Jeremiah 20:14-18

14 1Cursed be the day on which I was born! The day when my mother bore me, let it not be blessed!
15 Cursed be the man who brought the news to my father, "A son is born to you," 2making him very glad.
16 Let that man be like 3the cities that the LORD overthrew without pity; 4let him hear a cry in the morning and an alarm at noon,
17 5because he did not kill me in the womb; so my mother would have been my grave, and her womb forever great.
18 6Why did I come out from the womb 7to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?

Jeremiah 20:14-18 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 20

This chapter gives an account of the usage that Jeremiah met with from many for his prophecies, and the effect it had upon him. He was smitten and put in the stocks by Pashur the priest, who released him the next day, Jer 20:1-3; upon which he prophesies again of the delivery of the city of Jerusalem, with all its riches, and of the whole land, to the Chaldeans; and particularly that Pashur should be a terror to himself and all his friends; and that both he and they should be carried captive into Babylon, and die, and be buried there, Jer 20:4-6; and then he complains of his being mocked at by the people for the word of the Lord; which he therefore determined to make no more mention of, but was obliged to it; and of the defamations of him, and snares that were laid for him, Jer 20:7-10; under which he is supported with the consideration of the Lord's being with him, and that his enemies should not prevail, but be confounded; and appeals to him, and calls for vengeance from him on them; and, in the view of deliverance, not only praises the Lord himself, but calls upon others to join with him in it, Jer 20:11-13; and yet, after all, the chapter is concluded with his cursing the day of his birth, and the man that brought his father the news of it, Jer 20:14-18.

Cross References 7

  • 1. Jeremiah 15:10; Job 3:3
  • 2. [John 16:21]
  • 3. Genesis 19:25; Isaiah 13:19
  • 4. Jeremiah 18:22
  • 5. [Job 3:10, 11]
  • 6. [Job 3:20]
  • 7. [Lamentations 3:1, 2]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.