Jeremiah 18 22

Jeremiah 18:22 kjv

Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.

Jeremiah 18:22 nkjv

Let a cry be heard from their houses, When You bring a troop suddenly upon them; For they have dug a pit to take me, And hidden snares for my feet.

Jeremiah 18:22 niv

Let a cry be heard from their houses when you suddenly bring invaders against them, for they have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden snares for my feet.

Jeremiah 18:22 esv

May a cry be heard from their houses, when you bring the plunderer suddenly upon them! For they have dug a pit to take me and laid snares for my feet.

Jeremiah 18:22 nlt

Let screaming be heard from their homes
as warriors come suddenly upon them.
For they have dug a pit for me
and have hidden traps along my path.

Jeremiah 18 verses

Jeremiah 18 22 Meaning

Jeremiah 18:22 conveys the prophet Jeremiah's anguished plea for divine justice against his enemies who have plotted his demise. It is a petition for God to bring swift and unexpected calamity upon them, specifically in their own homes, as a just consequence for their malicious and deceitful schemes to trap and destroy him. The verse encapsulates a prophet's appeal to God for vindication and retribution when faced with intense personal persecution for delivering God's message.

Jeremiah 18 22 Context

Jeremiah 18 unfolds against the backdrop of God's sovereign authority over nations, illustrated through the "potter's house" analogy (vv. 1-12). God, the divine Potter, has the right to shape or shatter any nation based on its moral response. Following Judah's steadfast refusal to repent despite this demonstration (vv. 13-17), Jeremiah delivers a strong prophecy of desolation. This divine word immediately provokes fierce opposition, as his enemies in his hometown of Anathoth resolve to silence him (v. 18). They plan to "devise schemes against Jeremiah" and attack his credibility, suggesting "let us smite him with the tongue," "pay no attention to any of his words," and refuse prophetic, priestly, or wise counsel through him. Jeremiah 18:22 is a raw, emotional component of Jeremiah's response to this specific plot (vv. 19-23), where he passionately appeals to God to deal with his persecutors in proportion to their malicious intent against him, his mission, and ultimately, God's word. His prayer for vengeance is a desperate plea for God's justice in the face of grave personal danger and unrighteous opposition.

Jeremiah 18 22 Word analysis

• Let a cry be heard (יִשָּׁמַע צְוָקָה, yishāmma‘ tsəvāqâ):
  • יִשָּׁמַע (yishāmma‘): Niphal imperfect of shama’, meaning "to be heard" or "to become audible." It suggests a divine enabling or allowance for the sound to manifest, making it a plea for God to bring about this hearing. It’s passive, indicating that something will cause the cry to be heard, aligning with God's active hand in judgment.
  • צְוָקָה (tsəvāqâ): Refers to a loud cry, often associated with distress, anguish, fear, battle, or a plea for help. In this context, it signifies the sound of sudden alarm, lamentation, and devastation emanating from a place previously presumed secure. This specific "cry" reverses the silence Jeremiah's enemies desired for him.
• from their houses (מִבָּתֵּיהֶם, mibbāttêhem):
  • בָּתֵּיהֶם (bāttêhem): "Their houses." The home symbolizes security, privacy, and personal space. For this cry of distress to come from their houses implies a complete disruption of their sanctuary, directly correlating with their plots against Jeremiah's safety and life. It signifies that the judgment will affect them in their most intimate and secure domains.
• when you bring plunderers upon them (כִּי־תָבִיא גְדוּד עֲלֵיהֶם, kî-ṯāḇi’ gəḏûḏ ‘ălêhem):
  • תָּבִיא (tāḇi’): "You bring" (masculine singular, referring to God). Emphasizes God's active and direct agency in orchestrating the judgment. It's not a mere passive allowance but an intentional sending.
  • גְּדוּד (gəḏûḏ): Refers to a raiding band, a troop of plunderers, often associated with sudden, destructive invasion and looting. This group signifies the instruments of divine punishment.
• suddenly (פֶּתַע, peta‘):
  • פֶּתַע (peta‘): An adverb meaning "suddenly," "unexpectedly," "at once." This element of surprise is crucial, mirroring the stealthy, unexpected nature of the enemies' traps for Jeremiah. It underscores the swiftness and unavoidable nature of the impending judgment.
• for they have dug a pit to capture me (כִּי כָּרוּ שׁוּחָה לְלָכְדֵנִי, kî kārû shūḥâ ləlokədēnî):
  • כִּי (kî): "For" or "because." Introduces the justification and rationale for Jeremiah's plea and God's expected action. It grounds the call for retribution in the enemies' concrete actions.
  • כָּרוּ שׁוּחָה (kārû shūḥâ): "They dug a pit." shūḥâ refers to a pit, often concealed, used to trap animals or humans. This metaphor is a common biblical trope for malicious, deceptive, and often lethal schemes.
  • לְלָכְדֵנִי (ləlokədēnî): "To capture me" or "to entrap me." Highlights the clear intent of the enemies: to seize, ensnare, or take captive, likely implying his physical harm or death.
• and have hidden snares for my feet (וּפַחִים טָמְנוּ לְרַגְלָי, ūpakhîm ṭāmnû ləraḡlāy):
  • וּפַחִים (ūpakhîm): "And snares/traps." paḥ (plural pakhim) specifically denotes a bird snare or a gin, a subtle and often camouflaged device. It amplifies the image of hidden malice and lethal intent.
  • טָמְנוּ (ṭāmnû): "They have hidden" or "they have concealed." Emphasizes the secrecy and cunning nature of the plot.
  • לְרַגְלָי (ləraḡlāy): "For my feet." Pinpoints the specific target and the vulnerability the enemies sought to exploit. Traps for feet suggest a desire to cause a fall, halt movement, or ensnare, directly impacting Jeremiah's ability to live and carry out his mission.

Words-Group by words-group analysis:

• "Let a cry be heard from their houses, when you bring plunderers upon them suddenly": This section expresses the desired judgment: a sudden, overwhelming invasion leading to distress within the enemies' most private and secure places. It paints a picture of swift divine retribution that breaks into the sanctuary of their lives. The choice of "plunderers" (גְּדוּד) emphasizes the destructive, chaotic, and non-discriminating nature of the judgment God is requested to unleash, mirroring the ruthlessness of the enemies.
• "for they have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden snares for my feet": This second part provides the casus belli, the concrete reason and justification for the proposed judgment. It vividly describes the insidious nature of the enemies' plot, using two common metaphors for deception and malice – digging a pit and setting snares. Both imagery speaks to a calculated, concealed intent to harm and eliminate, making their actions insidious and treacherous. The emphasis on "me" (Jeremiah) and "my feet" personalizes the threat, showing the prophet's vulnerable position.

Jeremiah 18 22 Bonus section

The imprecatory prayers found in the Bible, like Jeremiah's here, are often a point of theological discussion. They are best understood not as endorsements of personal revenge for believers today, but as expressions of faith in God's perfect justice.

• Divine Vindication: Such prayers demonstrate a prophet's absolute reliance on God as the ultimate arbiter of justice, especially when legal or social justice is unobtainable. It is a cry for God to act in defense of His word and His messenger.
• Alignment with God's Will: Jeremiah's distress is intertwined with the suffering of God's word being rejected. His desire for judgment is therefore, in a prophetic context, aligned with God's own attribute of righteous judgment against persistent wickedness.
• Precedent for Christ: Jesus Himself, a greater prophet, faced similar plots and snares (Mt 26:4). While He did not pray imprecatory prayers for His enemies but for their forgiveness (Lk 23:34), the biblical narrative confirms the eventual judgment of those who persistently reject God's will and persecute His messengers, even if delayed (2 Thes 1:6-8). This underscores a continuum where God is ultimately the avenger.
• Refinement of Character: While such raw prayers highlight the human struggle of prophets, they also serve to show God's ultimate justice working through flawed human vessels, transforming their pain into a demand for God's holiness to prevail.

Jeremiah 18 22 Commentary

Jeremiah 18:22 is a powerful imprecatory prayer arising from profound betrayal and existential threat against God's prophet. It reflects Jeremiah's raw humanity, pleading with a just God for vindication against those who maliciously seek his destruction simply for proclaiming the divine word. The verse highlights the principle of lex talionis (law of retaliation) in a spiritual sense: the very sudden, hidden, and destructive methods the enemies employ to trap Jeremiah, God is entreated to turn upon their own lives and homes. This is not mere personal vendetta, but an appeal to God's inherent justice; as the enemies' plot opposes God's purposes, their downfall would serve to uphold God's righteousness. It acknowledges that ultimate judgment belongs to the Lord, who sees all hidden acts and will bring them to light.