Jeremiah 20:18

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 20:14-18

What is the meaning of this? Does there proceed out of the same mouth blessing and cursing? Could he that said so cheerfully (Jer. 20:13), Sing unto the Lord, praise you the Lord, say so passionately (Jer. 20:14), Cursed be the day wherein I was born? How shall we reconcile these? What we have in these verses the prophet records, I suppose, to his own shame, as he had recorded that in the foregoing verses to God's glory. It seems to be a relation of the ferment he had been in while he was in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 20:18

Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow ,.... "Labour" in performing his work and office as a prophet; and "sorrow" in suffering reproach, contempt, and persecution for it; which to avoid, he wishes he had never been born: a sign of a very fretful and impatient spirit, and of a carnal frame. Jarchi thinks this refers to the destruction of the temple; that my days should be consumed with shame ? through the bad usage of him, the reproach that was cast upon him, and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 20:18

Wherefore came I forth - It would have been well had I never been born, as I have neither comfort in my life, nor comfort in my work. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 20:18

Verse 18 He then adds, My mother might have been my grave; (18) that is, “This light and life I value not; why then did I not die in my mother’s womb? and why did she conceive me?” Then he says, Why came I forth from the womb that I might see trouble and sorrow, and that my days. might be consumed in, reproach? Here he gives a reason why he was wearied of life; but he could not have been cleared on this account, nor ought he to be so at this day; for what just cause can we have to contend with... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 20:7-18

The sorrow and joy of God's servant. There are many such photographs of the inner heart-life of God's people. It is the touch of nature which brings them near to us. The words and work of Jeremiah become more living and influential when we witness his spiritual struggles. I. THE SPIRITUAL NECESSITY OF HIS POSITION IS ALTERNATELY COMPLAINED OF AND ACQUIESCED IN . The saint cannot always continue amidst his highest experiences. There are ups and downs, not only... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 20:14-18

Jeremiah curses the day of his birth. The passage is a further development of the complaint in Jeremiah 15:10 , and stands in no connection with the consolatory close of the preceding passage. There is a very striking parallel in Job 3:3-12 , and the question cannot be evaded, Which is the original? It is difficult to believe that Jeremiah copied from an earlier poem. Deep emotion expresses itself in language suggested by the moment; and, even after retouching his discourses, Jeremiah... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 20:14-18

Jeremiah cursing the day of his birth. I. TROUBLE MAY LEAD A GOOD MAN TO THE VERGE OF DESPAIR . Jeremiah was a prophet, a good man, a man of faith, a man of prayer. Yet he cursed the day of his birth. Jeremiah was not without precedents for his conduct. Not to mention Jonah, whose character is by no means exemplary, the patient Job and the courageous Elijah had both regarded existence as a curse, and cried passionately for death. Jeremiah had great provocations to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 20:14-18

Is life worth living? Here is one who evidently thought it was not. How bitterly he grieves over the fact that he was ever brought into existence! It is an illustration, as has been pointed out, of the maddening force of suffering.. It drives a man to the use of wild language. For great sufferings generate great passions in the soul. They rouse the whole man into action. And these great passions thus roused often become irrepressible. Many men of no ordinary meekness and self-control are... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Jeremiah 20:14-18

The prophet cursing the day of his birth. It is very perplexing to find these words following so closely upon the confidences expressed in Jeremiah 20:11-13 . And yet the perplexity is to some extent removed when we recollect how largely man is the creature of his moods. That he is bright and confident today may not hinder him from being in the depths of despair tomorrow. It is well for us to see how low a real and faithful prophet of God can sink. One is reminded at once of the similar... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Jeremiah 20:7-18

In the rest of the chapter we have an outbreak of deep emotion, of which the first part ends in a cry of hope Jeremiah 20:13, followed nevertheless by curses upon the day of his birth. Was this the result of feelings wounded by the indignities of a public scourging and a night spent in the stocks? Or was it not the mental agony of knowing that his ministry had (as it seemed) failed? He stands indeed before the multitudes with unbending strength, warning prince and people with unwavering... read more

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