read with care
What most readers miss in Jeremiah 11:14
God is commanding Jeremiah to stop doing what made him 'the weeping prophet' — interceding for Judah
Common misconceptionPeople think this means God stops loving us, but it means persistent rebellion eventually leads to natural consequences that even prayer can't prevent
The thread continues
Verses that echo Jeremiah 11:14
Bible Genome reading
Jeremiah 11:14 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Jeremiah 11:14 comes from the book of Jeremiah, written during the Divided Kingdom period. These words are attributed to Yahweh. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include intercessory limitation, divine resolve. Notable phrases: don't pray for this people; I will not hear. This verse contains a command. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Jeremiah 11:14 mean to you, today?
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