Jeremiah 20:7-13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Jeremiah 20:7-13

Pashur's doom was to be a terror to himself; Jeremiah, even now, in this hour of temptation, is far from being so; and yet it cannot be denied but that he is here, through the infirmity of the flesh, strangely agitated within himself. Good men are but men at the best. God is not extreme to mark what they say and do amiss, and therefore we must not be so, but make the best of it. In these verses it appears that, upon occasion of the great indignation and injury that Pashur did to Jeremiah,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 20:7

O Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived ,.... What follows from hence to the end of the chapter is thought to have been said by the prophet, when in the stocks, or in prison, and shows mixture of grace and corruption in him; a struggle between flesh and spirit, and the force of a temptation under which he laboured, arising from difficulties and discouragements in his work; and he not only complains to God, but of him; that he had deceived him, when he first called him to be a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 20:8

For since I spake, I cried out ,.... Or, "when I speak, I cry" F1 מדי אדבר אזעק "quum loquor exclamavi, i.e. loquor exclamans", Gataker. ; whensoever I speak in the name of the Lord, and deliver message from him to the people, I lift up my voice and cry aloud, that all may hear and understand; and as showing zeal, fervour, and diligence: or, "I cry" with grief and trouble at the usage I meet with, and the contempt that is cast upon the word; or because of what I am obliged to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 20:9

Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name ,.... Not that he publicly said this before his enemies, or privately to his friends, but he said it in his heart; he thought, nay, resolved, within himself, to prophesy no more; since no credit was given to him, but contempt cast on him; he was disgraced, and God was dishonoured, and no good done; wherefore he concluded it was better to be silent, and not mention the name of God, and say nothing of any message he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 20:10

For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side ,.... It was brought to the prophet's ears by some of his friends, how he was defamed by many, and these great and mighty ones, as the word also signifies; how his character was aspersed; his good name taken away; and false and scandalous reports were raised of him from all quarters; which filled him with fear all around, so that he might quickly expect fresh trouble from one side or another; see Psalm 31:13 ; and this was a reason of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 20:11

But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one ,.... The Targum is, "the Word of the Lord is for my help.' "Mighty" to support, uphold, defend, and deliver him; and "terrible" to his enemies. The prophet looks back to the promise the Lord had made him, of his gracious and powerful presence, Jeremiah 1:18 ; which he now takes comfort from; and it would have been well if he had kept this always in view, and had continued in the same actings of faith and temper of mind: but this lasted... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 20:12

But, O Lord, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart ,.... That tries the cause of the righteous, and vindicates them, rights their wrongs, and does them justice; being the omniscient God, the seer and searcher of the hearts and reins; who knows the uprightness of their hearts, as well as their ways, and the sincerity of their affections: or that tries the faith and patience of the righteous, their constancy and integrity; and upon trial finds that their affections are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 20:13

Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord ,.... The prophet, from prayer, proceeds to praise; and from expressions of faith and confidence in the Lord, having committed his cause to him, being assured of success, rises up to a holy triumph and joy; and calls upon his soul, and upon others, to join with him in praising, and singing praises to the Lord: this is said, as Kimchi observes, with respect to the saints in Jerusalem; for there were some good people doubtless there at this time, a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 20:7

O Lord, thou hast deceived me - Thou hast promised me protection; and, lo! I am now delivered into the hands of my enemies. These words were probably spoken when Pashur smote him, and put him in prison. I think our translation of this passage is very exceptionable. My old Bible reads, Thou laddist me aside Lord; and I was lad aside. The original word is פתיתני pittithani , thou hast persuaded me, i.e., to go and prophesy to this people. I went, faithfully declared thy message, and now... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Jeremiah 20:8

I cried violence and spoil - This was the burden of the message thou didst give me. read more

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