Jeremiah 20:16

16 But let that man be like the cities Which the LORD 1overthrew without relenting, And let him hear an 2outcry in the morning And a shout of alarm at noon;

Jeremiah 20:16 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 20:16

And let that man be as the cities which the Lord overthrew,
&c.] In his fury, as the Targum and Septuagint add. Meaning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, who were utterly destroyed, and were never recovered: and repented not;
whose sentence God never repented of, nor revoked: this was very severe and uncharitable, to wish for so sore a destruction upon an innocent person; and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;
as soon as he is up in the morning, the first thing that salutes his ears, let it be the noise of an enemy invading the city he dwells in; and by noon let him hear the shouting of him, having broke in, and gotten the victory, seizing the plunder.

Jeremiah 20:16 In-Context

14 Cursed be the day when I was born; Let the day not be blessed when my mother bore me!
15 Cursed be the man who brought the news To my father, saying, "A baby boy has been born to you!" And made him very happy.
16 But let that man be like the cities Which the LORD overthrew without relenting, And let him hear an outcry in the morning And a shout of alarm at noon;
17 Because he did not kill me before birth, So that my mother would have been my grave, And her womb ever pregnant.
18 Why did I ever come forth from the womb To look on trouble and sorrow, So that my days have been spent in shame?

Cross References 2

  • 1. Genesis 19:25
  • 2. Jeremiah 18:22; Jeremiah 48:3, 4

Footnotes 2

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