Jeremiah 26:15 · Bible study
Jeremiah 26:15 Commentary: Innocent Blood and Corporate Guilt
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Jeremiah warns that killing him brings innocent blood on the city.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Rejecting God's true prophet brings corporate bloodguilt on the entire community.
- Key words: innocent blood (דָּם נָקִי), truly (אֱמֶת), send (שָׁלַח).
- Main debate: Whether the guilt is automatically collective or contingent on active participation; most agree it includes passive consent.
- Theological theme: The cost of rejecting divine revelation and the solidarity of community in sin and judgment.
- Best use: A call to take God's word seriously, to honor his messengers, and to repent before judgment comes.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves, upon this city, and upon its residents; for truly the LORD has sent me to speak all these words in your hearing.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
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.”
KJV King James Version 1769
But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Only know ye for certain that, if ye put me to death, ye will bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof; for of a truth Jehovah hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
Only, know ye certainly, that if ye are putting me to death, surely innocent blood ye are putting on yourselves, and on this city, and on its inhabitants; for truly hath Jehovah sent me unto you to speak in your ears all these words.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
only know for certain that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof; for of a truth Jehovah hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
But know ye, and understand, that if you put me to death, you will shed innocent blood against your own selves, and against this city, and the inhabitants thereof. For in truth the Lord sent me to you, to speak all these words in your hearing.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Mas sabed de cierto que, si me matareis, sangre inocente echaréis sobre vosotros, y sobre esta ciudad, y sobre sus moradores: porque en verdad Jehová me envió á vosotros para que dijese todas estas palabras en vuestros oídos.
Mas sabei certamente que, se vós me matardes, então trareis sangue inocente sobre vós, e sobre esta cidade, e sobre seus moradores; porque em verdade o SENHOR me enviou a vós para falar aos vossos ouvidos todas estas palavras.
Seulement sachez que, si vous me faites mourir, vous vous chargez du sang innocent, vous, cette ville et ses habitants; car l’ Éternel m’ a véritablement envoyé vers vous pour prononcer à vos oreilles toutes ces paroles.
Doch sollt ihr wissen: wo ihr mich tötet, so werdet ihr unschuldig Blut laden auf euch selbst, auf diese Stadt und ihre Einwohner. Denn wahrlich, der HERR hat mich zu euch gesandt, daß ich solches alles vor euren Ohren reden soll.
Maar weet voorzeker, dat gij, zo gij mij doodt, gewisselijk onschuldig bloed zult brengen op u, en op deze stad, en op haar inwoners; want in der waarheid, de HEERE heeft mij tot u gezonden, om al deze woorden voor uw oren te spreken.
Soltanto sappiate per certo che, se mi fate morire, mettete del sangue innocente addosso a voi, a questa città e ai suoi abitanti, perché l’Eterno m’ha veramente mandato a voi per farvi udire tutte queste parole”.
A wszakże zapewne wiedzcie, jeźliż mię zabijecie, że krew niewinną zwalicie na się i na to miasto, i na obywateli jego; bo mię zaprawdę Pan do was posłał, abym mówił te wszystkie słowa w uszy wasze.
только твердо знайте, что если вы умертвите меня, то невинную кровь возложите на себя и на город сей и на жителей его; ибо истинно Господь послал меня к вам сказать все те слова в уши ваши".
但 你們要確實地 知道， 若 把我 治死， 就 使無辜人 的血 歸 到你們 和 這 城，並 其中的居民了；因為 耶和華 實在 差遣我 到你們這裡來，將 這 一切 話 傳與 你們耳中。」
Only be certain that, if you put me to death, you will make yourselves and your town and its people responsible for the blood of one who has done no wrong: for truly, the Lord has sent me to you to say all these words in your ears.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Jeremiah 26:15
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Jeremiah's statement rests on one claim: Yahweh has truly sent him. Barnes notes that Jeremiah's answer is 'simple and straightforward', he affirms his divine commission, and the sole purpose of his prophesying was to lead them to repentance. Gill expands: the guilt of innocent blood would fall on the accusers, the judges, and 'all the inhabitants of Jerusalem who should agree to the putting him to death.' Calvin adds a nuance: the preposition in Hebrew (אֶל) can mean 'against,' so the guilt is not only on themselves as perpetrators but against the city and its inhabitants as those who allowed the deed. Thus, all parties, priests, princes, and people, share the bloodguilt because they have rejected a prophet sent by God. The Jerusalem Bible (Lange) observes that the elders later cite Micah's precedent to spare Jeremiah, reinforcing that the shedding of innocent blood would be a great evil 'against our own souls.' JFB sums it up: far from escaping the predicted evils by killing Jeremiah, they would only incur heavier penalties.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Jeremiah claims he is sent by God and that killing him would bring corporate guilt on Jerusalem.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah's divine commission | All commentators agree Jeremiah claims to be sent by Yahweh with a true message. | Some traditions emphasize the prophet's courage; others focus on the certainty of his calling as the basis for his authority. |
| Innocent blood and corporate guilt | The shedding of innocent blood brings guilt on the city and its inhabitants. | Calvin sees the city as culpable for allowing the deed; Gill includes all who consent. The level of passive vs active participation is discussed. |
| Comparison to Micah and Hezekiah | The elders use Micah as a precedent to spare Jeremiah, showing that repentance can avert disaster. | Some note that Urijah was killed despite a similar message, indicating that outcome depends on leadership response. |
| The role of the people | The people are present at the trial and involved in the decision. | Whether the people bear guilt for not intervening or for simply being part of the community that tolerates injustice is debated. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Jeremiah 26 takes place early in the reign of King Jehoiakim (c. 608 BC), a time when Judah is a vassal of Egypt and the Babylonians are rising. The Temple still stands, and the popular theology holds that God will never allow its destruction. Jeremiah's prophecy, that this house would become like Shiloh and the city desolate, is a direct challenge to that theology. The priests and false prophets arrest him at the Temple gate.
The trial is held at the 'New Gate' of the Temple, the same place where the princes of Judah convene as a judicial body. Jeremiah's defense invokes the ancient principle of innocent blood (דָּם נָקִי), a term deeply rooted in the Law. Numbers 35:33 declares that blood pollutes the land, and only the blood of the shedder can atone. Deuteronomy 19:10 commands Israel to avoid innocent bloodshed in the land. The shedding of a true prophet's blood was considered a national disaster, as seen in 2 Kings 24:4, where Manasseh's innocent blood fills Jerusalem and God refuses pardon.
The elders recall that Micah the Morashtite prophesied similarly under Hezekiah, and the king repented rather than killing him. That sets a precedent for how a faithful king should respond. Yet within the same chapter, Jeremiah's contemporary Urijah is killed by Jehoiakim, showing the volatility of the situation. Jeremiah is spared only through the intervention of Ahikam, a court official. The city's willingness to hear the prophet, or not, determines its fate.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Jeremiah 26:15. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts, and the primary versions (Greek Septuagint, Latin Vulgate, Syriac) agree in substance with the Masoretic text. The only minor difference is in the preposition in v.15: the Hebrew uses אֶל ('to' or 'against'), which Calvin notes could be rendered 'against' rather than 'upon,' but this does not change the meaning.
Reception History
Reformation commentators such as Calvin and the Geneva Bible used this verse to emphasize the gravity of opposing God's messengers. They saw Jeremiah as a type of Christ, whose innocent blood was shed by Jerusalem. Matthew Henry applied the warning to those who oppose gospel ministers: 'To persecute the faithful ministers of Christ is to bring innocent blood upon ourselves.' In the early church, Origen and others saw the verse as a call to honor the prophetic office. Modern scholarship often focuses on the legal setting and the concept of corporate responsibility in ancient Israel, drawing parallels to contemporary calls for social justice.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The prophet speaks with divine authority. Jeremiah grounds his warning in a simple fact: “of a truth the Lord has sent me.” His message is not his own; it is God's. The certainty of his commission gives weight to his warning.
- Rejecting that authority brings corporate bloodguilt. Innocent blood is not just a stain on the murderers; it pollutes the whole city. The guilt extends to everyone who consents to silence or tolerate the deed.
- God's truth outlasts human threats. Jeremiah does not threaten retaliation; he warns of consequences. He trusts God to vindicate him, even if he dies. The truth spoken in God's name cannot be silenced by death.
Five-point outline
- The context: a prophet on trial for speaking the truth.
- The claim: Yahweh has sent me, this is the foundation of Jeremiah's boldness.
- The warning: shedding innocent blood brings guilt on the whole community.
- The precedent: Micah and Hezekiah show that repentance averts disaster.
- The outcome: God's word is vindicated even when the messenger is threatened.
Illustration hooks
- A whistleblower in a large company speaks truth about unsafe practices, faces retaliation, and later the company suffers legal action that harms all employees.
- A town ignores a severe weather warning from an expert meteorologist, and the resulting flood damages homes for everyone, not just the skeptics.
- A student reports bullying at school, is ostracized, and later the school is held responsible for allowing a toxic culture.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How can we be sure someone is truly sent by God and not just speaking their own opinion?
- Does this passage mean we are guilty if we don't speak out against every injustice?
- What does it look like to “bear innocent blood” in our own communities today?
Leading a Discussion
This verse shows us the weight of rejecting God's message. Jeremiah stands before the leaders and the people, not as a troublemaker, but as a messenger sent by God. His warning is not about personal revenge; it is about the spiritual danger the entire city faces if they silence him. As you discuss, consider how we respond to uncomfortable truths, especially when they come from those we might not like.
Discussion questions
- Read Jeremiah 26:12-15. What does Jeremiah claim about the source of his message? Why is that important for his defense?
- The word “certainly” (אַךְ) is emphatic in Hebrew. What effect does that have on how we read Jeremiah's warning?
- Why would the guilt of innocent blood fall on the entire city, not just the priests and princes?
- How does the elders’ appeal to Micah (verses 17-19) shape the outcome? What does it teach about heeding prophetic voices?
- In what ways are we tempted to “put Jeremiah to death” today, by ignoring, silencing, or dismissing a message that challenges us?
- How can our church community guard against rejecting a word from God, even when it is uncomfortable?
- What does this passage reveal about God's concern for justice and truth, especially when leaders fail?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 4:10 | Yahweh said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to me from the ground. |
| Genesis 42:22 | Reuben answered them, saying, “Didn’t I tell you, saying, ‘Don’t sin against the child,’ and you wouldn’t listen? Therefore also, behold, his blood is required.” |
| Numbers 35:33 | “‘So you shall not pollute the land where you live; for blood pollutes the land. No atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, but by the blood of him who shed it. |
| Deuteronomy 19:10 | This is so that innocent blood will not be shed in the middle of your land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance, leaving blood guilt on you. |
| II Kings 24:4 | and also for the innocent blood that he shed; for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and Yahweh would not pardon. |
| Proverbs 6:17 | arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, |
| Jeremiah 2:30 | “I have struck your children in vain. They received no correction. Your own sword has devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion. |
| Jeremiah 2:34 | Also the blood of the souls of the innocent poor is found in your skirts. You didn’t find them breaking in, but it is because of all these things. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights Jeremiah's simple, direct claim: God truly sent him, but only to warn them so they could repent and escape judgment. The prophet offers no defense of himself; he places the choice squarely on them — change and live, or kill him and bear the guilt themselves.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin sees Jeremiah as ready to offer himself as a sacrifice, not anxious about his own life. His warning about innocent blood was not for self-preservation but to drive the people to repentance, knowing that what his enemies called "good and right" was their own unjust
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note stresses the certainty of guilt for shedding innocent blood if the people kill Jeremiah. The warning is severe because God genuinely sent him to speak these very words. Rejecting a true prophet brings bloodguilt not only on the killers but on the entire city and its inhabitants.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill warns that putting Jeremiah to death would bring the guilt of innocent blood on Jerusalem and its leaders, not on him. He insists Jeremiah is truly sent by God, so killing him would not silence a false prophet but only increase their condemnation unless they repent.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes an ironic reversal: the very act meant to escape God's coming judgment actually guarantees it. Shedding Christ's blood does not avert the predicted evils but instead brings down heavier penalties. The attempt to dodge divine wrath by killing Jesus only secures a more severe form of it.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights Jeremiah's steady balance: he submits fully to the judges' power, placing himself in their hands, yet he remains absolutely certain of his divine commission. The prophet neither threatens nor pleads for his life. He simply states the truth: kill me, and you shed innocent blood, because God truly sent me.