Jeremiah 20

King James Version

Full text for Jeremiah Chapter 20

1¶ Now 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 Magormissabib.

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.

7¶ O 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.

14¶ Cursed [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?

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Pashur, a chief governor, smote Jeremiah and put him in stocks for his prophecies. Upon release, Jeremiah prophesied that Pashur and his household would die in Babylonian captivity, renaming him "Magor-missabib." Overwhelmed by persecution and mockery, Jeremiah lamented his birth, yet acknowledged the irresistible call of God's word within him.

Medium Summary

Pashur, the chief governor in the temple, heard Jeremiah's prophecies and responded by smiting him and placing him in stocks. The next day, Jeremiah was released and delivered a severe prophecy, renaming Pashur "Magor-missabib," signifying "terror on every side." Jeremiah declared that Pashur, his friends, and his household would die in Babylonian captivity, and all Judah would fall to the king of Babylon, losing its treasures. Following this, Jeremiah expressed deep personal anguish, feeling deceived by the LORD and mocked daily for his message. He contemplated ceasing to speak in God's name, but found the word of the LORD to be an uncontainable "burning fire" within his bones. Despite his despair and the plotting of his familiars, he affirmed his trust in the LORD to deliver him and bring shame upon his persecutors, though he also cursed the day of his birth.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with Pashur, the son of Immer the priest and chief governor in the house of the LORD, hearing Jeremiah's prophecies. In response, Pashur smote the prophet and confined him in stocks at the high gate of Benjamin. The following day, upon Jeremiah's release, the prophet delivered a powerful and personal prophecy against Pashur. Jeremiah declared that the LORD had renamed him "Magor-missabib," meaning "terror on every side," foretelling that Pashur would become a terror to himself and his friends. He prophesied that Pashur's friends would fall by the sword of their enemies, and all Judah would be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, suffering captivity, slaughter, and the plundering of its strength, labours, and treasures. Furthermore, Pashur himself, along with his entire household, would go into captivity in Babylon, where he would die and be buried, having prophesied lies. Following this pronouncement, Jeremiah poured out his soul in a lament to the LORD, expressing a profound sense of being deceived and overpowered by God, and enduring daily derision and mockery for his prophetic message. He confessed his internal struggle, admitting that he had resolved to cease speaking in the LORD's name, but found the divine word to be an irresistible "burning fire shut up in my bones," making him weary with forbearing. He acknowledged the constant defaming and fear from many, and how even his familiars watched for his downfall, hoping to prevail against him. Yet, amidst this despair, Jeremiah affirmed his faith, declaring the LORD to be with him as a "mighty terrible one," ensuring his persecutors would stumble, not prevail, and face everlasting confusion. He appealed to the LORD of hosts, who tests the righteous, for vengeance. The chapter then shifts to an even deeper expression of despair, as Jeremiah curses the day of his birth, wishing he had never been born or had died in the womb, lamenting that his days were consumed with labour, sorrow, and shame.

Core Concepts

  • Persecution of ProphetsPashur, a high-ranking priest and governor, physically assaulted and imprisoned Jeremiah for delivering God's message, illustrating the opposition faced by true prophets.
  • Divine Judgment on PashurJeremiah, empowered by the LORD, renamed Pashur "Magor-missabib" and prophesied his and his household's death in Babylonian captivity, a direct consequence of his actions and false prophecies.
  • Impending Babylonian CaptivityThe chapter reiterates the LORD's decree that all Judah, its strength, and its treasures would be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon, leading to widespread captivity and destruction.
  • The Prophet's AnguishJeremiah expresses profound personal suffering, feeling deceived by God, mocked daily, and wishing he had never been born due to the immense sorrow and shame brought by his prophetic calling.
  • Irrepressible Divine WordDespite his desire to cease prophesying due to persecution, Jeremiah found the word of the LORD to be an overwhelming "burning fire shut up in my bones," compelling him to speak.
  • God's Vindication of the RighteousAmidst his lament, Jeremiah declares his unwavering trust that the LORD is with him as a "mighty terrible one" and will ultimately cause his persecutors to stumble and face lasting shame.