Jeremiah 20:18 kjv
Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
Jeremiah 20:18 nkjv
Why did I come forth from the womb to see labor and sorrow, That my days should be consumed with shame?
Jeremiah 20:18 niv
Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?
Jeremiah 20:18 esv
Why did I come out from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?
Jeremiah 20:18 nlt
Why was I ever born?
My entire life has been filled
with trouble, sorrow, and shame.
Jeremiah 20 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 20:7 | O LORD, you have enticed me, and I was enticed; you have overpowered me and prevailed. | Direct parallel of feeling enticed and overwhelmed by God's call |
| Psalm 22:1-2 | My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from my cries of anguish? | Similar expression of divine abandonment and suffering |
| Psalm 42:3 | My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?” | Shared theme of constant sorrow and mockery |
| Isaiah 53:3 | He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. | Echoes Jeremiah's personal suffering |
| Matthew 27:46 | About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli Eli lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”) | Jesus quotes Psalm 22, reflecting similar anguish |
| Luke 19:42 | “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes." | Jesus' sorrow over Jerusalem's unresponsiveness |
| John 15:18-20 | “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you belong no longer to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you too.” | Explains the suffering of followers as a result of their belonging to Christ |
| Acts 4:1-3 | Peter and John before the Sanhedrin | Persecution of early apostles |
| 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 | We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. | The paradoxical nature of suffering for Christ |
| Galatians 6:17 | May no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. | Paul identifies with Christ's sufferings |
| 2 Timothy 2:12 | if we endure, we will reign with him. If we deny him he will deny us. | Perseverance through suffering leads to reward |
| Hebrews 11:36 | Others faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. | Examples of faith and enduring persecution |
| 1 Peter 4:12-13 | Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery trial among you, as if something unusual were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. | Encouragement to rejoice in suffering |
| Revelation 12:17 | Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus. | Satan's opposition to God's people |
| Jeremiah 15:10 | "Woe to me, my mother, that you bore me—a man of strife and contention to all the land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me." | Very similar expression of personal hardship and curse from others |
| Jeremiah 1:17-19 | "But you, prepare your loins; arise, and speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them." | God's warning to Jeremiah about opposition |
| Jeremiah 17:18 | Let my persecutors be ashamed and confused, and not be disgraced. Let them be broken with perpetual confusion, and let them not remember their dwelling place. | A plea for vindication against oppressors |
| Isaiah 49:7 | Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to him who is despised, whom the nation abhors, to the servant of rulers: "Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves..." | Prophecy about the Servant who is despised but honored |
| Lamentations 3:1 | I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his indignation. | Similar tone of suffering and divine discipline |
| Psalm 38:8 | I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the turmoil in my heart. | Expression of deep distress and inner turmoil |
Jeremiah 20 verses
Jeremiah 20 18 Meaning
This verse is a lamentation by Jeremiah, expressing the profound sorrow and despair he feels at the unending cycle of suffering and the relentless opposition he faces. It speaks to the inner anguish of bearing a divine message that brings only persecution, and the feeling of being overwhelmed by the futility of his efforts in the face of persistent societal sin.
Jeremiah 20 18 Context
Jeremiah 20 occurs during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, marked by increasing pressure from Babylon and internal spiritual decay. Jeremiah, commissioned as a prophet, consistently delivered messages of impending doom due to the people's disobedience and idolatry. This often brought him into direct conflict with religious and political leaders, and the populace as well. Chapter 20 itself details an episode where Jeremiah is ridiculed, beaten, and imprisoned by Pashur, a chief priest. The verse in question follows Jeremiah's release, reflecting on the immense burden and pain associated with his prophetic calling, and the seeming futility of his words against a stubborn and unrepentant nation. The larger context is the gradual descent of Judah towards the Babylonian exile.
Jeremiah 20 18 Word Analysis
- "If I say": Implies a hypothetical situation, a thought or intention.
- "I will not make mention of him": A conscious decision to cease speaking about God or his message. This highlights the overwhelming desire for self-preservation or an end to suffering.
- "nor speak any more in his name": A more definitive cessation. To not speak "in his name" means not acting as God's authorized messenger. It signifies a potential renunciation of his calling or a deep weariness.
- "but his word": The key element that prevents this cessation. This refers to God's message, His divine imperative.
- "was in mine heart": Describes the internalized, irresistible nature of God's word. It was not just external information but a burning conviction within Jeremiah.
- "as a burning fire": A powerful metaphor. This signifies something consuming, urgent, unstoppable, and perhaps even painful to contain. It suggests the word compels action and expression.
- "shut up in my bones": Conveys a deep, fundamental compulsion, as if the word permeates his entire being, reaching the innermost structure of his existence. It's a physical, unyielding pressure.
- "and I was weary with forbearing": Expresses exhaustion and an inability to continue suppressing the divine message. The effort of holding back the word has become too burdensome.
- "and I could not stay": Reiteration of the inability to refrain from speaking, reinforcing the compelling nature of God's word.
Word Group Analysis
- "I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name": This phrase articulates the desire to silence himself and abandon his prophetic role, a desire born out of extreme suffering and opposition.
- "his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones": This powerful imagery captures the internal, dynamic, and inescapable nature of God's message. It's a divine compulsion, an irresistible force that cannot be contained. The fire represents both its vital power and the painful difficulty of holding it in. The "bones" signify its profound penetration into his very essence.
- "I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay": These two clauses emphasize the futility of trying to suppress this divine compulsion. Jeremiah's attempts to remain silent and passive have led to complete exhaustion, making continued restraint impossible.
Jeremiah 20 18 Bonus Section
This verse, and indeed the entire context of Jeremiah's ministry, demonstrates a core theological truth: the word of God, once truly received by a prophet, possesses an intrinsic dynamism. It's not merely a message delivered, but a message that burns within, demanding utterance. This internal compulsion mirrors the experience of other biblical figures, such as Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8-9) and Ezekiel (Ezekiel 3:1-3), and finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who Himself spoke with absolute authority and conviction despite immense opposition. The metaphor of fire also evokes themes of purification and judgment, suggesting the word has a transformative power, whether welcomed or resisted. Jeremiah’s struggle highlights the inherent difficulty of being God’s spokesperson in a resistant world, but also the profound dependence on and commitment to the divine message that characterizes true prophecy.
Jeremiah 20 18 Commentary
Jeremiah's statement reveals the agonizing conflict between his personal suffering and the unstoppable force of God's word within him. He wishes to escape the persecution by ceasing his prophetic activity, a very human desire. However, the divine word is depicted as an intrinsic, consuming element, like an unquenchable fire trapped within his being. This internal power overrides his desire for peace, compelling him to speak despite the dire consequences. His weariness stems from the immense effort of trying to suppress what is fundamentally a part of his divine commission and identity, ultimately leading to the realization that he "could not stay" silent.
- The prophet's desire to be silent is relatable; suffering often makes us want to withdraw.
- God's word is not passive information but an active, compelling force, deeply embedded within those He calls.
- True prophecy involves personal cost and an obedience that transcends comfort.
- When God's word is truly internalized, it becomes a burden too great to bear in silence.