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Jeremiah 11:20

“But YHWH Tsevaot, who judges righteously, who tests the kidneys and the heart, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have laid open my cause.”

Jeremiah 11:20 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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With the Hebrew beneath

20

Allusion · 1 Thessalonians 2:4

Go to 1 Thessalonians 2:4

Both texts say that God tests hearts.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

  • בֹּחֵןbojenH974δεδοκιμάσμεθαdedokimasmethaG1381“test, examine”
  • יהוָהyhvaH3068θεοῦtheouG2316“YHWH (the proper name of God)”
  • לֵבlevH3820καρδίαςkardiasG2588“heart”

Jeremiah 11:20, word by word

But YHWHיהוָהyhva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yhva” appears
Tsevaotצְבָאוֹתtsevaot

Tsevaot

A name of God: the one who commands the armies of heaven and earth.

Where else “tsevaot” appears
who judgesשֹׁפֵטshofet

judge

To judge and do justice, defend the weak.

Where else “shofet” appears
righteouslyצֶדֶקtsedek

righteousness

Living uprightly before God.

Where else “tsedek” appears
who testsבֹּחֵןbochen

test, examine

Test, examine to find out whether something is true or genuine, as metal is tested.

Where else “bochen” appears
the kidneysכְּלָיוֹתkelayot

inmost self

A person's innermost self, their feelings.

Where else “kelayot” appears
and the heartלֵבlev

heart

The deepest part of a person: where they think, feel and decide.

Where else “lev” appears
let me seeאֶרְאֶהere

see

To see with one's eyes.

Where else “ere” appears
your vengeanceנִקְמָתְnikmat

vengeance

Vengeance: punishment given for a wrong received.

Where else “nikmat” appears
I have laid openגִּלִּיתִיgiliti

reveal

To make known, show openly.

Where else “giliti” appears
my causeרִיבִrivi

case

A matter brought before the judge.

Where else “rivi” appears

Translation note

“The kidneys”: the innermost part of the human being. The same in 17:10 and 20:12; cf. Revelation 2:23.

The context

19But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter, and I did not know that against me they devised schemes: “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will not be remembered anymore.”

20 · This verse (above)

21Therefore thus says YHWH concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying: “Do not prophesy in the name of YHWH, and you will not die by our hand.”

Read all of Jeremiah 11

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