Jeremiah 26:11

Then the priests and prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man is worthy of death, for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears!”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The priests and prophets address the officials and the entire assembly at the entrance of the New Gate after the officials have moved from the king’s palace to the house of the LORD. They publicly declare Jeremiah’s condemnation based on their direct auditory experience of his message.

The words — הַ/כֹּהֲנִ֤ים (ha./ko.ha.Nim) translates literally as "the priests," identifying the religious leadership. הַ/שָּׂרִ֔ים (ha./sa.Rim) means "the officials," denoting the civil authorities who convened at the temple entrance.

The thread — This confrontation mirrors the civil-religious alliance seen in Jeremiah 38:4, where officials urge the king against a messenger, and echoes the Deuteronomy 18:20 standard for evaluating false prophecy. The New Testament records a parallel judicial condemnation in Matthew 26:66.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize how religious and civil authorities can weaponize public testimony to silence dissent. It demands a clear distinction between the authority to pronounce judgment and the authority to speak for God.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 38:4 Then the officials said to the king, “This man ought to die, for he is discouraging the warriors who remain in this city, as well as all the people, by speaking such words to them; this man is not seeking the well-being of these people, but their ruin.”
Deuteronomy 18:20 But if any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death.”
Matthew 26:66 What do you think?” “He deserves to die,” they answered.
Acts 6:11 Then they prompted some men to say, “We heard Stephen speak words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.”
Jeremiah 18:23 But You, O LORD, know all their deadly plots against me. Do not wipe out their guilt or blot out their sin from Your sight. Let them be overthrown before You; deal with them in the time of Your anger.
Luke 23:1 Then the whole council rose and led Jesus away to Pilate.
John 18:30 “If He were not a criminal,” they replied, “we would not have handed Him over to you.”
John 19:7 “We have a law,” answered the Jews, “and according to that law He must die, because He declared Himself to be the Son of God.”
Acts 22:22 The crowd listened to Paul until he made this statement. Then they lifted up their voices and shouted, “Rid the earth of him! He is not fit to live!”
Acts 24:4 But in order not to delay you any further, I beg your indulgence to hear us briefly.