Jeremiah20
King James Version · Public Domain
1Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the Lord, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.
2Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the Lord.
3And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The Lord hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magor–missabib.
4For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it: and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword.
5Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.
6And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies.
7O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.
8For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.
9Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
10For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.
11But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.
12But, O Lord of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.
13Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.
14Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.
15Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad.
16And let that man be as the cities which the Lord overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;
17Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.
18Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 20.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The doom of Pashur, who ill-treated the prophet. (1-6). Jeremiah complains of hard usage. (7-13). He regrets his ever having been born. (14-18).
vv1-6
Pashur smote Jeremiah, and put him in the stocks. Jeremiah was silent till God put a word into his mouth. To confirm this, Pashur has a name given him, "Fear on every side." It speaks a man not only in distress, but in despair; not only in danger, but in fear on every side. The wicked are in great fear where no fear is, for God can make the most daring sinner a terror to himself. And those who will not hear of their faults from God's prophets, shall be made to hear them from their consciences. Miserable is the man thus made a terror to himself. His friends shall fail him. God lets him live miserably, that he may be a monument of Divine justice.
vv7-13
The prophet complains of the insult and injury he experienced. But 7 may be read, Thou hast persuaded me, and I was persuaded. Thou wast stronger than I; and didst overpower me by the influence of thy Spirit upon me. So long as we see ourselves in the way of God, and of duty, it is weakness and folly, when we meet with difficulties and discouragements, to wish we had never set out in it. The prophet found the grace of God mighty in him to keep him to his business, notwithstanding the temptation he was in to throw it up. Whatever injuries are done to us, we must leave them to that God to whom vengeance belongs, and who has said, I will repay. So full was he of the comfort of God's presence, the Divine protection he was under, and the Divine promise he had to depend upon, that he stirred up himself and others to give God the glory. Let the people of God open their cause before Him, and he will enable them to see deliverance.
vv14-18
When grace has the victory, it is good to be ashamed of our folly, to admire the goodness of God, and be warned to guard our spirits another time. See how strong the temptation was, over which the prophet got the victory by Divine assistance! He is angry that his first breath was not his last. While we remember that these wishes are not recorded for us to utter the like, we may learn good lessons from them. See how much those who think they stand, ought to take heed lest they fall, and to pray daily, Lead us not into temptation. How frail, changeable, and sinful is man! How foolish and unnatural are the thoughts and wishes of our hearts, when we yield to discontent! Let us consider Him who endured the contradiction of sinners against himself, lest we should be at any time weary and faint in our minds under our lesser trials.
Key Words
פַּשְׁחוּר: Pashchur, the name of four Israelites
כֹּהֵן: literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
אִמֵּר: Immer, the name of five Israelites
פָּקִיד: a superintendent (civil, military or religious)
נָגִיד: a commander (as occupying the front), civil, military or religious; generally (abstractly, plural), honorable themes
בַּיִת: a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
יִרְמְיָה: Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites
נָבָא: to prophesy, i.e. speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)
Cross References
Jeremiah 20Jeremiah uses the exact phrase 'fear on every side' (Magor-missabib) found in David's Psalm.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Matches the motif of a burning fire shut up in the heart when attempting silence.
Supported by JFB
Jeremiah's intense curse of his birth day strongly echoes Job's passionate lament and self-loathing.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels the divine necessity and inward compulsion to preach despite personal difficulty.
Supported by JFB
The betrayal of 'familiars' ('men of my peace') typifies Christ's betrayal by His close associates.
Supported by JFB
Repeats Jeremiah's appeal to God who trieth the heart and reins, committing his cause.
Supported by John Calvin
A striking historical parallel where a prominent official physically smites a true prophet of God.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Jeremiah frequently repeats this signature phrase 'terror on every side' throughout his warnings.
Supported by JFB
Jeremiah wrestles with the terms of God's original call and promise of deliverance.
Supported by JFB
Refers to the complete, unrepenting overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah as a standard of judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Identifies Pashur's priestly lineage as belonging to the sixteenth course, the house of Immer.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Mentions the specific temple prison/stocks designed to punish and humiliate prophetic messengers.
Supported by JFB
Isaiah's prophecy to Hezekiah is fulfilled in the spoiling of the temple treasures to Babylon.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The people conspire to accuse Jeremiah by weaponizing his words and reporting him.
Supported by JFB
Provides a direct parallel where a false prophet receives a specific death sentence for lies.
Supported by Matthew Henry