Jeremiah 26: Jeremiah on Trial

In Jeremiah 26 God sends Jeremiah to the temple court to speak every word God gives him, without leaving out one word. Jeremiah warns that the temple could become like Shiloh if the people do not listen. The priests and prophets seize him and say he should die. Jeremiah calmly tells them to amend their ways. Some elders remember that King Hezekiah listened to the prophet Micah. The princes decide Jeremiah should not die, and Ahikam protects him.

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Read Jeremiah 26

World English Bible · 24 verses

¹ In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from Yahweh:This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² “Yahweh says: ‘Stand in the court of Yahweh’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah which come to worship in Yahweh’s house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Don’t omit a word.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ It may be they will listen, and every man turn from his evil way, that I may relent from the evil which I intend to do to them because of the evil of their doings.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ You shall tell them, “Yahweh says: ‘If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law which I have set before you,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you, even rising up early and sending them—but you have not listened—This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ then I will make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in Yahweh’s house.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ When Jeremiah had finished speaking all that Yahweh had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “You shall surely die!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Why have you prophesied in Yahweh’s name, saying, ‘This house will be like Shiloh, and this city will be desolate, without inhabitant’?” All the people were crowded around Jeremiah in Yahweh’s house.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ When the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to Yahweh’s house; and they sat in the entry of the new gate of Yahweh’s house.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the princes and to all the people, saying, “This man is worthy of death, for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and to all the people, saying, “Yahweh sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey Yahweh your God’s voice; then Yahweh will relent from the evil that he has pronounced against you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ But as for me, behold, I am in your hand. Do with me what is good and right in your eyes.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, on this city, and on its inhabitants; for in truth Yahweh has sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ Then the princes and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets: “This man is not worthy of death; for he has spoken to us in the name of Yahweh our God.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ Then certain of the elders of the land rose up, and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ “Micah the Morashtite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies says: “‘Zion will be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem will become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Didn’t he fear Yahweh, and entreat the favor of Yahweh, and Yahweh relented of the disaster which he had pronounced against them? We would commit great evil against our own souls that way!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ There was also a man who prophesied in Yahweh’s name, Uriah the son of Shemaiah of Kiriath Jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ When Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men and all the princes heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Uriah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² Then Jehoiakim the king sent Elnathan the son of Achbor and certain men with him into Egypt.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ They fetched Uriah out of Egypt and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that they didn’t give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Jeremiah 26 · Preschool

Brave Jeremiah

Name Date

Color Jeremiah standing bravely in the temple court. God gives courage!

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey Yahweh your God’s voice; then Yahweh will relent from the evil that he has pronounced against you.”

Jeremiah 26:13 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Then explain that Jeremiah told the truth even when some people were angry. God sent friends to help keep him safe. Talk about a time when it took courage to tell the truth.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Jeremiah 26 · Grade 4

A Prophet in God's Hands

Name Date

Read and Think

Early in Jehoiakim's reign, God sent Jeremiah to the temple court with a full message. Don't omit a word. God added, It may be they will listen, and every man turn from his evil way. God's warnings always held the door open for repentance.

Jeremiah warned that if the people would not listen, the temple would become like Shiloh, where the tabernacle had once stood before it was destroyed. The priests, prophets, and people seized him and said he must die. The princes of Judah came to the New Gate to hear the case.

Jeremiah did not defend himself with clever words. He repeated the call to amend your ways and your doings. But as for me, behold, I am in your hand. Then certain elders recalled that Micah had prophesied a similar warning, and King Hezekiah had feared God instead of killing him. The princes and the people declared that this man was not worthy of death. Ahikam son of Shaphan protected Jeremiah.

Show What You Know

What did God hope would happen through the message?
What happened at Shiloh?
How did Jeremiah respond when on trial?
What example did the elders give?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

GodpeopleprincesMicahAhikam

added, It may be they will listen, and every man turn from his evil way.
Jeremiah warned that if the would not listen, the temple would become like Shiloh, where the tabernacle had once stood before it was destroyed.
The of Judah came to the New Gate to hear the case.
Then certain elders recalled that had prophesied a similar warning, and King Hezekiah had feared God instead of killing him.
son of Shaphan protected Jeremiah.

Think About It

Jeremiah was told not to leave out a word. Why is it tempting to leave out the hard parts of a message?
How did God use the memory of history to protect Jeremiah?

Memory Verse

“Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey Yahweh your God’s voice; then Yahweh will relent from the evil that he has pronounced against you.”

Jeremiah 26:13 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for making me brave. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Who was Ahikam?
How does God use friends to help us?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Jeremiah 26 · Grade 5

Precedent and Protection

Name Date

Read and Think

Many readers think Jeremiah 26 gives the setting of the temple sermon in chapter 7. In the beginning of Jehoiakim's reign, God told Jeremiah to stand in the temple court and speak all the words, adding, Don't omit a word. The goal was mercy. It may be they will listen, and every man turn from his evil way, that I may relent from the evil. The warning was conditional, like the potter's lesson in chapter 18.

The message that the temple would become like Shiloh struck the religious leaders as blasphemy. The priests and the prophets seized Jeremiah and demanded his death. At the trial before the princes, Jeremiah spoke with quiet courage. He insisted that God had sent him, urged them to amend their ways, and said, But as for me, behold, I am in your hand. Do with me what is good and right in your eyes. He warned only that killing him would bring innocent blood on the city.

The verdict turned on history. Elders of the land recalled Micah the Morashtite, who had foretold that Zion would be plowed as a field. Hezekiah had not killed Micah but had sought God's favor, and disaster was averted. The princes concluded that Jeremiah was not worthy of death. The chapter also notes that another prophet, Uriah, gave the same message and was not spared by Jehoiakim. Jeremiah survived because the hand of Ahikam son of Shaphan was with him, a reminder that God often protects through faithful people.

Show What You Know

Where did God tell Jeremiah to stand?
Why did the religious leaders demand Jeremiah's death?
How did the elders use history in Jeremiah's defense?
How did God protect Jeremiah?

Crossword

Across

Stand in the ____ of Yahweh’s house.
____ the Morashtite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah.
All the ____ were crowded around Jeremiah in Yahweh’s house.

Down

With all his mighty men and all the ____ heard his words.
All the people were crowded around Jeremiah in Yahweh’s ____.

Think About It

Uriah gave the same message but was not spared. How should believers think about faithfulness when outcomes differ?
How can remembering the past help people make wise choices today?

Memory Verse

“Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey Yahweh your God’s voice; then Yahweh will relent from the evil that he has pronounced against you.”

Jeremiah 26:13 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for making me brave. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

When is it hard to tell the truth?
How can you be a friend like Ahikam?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Jeremiah 26: Jeremiah on Trial

Read Jeremiah 26

Worksheets

Brave Jeremiah

Prayer

Take It Home

Be Brave

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

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Prayer

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Jeremiah Speaks Up

Trace the Words

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Brave for God

Prayer

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Jeremiah Tells the Truth

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Don't Omit a Word

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Brave for God

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

A Prophet in God's Hands

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

Precedent and Protection

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

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