Jeremiah 15 10

Jeremiah 15:10 kjv

Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.

Jeremiah 15:10 nkjv

Woe is me, my mother, That you have borne me, A man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent for interest, Nor have men lent to me for interest. Every one of them curses me.

Jeremiah 15:10 niv

Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth, a man with whom the whole land strives and contends! I have neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses me.

Jeremiah 15:10 esv

Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me.

Jeremiah 15:10 nlt

Then I said, "What sorrow is mine, my mother.
Oh, that I had died at birth!
I am hated everywhere I go.
I am neither a lender who threatens to foreclose
nor a borrower who refuses to pay ?
yet they all curse me."

Jeremiah 15 verses

Jeremiah 15 10 Meaning

Jeremiah 15:10 expresses the prophet Jeremiah’s deep personal lament and despair over his divine calling. He bewails his very birth, feeling that he was brought into the world only to be a figure of conflict and contention to his entire society. Despite living a life free from financial entanglements, neither lending nor borrowing, which typically breed social strife, he finds himself universally cursed and hated by everyone. The verse underscores the intense personal cost of faithfully proclaiming God's challenging word to a rebellious people.

Jeremiah 15 10 Context

Jeremiah 15:10 is part of the prophet's "confessions" or laments, which are intensely personal expressions of his anguish and struggles in his prophetic ministry. In chapter 15, God has just reaffirmed His unchangeable decision to bring severe judgment upon Judah due to their unrepentant sin (vv. 1-9), specifically stating that He will no longer listen to Jeremiah's intercession for the people. This divine rejection of his pleas, coupled with the ongoing persecution and hatred he faced for delivering such harsh, unpopular messages, pushes Jeremiah to a point of deep personal despair. He views his very existence as a source of endless conflict, not because of personal wrongdoing, but because of his prophetic role. This lament precedes God's tender and encouraging response to Jeremiah in verses 19-21, where the Lord calls him back to faithfulness and promises protection. Historically, Jeremiah prophesied during a period of national decline, political instability, and pervasive idolatry, culminating in the Babylonian exile. His prophecies of impending doom were widely seen as treasonous and undermined national morale, leading to his severe rejection by the populace, priests, and kings.

Jeremiah 15 10 Word analysis

• Woe (אָיוֹ, 'ayoh): This interjection expresses a deep cry of sorrow, distress, or grief. It conveys a strong sense of impending doom or regret, functioning as a lament over one's state or an outcome.
• is me (לִי, li): "To me" or "for me." It intensifies the personal nature of the lament, signifying deep, inward suffering.
• my mother (אִמִּי, 'immi): A very intimate and raw address. Directly speaking to his mother highlights the profound depth of his regret at having been born into such a life of suffering, linking his anguish to his very origin.
• that you bore me (יְלִדְתִּנִי, y'lidtini): From the verb yalad (to bear, give birth). Emphasizes the origin of his existence as the root cause of his current suffering. It's a lament over life itself, similar to Job's curses of his birth day.
• a man of strife (אִישׁ רִיב, 'ish riv):
  • Ish: "man."
  • Riv: Refers to contention, quarrel, dispute, legal case, or strife. Jeremiah describes himself as essentially defined by conflict; his very being provokes argument and opposition because he speaks God's truth.
• and a man of contention (וְאִישׁ מָדוֹן, v'ish madon):
  • Madon: Often translated as contention, dissension, or quarrel. Similar to riv but can also carry a nuance of being at loggerheads, creating a noisy and ongoing dispute. The pairing of riv and madon creates a comprehensive picture of his life as ceaselessly embroiled in disputes and conflict.
• to the whole earth (לְכָל־הָאָרֶץ, l'chol ha'aretz):
  • Chol: "all," "whole."
  • Ha'aretz: "the land," "the earth." In this context, it primarily refers to the entire land of Judah and its inhabitants, implying widespread opposition, not just from a few individuals or groups, but from the community at large.
• I have not lent (לֹא נָשִׁיתִי, lo nashiti): Nashah (root) means to lend or to act as a creditor, often implying a charging of interest. Jeremiah declares his innocence from involvement in financial transactions that were common sources of legal disputes and resentment in ancient societies. He has no claims over others.
• nor have I borrowed (וְלֹא נָשׁוּא בִי, v'lo nashu bi): Nashah (root) means to borrow. He has incurred no debt, meaning no one can hold a legitimate claim against him for unfulfilled obligations. This highlights his blameless conduct in standard social dealings.
• yet everyone curses me (וְכֻלָּם מְקַלְלִים אוֹתִי, v'chulam m'kall'lim oti):
  • V'chulam: "and all of them."
  • M'kall'lim: From qalal (to curse, revile, hold in contempt, treat lightly). Despite his exemplary conduct in personal and financial matters, the prophet is met with universal verbal abuse, hatred, and condemnation. This presents a powerful irony of unjust suffering.

Words-group analysis

• "Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me": This opening phrase is an outburst of profound personal agony and existential regret. Jeremiah sees his birth not as a blessing but as the origin of his present suffering, indicative of the severe mental and emotional toll his prophetic calling exacts.
• "a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth": This grouping defines Jeremiah's identity and experience in the eyes of his society. He doesn't choose strife but becomes its embodiment simply by delivering God's challenging message. His very existence becomes a point of conflict, felt throughout the land, highlighting the profound rejection of God's word through His messenger.
• "I have not lent, nor have I borrowed": This legal-social statement asserts Jeremiah's blamelessness in everyday, earthly dealings that often generate discord. It establishes his moral and ethical purity in transactional relationships, demonstrating that the universal animosity he faces is not rooted in personal misconduct or economic exploitation.
• "yet everyone curses me": This phrase highlights the intense injustice of his situation. Despite a clean slate in worldly matters, he is subjected to widespread contempt and revilement. The contrast underscores that the animosity is not personal in its origin but a reaction to the unpopular truth he represents.

Jeremiah 15 10 Bonus section

The profound personal anguish expressed by Jeremiah in this verse sets him apart as the "weeping prophet." His laments reveal a prophet deeply invested in his people's fate, yet utterly isolated by his calling. While other prophets certainly faced opposition, Jeremiah's expressions of internal struggle and despair are remarkably vivid and frequent, allowing unique insight into the psychological burden of a divine messenger. This human dimension of Jeremiah's ministry not only authenticates his struggles but also makes him a significant type of Christ, who also experienced rejection, sorrow, and unmerited suffering while faithfully executing His Father's will (e.g., Isa 53:3-4, Jn 1:11, Lk 19:41-42). Jeremiah's complaint about being a "man of strife" paradoxically positions him as a harbinger of truth that inherently brings division, a concept later articulated by Jesus Himself (Lk 12:51).

Jeremiah 15 10 Commentary

Jeremiah's lament in 15:10 is a raw, emotional outcry, typical of his "confessions." It lays bare the immense personal cost of prophetic faithfulness. The prophet, deeply distressed by the widespread rejection of his message and the imminent destruction of his nation, questions his very existence. He feels he was destined to be a symbol of discord to "the whole earth" (meaning Judah) simply because he brought God's confronting word. The striking paradox lies in his financial rectitude: he asserts blamelessness, having neither lent nor borrowed, yet he faces universal condemnation. This emphasizes that the hatred directed towards him is not due to any personal transgression but solely due to his prophetic witness. It highlights the profound conflict between divine truth and human rebellion, a theme that resonates with all who speak God's challenging word and experience rejection for righteousness' sake. This verse foreshadows the suffering of later prophets and ultimately, the unmerited suffering of Christ.