Focused Passage

Jeremiah 20:7-13

Pashhur, Terror on Every Side, and the Fire Shut Up in Jeremiah’s Bones

The chapter moves from Pashhur hearing Jeremiah’s temple proclamation, to Pashhur beating and imprisoning Jeremiah, to Jeremiah announcing Pashhur’s new name and Babylonian doom, to Jeremiah’s lament over being overpowered by the LORD’s call, to the burning word he cannot hold in, to his confidence that the LORD is with him like a mighty warrior, to praise for deliverance, and finally to a deep birth lament expressing the prophet’s anguish.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

7You have deceived me, O LORD, and I was deceived. You have overcome me and prevailed. I am a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me.

8For whenever I speak, I cry out; I proclaim violence and destruction. For the word of the LORD has become to me a reproach and derision all day long.

9If I say, “I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,” His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones, and I become weary of holding it in, and I cannot prevail.

10For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that we may prevail against him and take our vengeance upon him.”

11But the LORD is with me like a fearsome warrior. Therefore, my persecutors will stumble and will not prevail. Since they have not succeeded, they will be utterly put to shame, with an everlasting disgrace that will never be forgotten.

12O LORD of Hosts, who examines the righteous, who sees the heart and mind, let me see Your vengeance upon them, for to You I have committed my cause.

13Sing to the LORD! Praise the LORD! For He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 7

Cross-references

Ezekiel 3:14Classic cross-references Psalms 94:19Classic cross-references Psalms 119:51Classic cross-references Hosea 9:7Classic cross-references Jeremiah 20:9Classic cross-references

Original words

You have deceived meפִּתִּיתַ֤נִיH6601Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singularO LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularand I was deceivedוָֽאֶפָּ֔תH6601Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singularYou have overcome meחֲזַקְתַּ֖נִיH2388Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singularand prevailedוַתּוּכָ֑לH3201Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singularI amהָיִ֤יתִיH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singulara laughingstockלִשְׂחוֹק֙H7814Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructday longהַיּ֔וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singulareveryoneכֻּלֹּ֖הH3605Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularmocksלֹעֵ֥גH3932Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularmeלִֽי׃Preposition | first person common singular

Verse 8

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 36:16Classic cross-references Jeremiah 6:10Classic cross-references Jeremiah 6:7Classic cross-references Habakkuk 1:3Classic cross-references Jeremiah 15:15Classic cross-references

Original words

Forכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionwheneverמִדֵּ֤יH1767Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructI speakאֲדַבֵּר֙H1696Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularI cry outאֶזְעָ֔קH2199Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularI proclaimאֶקְרָ֑אH7121Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singularviolenceחָמָ֥סH2555Noun - masculine singularand destructionוָשֹׁ֖דH7701Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularForכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionthe wordדְבַר־H1697Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhas becomeהָיָ֨הH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularto meלִ֛יPreposition | first person common singulara reproachלְחֶרְפָּ֥הH2781Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singularand derisionוּלְקֶ֖לֶסH7047Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructday longהַיּֽוֹם׃H3117Article | Noun - masculine singular

Verse 9

Cross-references

Psalms 39:3Classic cross-references Job 32:18Classic cross-references Jeremiah 23:29Classic cross-references Acts 4:20Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 9:16Classic cross-references

Original words

If I sayוְאָמַרְתִּ֣יH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularI will notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particle. . .וְלֹֽא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlemention Himאֶזְכְּרֶ֗נּוּH2142Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singularor speakאֲדַבֵּ֥רH1696Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singularany moreעוֹד֙H5750Adverbin His nameבִּשְׁמ֔וֹH8034Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular[His message] becomesוְהָיָ֤הH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singulara fireכְּאֵ֣שׁH784Preposition-k | Noun - common singularburningבֹּעֶ֔רֶתH1197Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singularin my heartבְלִבִּי֙H3820Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularshut upעָצֻ֖רH6113Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularin my bonesבְּעַצְמֹתָ֑יH6106Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common singularand I become wearyוְנִלְאֵ֥יתִיH3811Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularof holding it inכַּֽלְכֵ֖לH3557Verb - Piel - Infinitive constructand I cannotוְלֹ֥אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleprevailאוּכָֽל׃H3201Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular

Verse 10

Cross-references

Psalms 41:9Classic cross-references Jeremiah 11:19Classic cross-references Psalms 31:13Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 13:6Classic cross-references 2 Timothy 4:17Classic cross-references

Original words

Forכִּ֣יH3588ConjunctionI have heardשָׁמַ֜עְתִּיH8085Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularthe whisperingדִּבַּ֣תH1681Noun - feminine singular constructof manyרַבִּים֮H7227Adjective - masculine pluralTerrorמָג֣וֹרH4032Noun - masculine singularis on every sideמִסָּבִיב֒H5439Preposition-m | AdverbReport himהַגִּ֙ידוּ֙H5046Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plurallet us report himוְנַגִּידֶ֔נּוּH5046Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural | third person masculine singularAllכֹּ֚לH3605Noun - masculine singular constructmy trusted friendsאֱנ֣וֹשׁH582Noun - masculine singular construct. . .שְׁלוֹמִ֔יH7965Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularwatch forשֹׁמְרֵ֖יH8104Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural constructmy fallצַלְעִ֑יH6761Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularPerhapsאוּלַ֤יH194Adverbhe will be deceivedיְפֻתֶּה֙H6601Verb - Pual - Imperfect - third person masculine singularso that we may prevailוְנ֣וּכְלָהH3201Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common pluralagainst himל֔וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularand takeוְנִקְחָ֥הH3947Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common pluralour vengeanceנִקְמָתֵ֖נוּH5360Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common pluralupon himמִמֶּֽנּוּ׃H4480Preposition | third person masculine singular

Verse 11

Cross-references

Romans 8:31Classic cross-references Jeremiah 1:19Classic cross-references Jeremiah 1:8Classic cross-references Jeremiah 15:20Classic cross-references Psalms 25:3Classic cross-references

Original words

But the LORDוַֽיהוָ֤הH3068Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularis with meאוֹתִי֙H854Preposition | first person common singularlike a fearsomeעָרִ֔יץH6184Adjective - masculine singularwarriorכְּגִבּ֣וֹרH1368Preposition-k | Adjective - masculine singularThereforeעַל־H5921Preposition. . .כֵּ֛ןH3651Adverbmy persecutorsרֹדְפַ֥יH7291Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common singularwill stumbleיִכָּשְׁל֖וּH3782Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluraland will notוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleprevailיֻכָ֑לוּH3201Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralSinceכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionthey have notלֹ֣אH3808Adverb - Negative particlesucceededהִשְׂכִּ֔ילוּH7919Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common pluralthey will be utterlyמְאֹד֙H3966Adverbput to shameבֹּ֤שׁוּH954Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralwith an everlastingעוֹלָ֖םH5769Noun - masculine singulardisgraceכְּלִמַּ֥תH3639Noun - feminine singular constructthat will neverלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlebe forgottenתִשָּׁכֵֽחַ׃H7911Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular

Verse 12

Cross-references

Jeremiah 17:10Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 16:7Classic cross-references 1 Chronicles 28:9Classic cross-references Jeremiah 11:20Classic cross-references Romans 8:27Classic cross-references

Original words

O LORDוַיהוָ֤הH3068Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singularof Hostsצְבָאוֹת֙H6635Noun - common pluralwho examinesבֹּחֵ֣ןH974Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularthe righteousצַדִּ֔יקH6662Adjective - masculine singularwho seesרֹאֶ֥הH7200Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularthe heartכְלָי֖וֹתH3629Noun - feminine pluraland mindוָלֵ֑בH3820Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularlet me seeאֶרְאֶ֤הH7200Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singularYour vengeanceנִקְמָֽתְךָ֙H5360Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularupon themמֵהֶ֔םPreposition-m | Pronoun - third person masculine pluralforכִּ֥יH3588Conjunctionto Youאֵלֶ֖יךָH413Preposition | second person masculine singularI have committedגִּלִּ֥יתִיH1540Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markermy causeרִיבִֽי׃סH7379Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular

BSB notes

Hebrew kidneys

Verse 13

Cross-references

Psalms 41:11Classic cross-references Isaiah 25:4Classic cross-references Psalms 69:33Classic cross-references Psalms 35:9Classic cross-references Psalms 34:6Classic cross-references

Original words

Singשִׁ֚ירוּH7891Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralto the LORDלַֽיהוָ֔הH3068Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularPraiseהַֽלְל֖וּH1984Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe LORDיְהוָ֑הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularForכִּ֥יH3588ConjunctionHe rescuesהִצִּ֛ילH5337Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe lifeנֶ֥פֶשׁH5315Noun - feminine singularof the needyאֶבְי֖וֹןH34Adjective - masculine singularfrom the handsמִיַּ֥דH3027Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof evildoersמְרֵעִֽים׃סH7489Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural

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