Pashhur Persecutes Jeremiah and Is Judged
Those who oppose the word of God and persecute His messenger ultimately place themselves under the judgment they sought to suppress.
Jeremiah 20:1-6 (BSB)
1 When Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer and the chief official in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things,
2 he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.
3 The next day, when Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, “The LORD does not call you Pashhur, but Magor-missabib.
4 For this is what the LORD says: ‘I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends. They will fall by the sword of their enemies before your very eyes. And I will hand Judah over to the king of Babylon, and he will carry them away to Babylon and put them to the sword.
5 I will give away all the wealth of this city—all its products and valuables, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah—to their enemies. They will plunder them, seize them, and carry them off to Babylon.
6 And you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house, will go into captivity. You will go to Babylon, and there you will die and be buried—you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied these lies.’”
What is the big idea of Jeremiah 20:1-6?
Those who oppose the word of God and persecute His messenger ultimately place themselves under the judgment they sought to suppress.
How does Jeremiah 20:1-6 point to Christ?
Jeremiah suffered persecution for proclaiming God’s truth, anticipating the rejection and suffering of Christ, who endured hostility yet secured redemption for those who believe.
How does Jeremiah 20:1-6 relate to the life and ministry of Jesus?
Jeremiah’s mistreatment anticipates the rejection and suffering of Christ. Jesus also faced hostility from religious leaders when confronting hypocrisy and proclaiming divine truth. Like Jeremiah, Christ endured rejection while faithfully declaring God’s message.
Authorial Intent
To record the violent opposition against Jeremiah by the temple official Pashhur and to reveal God’s prophetic response announcing judgment upon him and those who trusted in false security.
Literary Context
Jeremiah 20:1–6 follows Jeremiah’s temple proclamation of judgment in Jeremiah 19. The message provokes an immediate reaction from religious leadership. This narrative marks a turning point where Jeremiah begins to experience intensified persecution for speaking God’s word.
Chapter: Jeremiah 20
Pashhur, Terror on Every Side, and the Fire Shut Up in Jeremiah’s Bones
The LORD’s word brings Jeremiah persecution, ridicule, and anguish, yet it burns with irresistible force within him, and the LORD remains his mighty warrior against those who oppose the truth.