Jeremiah 20 1

Jeremiah 20:1 kjv

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.

Jeremiah 20:1 nkjv

Now Pashhur the son of Immer, the priest who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.

Jeremiah 20:1 niv

When the priest Pashhur son of Immer, the official in charge of the temple of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things,

Jeremiah 20:1 esv

Now Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer, who was chief officer in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things.

Jeremiah 20:1 nlt

Now Pashhur son of Immer, the priest in charge of the Temple of the LORD, heard what Jeremiah was prophesying.

Jeremiah 20 verses

Jeremiah 20 1 Meaning

This verse introduces Pashhur, son of Immer, a priest holding a powerful position as chief officer within the Jerusalem Temple. It notes his crucial action of hearing Jeremiah delivering his latest prophecies of judgment. This hearing sets the immediate stage for the direct confrontation between the divine message brought by Jeremiah and the human authority represented by Pashhur, signaling the beginning of Jeremiah's personal suffering and persecution outlined in the subsequent verses.

Jeremiah 20 1 Context

Jeremiah chapter 20:1 directly follows the powerful and dramatic prophecy delivered in chapter 19. In the Valley of Hinnom (Tophet), Jeremiah, at God's command, bought an earthen jar and then smashed it before the elders and priests, declaring God's coming judgment and destruction upon Jerusalem and its inhabitants, much like the broken jar. He prophesied that the city would become a desolate wasteland because of their idolatry and unfaithfulness. Upon returning from Tophet, Jeremiah stood in the court of the Temple and reiterated this message to all the people. Pashhur, holding the significant role of chief officer within the Temple, overheard this public declaration of impending doom against the very institution and people he was meant to safeguard. This context highlights the direct affront Jeremiah's message was to the religious and political establishment, particularly to someone of Pashhur's stature who represented that very establishment.

Jeremiah 20 1 Word analysis

• Now (וַיְהִי - vay'hi): A common Hebrew narrative connector, indicating a continuation of events or a transition to a new but related episode, here marking the immediate consequence of Jeremiah's prior prophetic act (Jer 19).
• Pashhur (פַּשְׁחוּר - Pashkhur): A personal name, likely meaning "freedom" or "prosperity." His name ironically contrasts with the oppression he inflicts and the disaster he faces (Jer 20:3-6). He belongs to a prominent priestly family (1 Chr 24:14).
• the son of Immer (בֶּן-אִמֵּר - ben-immer): Identifies his lineage, placing him within one of the twenty-four divisions of priests established by David, emphasizing his established authority and connection to the Temple hierarchy.
• the priest (הַכֹּהֵן - hakkohen): Affirms his sacred office. Priests were responsible for sacrifices, teaching the law, and maintaining holiness; Pashhur, however, misused this sacred role.
• who was chief officer (פָקִיד - paqīd): The Hebrew term "paqid" designates an overseer, administrator, or commissioner. This denotes a position of significant authority, likely overseeing the Temple treasury, administration, security, or even justice within the Temple courts. His office made him responsible for maintaining order, but he perverted this duty.
• in the house of the LORD (בֵּית יְהוָה - beyt YHWH): Refers specifically to the Temple in Jerusalem. This context underscores that Jeremiah's prophecy was a direct challenge to the authority and supposed sanctity represented by figures like Pashhur and the Temple establishment.
• heard (וַיִּשְׁמַע - vayyishma): A critical verb, implying active reception and understanding of the message, not merely an incidental listening. Pashhur understood the import of Jeremiah's words and their direct challenge to his authority.
• Jeremiah prophesying (יִרְמְיָהוּ מְנַבֵּא - Yirmeyahu menabbe): Highlights Jeremiah's divinely appointed role as God's messenger (Jer 1:5-10). The verb "prophesying" indicates that he was delivering a divinely inspired message, not just personal opinions.
• these things (אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה - 'et haddevarim ha'elleh): Refers to the specific message of impending judgment and destruction, particularly from Jeremiah 19:14-15, where Jerusalem is likened to the smashed jar and predicted to become Tophet.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Pashhur the son of Immer the priest, who was chief officer": This detailed identification establishes Pashhur's significant authority and deep roots within the established religious system. His lineage links him to a specific, respected priestly family, amplifying his institutional power. As "chief officer," he commanded a high position, implying not just religious but also considerable administrative and judicial influence in the Temple.
• "in the house of the LORD": This phrase geographically and spiritually situates Pashhur's authority within the Temple itself. It also frames the imminent confrontation as a conflict between God's truth delivered by Jeremiah and the corrupt human authority protecting perceived sanctity within God's own house.
• "heard Jeremiah prophesying these things": This concise statement marks the catalyst for the events to follow. "Heard" signifies not just physical hearing but intellectual comprehension of the radical and offensive nature of Jeremiah's message, which directly contradicted the priests' popular assurances of peace and challenged their authority. "These things" refers specifically to Jeremiah's recent, harsh prophecies of divine judgment and desolation against Jerusalem and the Temple, making the hearing an act of direct confrontation.

Jeremiah 20 1 Bonus section

The mention of Pashhur's lineage ("son of Immer") connects him to the "sixteenth lot" of the priestly divisions in David's time (1 Chr 24:14). This ancestry not only indicates his high birth and position but also suggests a family deeply entrenched in the Temple service for generations, potentially fostering a resistance to radical changes or prophetic rebukes that threatened their inherited status. Pashhur's readiness to punish Jeremiah for a divinely mandated message underscores the widespread moral and spiritual decline within the official religious leadership, demonstrating how vested interests can lead to outright suppression of God's Word. This encounter foreshadows similar conflicts in the New Testament where Temple authorities challenge and persecute Christ and His apostles for challenging their authority and proclaiming unwelcome truths (Acts 4:1-3; Acts 5:17-18).

Jeremiah 20 1 Commentary

Jeremiah 20:1 introduces a pivotal antagonist, Pashhur, who embodies the corrupt religious establishment against which Jeremiah prophesies. His position as a high-ranking priest and "chief officer" in the Temple signifies substantial authority and responsibility. When he "heard Jeremiah prophesying these things"—specifically the prophecies of impending destruction and desolation (Jer 19)—it was not merely a casual observation but a direct challenge to the Temple's perceived inviolability and the priests' reassurances of safety. Pashhur's subsequent reaction, outlined in the verses that follow, highlights the inherent conflict between true prophecy, which often calls for repentance and warns of judgment, and institutional power that prioritizes maintaining the status quo and comfort over divine truth. This verse sets the stage for Jeremiah's first recorded physical persecution and exemplifies the persecution faced by God's messengers when their divine message directly opposes human authority or popular sentiment.