The big picture
Jeremiah 20 opens in verse 1 with “Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 9 with “Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his…”, and closes in verse 18 with “Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, Pashur, Babylon, Jeremiah, hand. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Jeremiah · King James Version · 18Jeremiah 20:1-6
1–6: Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the…
Jeremiah 20:1–6 opens with “Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD …” and reaches “And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 20 develops its own movement around LORD, Pashur, Babylon, Jeremiah, hand, with particular weight carried by Pashur, Babylon, Jeremiah.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD , heard that Jeremiah…” Naming Immer and Jeremiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by…” Naming Benjamin and Jeremiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.
Jeremiah 20:1-6
King James Version1Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD , heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.
2Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD .
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 Magor-missabib.
4For thus saith the LORD , Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends: 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 slay them with the sword.
5Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labours 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 spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.
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 lies.
Jeremiah 20:7-12
7–12: O LORD , thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger…
Jeremiah 20:7–12 opens with “O LORD , thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast…” and reaches “But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 20 develops its own movement around LORD, Pashur, Babylon, Jeremiah, hand, with particular weight carried by LORD, cried, daily.
Context that brings the passage to life
“O LORD , thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
“For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bones, burning, fire. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
Jeremiah 20:7-12
King James Version7O LORD , thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.
8For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.
9Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
10For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.
11But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.
12But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.
Jeremiah 20:13-18
13–18: Sing unto the LORD , praise ye the LORD : for he hath delivered the soul…
Jeremiah 20:13–18 opens with “Sing unto the LORD , praise ye the LORD : for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the…” and reaches “Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 20 develops its own movement around LORD, Pashur, Babylon, Jeremiah, hand, with particular weight carried by LORD, womb, born.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Sing unto the LORD , praise ye the LORD : for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.” Naming Sing keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Jeremiah 20:13-18
King James Version13Sing unto the LORD , praise ye the LORD : for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.
14Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.
15Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad.
16And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;
17Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.
18Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Jeremiah 20:1 begins with “Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD , heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.”
Where the chapter turns
Jeremiah 20:9 forms a natural hinge: “Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I…”
The final note
Jeremiah 20:18 leaves the reader with “Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, Pashur, Babylon, Jeremiah, hand, house help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What assumption drives Abraham's deception?
He assumes there is no fear of God in the place and that he will be killed.
How does the chapter expose that assumption?
Abimelech responds seriously to God's warning and confronts Abraham about wrongdoing.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.