Jeremiah 15:11 The LORD said: "Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will intercede with your enemy in your time of trouble, in your time of distress.

Bible > Jeremiah > Chapter 15 > Verse 11

◄ Jeremiah 15:11 ►

New International Version
The LORD said, “Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will make your enemies plead with you in times of disaster and times of distress.

New Living Translation
The LORD replied, “I will take care of you, Jeremiah. Your enemies will ask you to plead on their behalf in times of trouble and distress.

English Standard Version
The LORD said, “Have I not set you free for their good? Have I not pleaded for you before the enemy in the time of trouble and in the time of distress?

Berean Standard Bible
The LORD said: “Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will intercede with your enemy in your time of trouble, in your time of distress.

King James Bible
The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

New King James Version
The LORD said: “Surely it will be well with your remnant; Surely I will cause the enemy to intercede with you In the time of adversity and in the time of affliction.

New American Standard Bible
The LORD said, “I will certainly set you free for purposes of good; I will certainly make the enemy plead with you In a time of disaster and a time of distress.

NASB 1995
The LORD said, “Surely I will set you free for purposes of good; Surely I will cause the enemy to make supplication to you In a time of disaster and a time of distress.

NASB 1977
The LORD said, “Surely I will set you free for purposes of good; Surely I will cause the enemy to make supplication to you In a time of disaster and a time of distress.

Legacy Standard Bible
Yahweh said, “Surely I will set you free for purposes of good; Surely I will cause the enemy to intercede with you In a time of disaster and a time of distress.

Amplified Bible
The LORD said, “Surely [it will go well for Judah’s obedient remnant for] I will set you free for good purposes; Surely [Jeremiah] I will [intercede for you with the enemy and I will] cause the enemy to plead with you [for help] In a time of disaster and a time of distress.

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD said: Haven’t I set you loose for your good? Haven’t I punished you in a time of trouble, in a time of distress with the enemy?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD said: I will certainly set you free and care for you. I will certainly intercede for you in a time of trouble, in your time of distress, with the enemy.

American Standard Version
Jehovah said, Verily I will strengthen thee for good; verily I will cause the enemy to make supplication unto thee in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

Contemporary English Version
Then the LORD replied, "I promise to protect you, and when disaster comes, even your enemies will beg you for help."

English Revised Version
The LORD said, Verily I will strengthen thee for good; verily I will cause the enemy to make supplication unto thee in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD said, "I will certainly rescue you for a good reason. I will certainly make your enemies plead with you in times of disaster and in times of distress.

Good News Translation
LORD, may all their curses come true if I have not served you well, if I have not pleaded with you on behalf of my enemies when they were in trouble and distress. (

International Standard Version
The LORD said, "Have I not set you free for a good purpose? Have I not intervened for you with your enemies in times of trouble and times of distress?

Majority Standard Bible
The LORD said: “Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will intercede with your enemy in your time of trouble, in your time of distress.

NET Bible
The LORD said, "Jerusalem, I will surely send you away for your own good. I will surely bring the enemy upon you in a time of trouble and distress.

New Heart English Bible
The LORD said, "Most certainly I will strengthen you for good; most certainly I will cause the enemy to make petition to you in the time of evil and in the time of distress.

Webster's Bible Translation
The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to treat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

World English Bible
Yahweh said, “Most certainly I will strengthen you for good. Most certainly I will cause the enemy to make supplication to you in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
YHWH said, “Did I not direct you for good? Did I not intercede for you in a time of evil, "" And in a time of adversity, with the enemy?

Young's Literal Translation
Jehovah said, Did I not direct thee for good? Did not I intercede for thee in a time of evil, And in a time of adversity, with the enemy?

Smith's Literal Translation
Jehovah said, If to do well to thy remnant; if not, I caused the enemy in the time of evil and in time of straits to supplicate to thee.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
The Lord saith to me: Assuredly it shall be well with thy remnant, assuredly I shall help thee in the time of affliction, and in the time of tribulation against the enemy.

Catholic Public Domain Version
The Lord says: “Certainly, it will be well with your remnant. Certainly, I will run to meet you, in the time of affliction and in the time of tribulation, against the enemy.

New American Bible
Tell me, LORD, have I not served you for their good? Have I not interceded with you in time of misfortune and anguish?

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD said: Surely I have intervened in your life for good, surely I have imposed enemies on you in a time of trouble and in a time of distress.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
The LORD said, Verily I shall not leave you at ease, but I will cause an enemy from the north to encounter you in the time of tribulation and in the time of evil;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
LORD JEHOVAH said: “I shall not leave you in goodness, but I shall make an enemy meet with you from the North in time of trouble, in time of evil

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
The LORD said: 'Verily I will release thee for good; verily I will cause the enemy to make supplication unto thee in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Be it so, Lord, in their prosperity; surely I stood before thee in the time of their calamities, and in the time of their affliction, for their good against the enemy.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Jeremiah's Woe
10Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me, a man of strife and conflict in all the land. I have neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses me. 11The LORD said: “Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will intercede with your enemy in your time of trouble, in your time of distress. 12Can anyone smash iron—iron from the north—or bronze?…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 49:8
This is what the LORD says: “In the time of favor I will answer You, and in the day of salvation I will help You; I will keep You and appoint You to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land, to apportion its desolate inheritances,

Isaiah 58:11
The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Psalm 37:19
In the time of evil they will not be ashamed, and in the days of famine they will be satisfied.

Psalm 41:1-2
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble. / The LORD will protect and preserve him; He will bless him in the land and refuse to give him over to the will of his foes.

Psalm 46:1
For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.

Psalm 121:7-8
The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul. / The LORD will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.

Proverbs 16:7
When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.

Lamentations 3:25-26
The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. / It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

2 Kings 25:27-30
On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth month of the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Judah’s King Jehoiachin, in the year Evil-merodach became king of Babylon, he released King Jehoiachin of Judah from prison. / And he spoke kindly to Jehoiachin and set his throne above the thrones of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. / So Jehoiachin changed out of his prison clothes, and he dined regularly at the king’s table for the rest of his life. ...

Romans 8:28
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9
We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; / persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

2 Corinthians 12:9
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Treasury of Scripture

The LORD said, Truly it shall be well with your remnant; truly I will cause the enemy to entreat you well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.

Verily it.

Psalm 37:3-11
Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed…

Ecclesiastes 8:12
Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him:

verily I.

Jeremiah 29:11-14
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end…

Jeremiah 39:11,12
Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, …

Jeremiah 40:2-6
And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place…

cause the enemy to entreat thee.

Proverbs 16:7
When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Proverbs 21:1
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

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Jeremiah 15

1. The utter rejection and manifold judgments of the people.
10. Jeremiah, complaining of their spite, receives a promise for himself;
12. and a threatening for them.
15. He prays;
19. and receives a gracious promise.

Berean Study Bible

The LORD said
This phrase emphasizes the divine authority and assurance behind the message. In Hebrew, "Yahweh" is the covenant name of God, signifying His eternal presence and faithfulness. The use of "said" (Hebrew: אָמַר, 'amar) indicates a definitive and authoritative declaration, underscoring that what follows is not merely a suggestion but a promise from God Himself. This sets the tone for the entire verse, reminding us of God's sovereignty and His active role in the lives of His people.

Surely I will deliver you
The word "surely" (Hebrew: אִם־לֹא, 'im-lo) is a strong affirmation, often used to emphasize certainty. "Deliver" (Hebrew: שָׁרַת, sharat) conveys the idea of rescue or salvation. This promise of deliverance is not just a physical rescue but also a spiritual and emotional one. It reflects God's commitment to His people, assuring them of His protection and intervention in their lives. Historically, this would have been a powerful reassurance to Jeremiah, who faced opposition and persecution.

for a good purpose
The phrase "for a good purpose" (Hebrew: לְטוֹבָה, le-tovah) indicates that God's deliverance is not arbitrary but intentional and beneficial. "Good" (Hebrew: טוֹב, tov) in the biblical context often refers to what is morally excellent, beneficial, and aligned with God's will. This suggests that God's actions are always aimed at achieving His righteous purposes, even when they are not immediately apparent to us. It encourages believers to trust in God's plan, knowing that He works all things for good (Romans 8:28).

surely I will intercede with your enemy
The repetition of "surely" reinforces the certainty of God's intervention. "Intercede" (Hebrew: פָּגַע, paga) implies a direct involvement or intervention on behalf of someone. This is a powerful image of God stepping in to advocate for His people, turning the hearts of their enemies or altering circumstances in their favor. It highlights God's role as a mediator and protector, assuring believers that they are not alone in their struggles.

in your time of trouble
The word "trouble" (Hebrew: רָעָה, ra'ah) often denotes distress, adversity, or calamity. This acknowledges the reality of difficult times in the life of a believer. However, it also serves as a reminder that God is present in those moments, ready to provide aid and comfort. Historically, Jeremiah faced significant opposition, and this promise would have been a source of hope and strength for him.

and in your time of distress
"Distress" (Hebrew: צָרָה, tsarah) is a term that conveys a sense of anguish or tightness, often used to describe situations of extreme pressure or hardship. The repetition of "in your time" emphasizes God's faithfulness and readiness to act precisely when His people need Him most. This assurance is meant to inspire confidence and perseverance, knowing that God is attentive to the cries of His people and will act on their behalf.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) Verily it shall be well with thy remnant.--The passage is obscure, and the reading uncertain; (1) Thy freedom shall be for good, or (2) I afflict thee for thy good, or (3) I strengthen thee for thy good, have been proposed as better renderings. The second seems to give the meaning most in harmony with the context. Jehovah comforts the despairing prophet by the promise that in due time there shall be a deliverance from the discords of his life, and that "all things shall work together for his good."

I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well.--The final adverb, which is not found in the Hebrew, obscures the sense, suggesting the English phrase of "treating well." Better, I will cause the enemy to be a suppliant to thee in time of evil. Partial fulfilments of the promise are found in Jeremiah 21:1; Jeremiah 37:3; Jeremiah 42:2.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 11. - The Lord said. The prophets are usually so tenacious of the same formulae that even their slight deviations are noteworthy. "The Lord said," for "Thus saith the Lord," occurs only here and in Jeremiah 46:25 (where, however, the phrase has possibly been detached by mistake from the preceding verse). It shall be well with thy remnant; rather, I have loosed thee for (thy) good, or, thy loosing (shall be) for (thy good), according as we adopt the reading of the Hebrew text or that of the margin, which differs in form as slightly as it is possible to do. If we accept the historical setting proposed by Gratz for this paragraph, the reference will be to the "loosing" of Jeremiah from his chains mentioned in Jeremiah 40:4. The rendering given here is, however, only a probable one; it is in conformity with the Aramaic usage of the verb (the Targum uses it in this sense in Jeremiah 40:4), and is supported by its suitability to the context and, philologically, by the fact of the growing influence of Aramaic upon Hebrew. Gesenius, in his anxiety to keep close to the native use of the root, produces a rendering (of the Hebrew marginal reading) which does not suit the context, viz. "I afflict thee for (thy) good." Jeremiah does not complain of being afflicted by God, but that all the world is against him; Ewald, comparing a different Aramaic verb to that appealed to above, renders, "I strengthen thee," etc., which is adopted by Keil, but does not accord with the second half of the verse so well as the rendering adopted. The Authorized Version follows the Targum, the Vulgate, Aquila, Symmachus, Rashi, and Kimchi, assuming that sherith is contracted from sh'erith (as in 1 Chronicles 12:38), and that "remnant" is equivalent to "remnant of life." But, though the sense is not unacceptable (comp. Vers. 20, 21), the form of expression is unnatural; we should have expected akharith'ka, "thy latter end" (comp. Job 8:7). I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well. This expression is as difficult as the preceding, and our rendering of it will depend entirely on our view of the context. If "the enemy" means the Chaldeans, the Authorized Version will be substantially correct. Rashi has already mentioned the view that the phrase alludes to Nebnzar-adan's respectful inquiry as to the wishes of Jeremiah in Jeremiah 40:2-5. In this case, the literal rendering is, I will cause the enemy to meet thee (as a friend); comp. Isaiah 47:3; Isaiah 64:4. But if "the enemy" means the Jews, then we must render, 1 grill cause the enemy to supplicate thee, and illustrate the phrase by the repeated applications of Zedekiah to the prophet (Jeremiah 21:1, 2; Jeremiah 37:3; Jeremiah 38:14), and the similar appeal of the "captains of the forces," in Jeremiah 42:1-3.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

The LORD
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

said:
אָמַ֣ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Surely
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

I will deliver you
שֵֽׁרִיתִ֖יךָ‪‬ (šê·rî·ṯî·ḵā)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 8325: Sharar -- father of one of David's heroes

for a good purpose;
לְט֑וֹב (lə·ṭō·wḇ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

surely I will
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

intercede
הִפְגַּ֣עְתִּֽי (hip̄·ga‘·tî)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6293: To impinge, by accident, violence, by importunity

with your enemy
הָאֹיֵֽב׃ (hā·’ō·yêḇ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 341: Hating, an adversary

in your time
בְּעֵ֥ת־ (bə·‘êṯ-)
Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 6256: Time, now, when

of trouble,
רָעָ֛ה (rā·‘āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

in your time
וּבְעֵ֥ת (ū·ḇə·‘êṯ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 6256: Time, now, when

of distress.
צָרָ֖ה (ṣā·rāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 6869: Tightness, a female rival

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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 15:11 Yahweh said Most certainly I will strengthen (Jer.)