Definition: Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand:

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Jeremiah 11:21. It’s a really important and unsettling passage about a man named Anathoth who was trying to get followers to worship him as a god. Here's the explanation in simpler terms: What’s Happening? Anathoth is a false god: This man, Anathoth, was creating his own religion – a religion based on a different deity entirely than the one God established. He wanted to worship himself as a god, instead of worshipping Yahweh (God). He’s telling people to stop prophesying: Jeremiah is telling the people of Judah (a region in Israel) that Anathoth is trying to trick them into disobeying God's laws. He’s commanding them not to prophesy (speak about God) in the name of the LORD – specifically, he’s saying they shouldn’t prophesy to warn people against worshipping Anathoth. He’s begging for their lives: The core of the verse is that Anathoth is actively trying to kill his followers by preventing them from speaking about God. He's essentially asking for their protection and safety. In Short: Anathoth was a dangerous rebel who was attempting to undermine God’s authority and threaten the people with his own wrath. Why is this important? This verse is a key part of the story of Israel’s apostasy (falling away from God). It highlights that: False gods are dangerous: It warns against worshiating anything other than the one true God. Opposition to God is wrong: It shows that anyone who actively tries to thwart God's plan is a threat to all of humanity. Does this mean we should fear Anathoth? Not necessarily. It means we need to be vigilant against false gods and resist any attempts to deceive us. But it’s about protecting ourselves from dangerous influences – those who try to undermine the foundations of our faith. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse? Connect this passage to a particular biblical story or theme?