Jeremiah20
New International Version
1When the priest Pashhur son of Immer, the official in charge of the temple of the Lord, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things,
2he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin at the Lord’s temple.
3The next day, when Pashhur released him from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, “The Lord’s name for you is not Pashhur, but Terror on Every Side.
4For this is what the Lord says: ‘I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; with your own eyes you will see them fall by the sword of their enemies. I will give all Judah into the hands of the king of Babylon, who will carry them away to Babylon or put them to the sword.
5I will deliver all the wealth of this city into the hands of their enemies—all its products, all its valuables and all the treasures of the kings of Judah. They will take it away as plunder and carry it off to Babylon.
6And you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house will go into exile to Babylon. There you will die and be buried, you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied lies.’”
7You deceived me, Lord, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me.
8Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long.
9But if I say, “I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.
10I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side! Denounce him! Let’s denounce him!” All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, “Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him.”
11But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten.
12Lord Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have committed my cause.
13Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.
14Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed!
15Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, who made him very glad, saying, “A child is born to you—a son!”
16May that man be like the towns the Lord overthrew without pity. May he hear wailing in the morning, a battle cry at noon.
17For he did not kill me in the womb, with my mother as my grave, her womb enlarged forever.
18Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in 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