Jeremiah 20

1 et audivit Phassur filius Emmer sacerdos qui constitutus erat princeps in domo Domini Hieremiam prophetantem sermones istos

2 et percussit Phassur Hieremiam prophetam et misit eum in nervum quod erat in porta Beniamin superiori in domo Domini

3 cumque inluxisset in crastinum eduxit Phassur Hieremiam de nervo et dixit ad eum Hieremias non Phassur vocavit Dominus nomen tuum sed Pavorem undique

4 quia haec dicit Dominus ecce ego dabo te in pavorem te et omnes amicos tuos et corruent gladio inimicorum suorum et oculi tui videbunt et omnem Iudam dabo in manu regis Babylonis et traducet eos in Babylonem et percutiet eos gladio

5 et dabo universam substantiam civitatis huius et omnem laborem eius omneque pretium et cunctos thesauros regum Iuda dabo in manu inimicorum eorum et diripient eos et tollent et ducent in Babylonem

6 tu autem Phassur et omnes habitatores domus tuae ibitis in captivitatem et in Babylonem venies et ibi morieris ibique sepelieris tu et omnes amici tui quibus prophetasti mendacium

7 seduxisti me Domine et seductus sum fortior me fuisti et invaluisti factus sum in derisum tota die omnes subsannant me

8 quia iam olim loquor vociferans iniquitatem et vastitatem clamito et factus est mihi sermo Domini in obprobrium et in derisum tota die

9 et dixi non recordabor eius neque loquar ultra in nomine illius et factus est in corde meo quasi ignis exaestuans claususque in ossibus meis et defeci ferre non sustinens

10 audivi enim contumelias multorum et terrorem in circuitu persequimini et persequamur eum ab omnibus viris qui erant pacifici mei et custodientes latus meum si quo modo decipiatur et praevaleamus adversus eum et consequamur ultionem ex eo

11 Dominus autem mecum est quasi bellator fortis idcirco qui persequuntur me cadent et infirmi erunt confundentur vehementer quia non intellexerunt obprobrium sempiternum quod numquam delebitur

12 et tu Domine exercituum probator iusti qui vides renes et cor videam quaeso ultionem tuam ex eis tibi enim revelavi causam meam

13 cantate Domino laudate Dominum quia liberavit animam pauperis de manu malorum

14 maledicta dies in qua natus sum dies in qua peperit me mater mea non sit benedicta

15 maledictus vir qui adnuntiavit patri meo dicens natus est tibi puer masculus et quasi gaudio laetificavit eum

16 sit homo ille ut sunt civitates quas subvertit Dominus et non paenituit eum audiat clamorem mane et ululatum in tempore meridiano

17 qui non me interfecit a vulva ut fieret mihi mater mea sepulchrum et vulva eius conceptus aeternus

18 quare de vulva egressus sum ut viderem laborem et dolorem et consumerentur in confusione dies mei

Jeremiah 20 Commentary

Chapter 20

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)

Verses 1-6 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.

Verses 7-13 The prophet complains of the insult and injury he experienced. But ver. ( 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.

Verses 14-18 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.

Chapter Summary

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.