THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET
JEREMIAH

Jeremiah 20

1Pashur smiting Jeremiah receiveth a new name and a fearful doom. 7Jeremiah complaineth of the persecutions he met with, 14and curseth the day of his birth.


1NOW 1Pashur the 2son of 3Immer the priest, who was also 4chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.

1 Hebr. Paschchur.

2 That is, descendant.

3 Upon whose family the sixteenth lot fell in the division of the priests. See 1 Chron. 24:14.

4 Or, one appointed (or ruler) a leader, that is (as some expound it), the second after the high priest, as Eleazar, in his father Aaron’s lifetime Num. 4:16, was made overseer and ruler in the house of God.

2Then Pashur 5smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the 6stocks that were in the 7high gate 8of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.

5 See 1 Kings 20 on verse 35.

6 Hebr. properly: turn over, as tending to the subversion or overthrow of the welfare of the offenders. See further 2 Chron. 16 on verse 10. Some conceive that this prison was so called because of the narrowness of the place, as wherein a man could scarcely turn himself about; also Jer. 29:26.

7 Or, uppermost gate. Other, high gate, as 2 Chron. 23:20. Compare Jer. 26 on verse 10. Concerning this name, uppermost or high there are several opinions.

8 That is, standing toward the land of Benjamin.

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 9Magor-missabib.

9 That is, terror or fear round about, for the reason that follows.

4For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will 10make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy 11friends: 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 12slay them with the sword.

10 Or, I give thee over to terror or fear.

11 Or, lovers. Other, friends. Also verse 6 and elsewhere.

12 That is, smite. See Gen. 8 on verse 21.

5Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the 13labours 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 spoila them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.

13 That is, all that they have gotten by their labor.

a Jer. 15:13; 17:3.

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 14lies.

14 Hebr. in or with falsehood.

7¶O LORD, thou hast 15deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast 16prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.

15 Or, allured, enticed, moved me, as we say. Some understand this of his calling and of the charge that was given him. Compare Jer. 1:6, 7, and see of the Hebrew word Judges 14 on verse 15, and compare verse 10 below. The same word is used of the just judgment of God in persuading the false prophets, Ezek. 14:9. See there.

16 Compare the manner of speech with verse 10.

8For since I 17spake, I cried out, I 18cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made ab reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.

17 Prophesying to the people.

18 Compare Job 19:7 and the annotation there.

b Isa. 57:4.

9Then I 19said, I will not make 20mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But 21his word was in mine heart as a 22burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was 23weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

19 Within myself, that is, I thought.

20 That is, mention the Lord no more, make no more mention of His charge.

21 The Lord’s word, or His charge; by the powerful working of the Holy Spirit; or, There was, etc.

22 See such a comparison Job 32:18; Psalm 39:3.

23 Or, I wearied myself to forbear, but could not, namely, keep it in longer, or, resist the Spirit of the Lord; I was constrained to go on in my ministry.

10¶For I heard the 24defaming of many, 25fear on every side. 26Report, say they, and we will report it. 27All my familiarsc watched for my 28halting, saying, Peradventure he will be 29enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

24 Or, railing, evil report.

25 See verse 3, Magor-missabib. This name may be taken for the leading man, unto that, whereof there is further spoken in this verse. Other, terror or fear surpriseth me round about, they say, etc.

26 That is, inquire after it, and heed it well what ye hear from Jeremiah, and acquaint us with it, that we may acquaint our rulers, both ecclesiastical and civil, to take counsel against him.

27 Hebr. All the men of my peace. Also Jer. 38:22. Compare 2 Sam. 8 on verse 10; Psalm 41 on verse 9.

c intimate friends

28 To see if I would in any way offend or stumble in my calling or course of life, and that for it they might bring me to ruin, or cause me to suffer. Compare Psalm 35:15; 38:18.

29 Permit himself to be misled by fair speeches, to contradict himself, or to err some other way, and to give occasion to bring himself to ruin and destruction.

11But the LORD is withd me as a mighty terrible one: thereforee my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: 30they shall be greatly ashamed; for they 31shall not prosper: theirf32everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.

d Jer. 1:8, 19; 15:20.

e Jer. 17:18.

30 Prophetically spoken of future things to come; at which the prophet by faith exceedingly rejoices, as appears in verse 13. Relating in the meanwhile how he was on the other side assaulted by the weakness of the flesh.

31 Compare Jer. 10:21. Or, because they have not been or shall not be successful or prosperous; because their plots shall fail them.

f Jer. 23:40.

32 Or, an everlasting shame! As an abrupt kind of speech, by way of admiration.

12But, O LORD of 33hosts, that triestg the righteous, and seest the 34reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeanceh on them: for unto 35thee have I opened my cause.

33 See 1 Kings 18 on verse 15.

g Jer. 11:20; 12:3.

34 As Jer. 11:20. See there.

h Jer. 11:20; 15:15; 18:19, etc.

35 As mine Advocate and Patron.

13Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.

1436Cursedibe the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.

36 Compare this complaint of impatience with Job 3:3, etc., and see the annotations there. The prophet relates here how impatient he was when the entire world cursed and reproached him. See verse 8; Jer. 15:10.

i Jer. 15:10.

15Cursedjbe the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A 37man child is born unto thee; 38making him very glad.

j Job 3:3.

37 Or, a young child or son.

38 Hebr. rejoicing he rejoiced him.

16And let that man be as the 39cities which the LORD overthrew,k and 40repented not: and let him hear the 41cry in the 42morning, and the shouting at 43noontide;

39 This seems to refer to the cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, etc., Genesis 19.

k Genesis 19.

40 See Gen. 6 on verse 6.

41 A wailing of his fellow citizens or neighbors, who are slain or are in danger of their life, as is wont to be made at the time of the enemies’ invasion.

42 That is, early, unawares, when he does not suspect it. Compare Hosea 10:15.

43 When they were wont to feast and to take rest.

1744Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be 45always great with me.

44 As if he said: Why did it not happen thus? Why has the Lord not killed me?; as in the next verse.

45 Hebr. of one with child of eternity, that is, always continuing with child and never bringing forth.

18Whereforel came I forth out of the womb to 46see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?

l Job 3:20.

46 That is, to experience. See Job 7 on verse 7.