Jeremiah 20:7 kjv
O 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.
Jeremiah 20:7 nkjv
O LORD, You induced me, and I was persuaded; You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily; Everyone mocks me.
Jeremiah 20:7 niv
You deceived me, LORD, and I was deceived; you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me.
Jeremiah 20:7 esv
O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me.
Jeremiah 20:7 nlt
O LORD, you misled me,
and I allowed myself to be misled.
You are stronger than I am,
and you overpowered me.
Now I am mocked every day;
everyone laughs at me.
Jeremiah 20 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 1:8 | "Do not be afraid in any way of them, for I am with you to deliver you." | God's presence with the prophet |
| Jeremiah 1:17 | "But you, gird up your loins and arise, and speak to them all that I command you." | Divine command to speak |
| Jeremiah 15:10 | "But the Lord said to me, 'Say to them, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon this city and all its towns all the disaster that I have spoken against it.'" | God's judgment proclaimed |
| Jeremiah 15:15 | "O Lord, you know; remember me and visit me, and avenge me on my persecutors." | Prophet's cry for justice |
| Jeremiah 17:18 | "Let my persecutors be put to shame, but let not me be put to shame; let them be broken, but let not me be broken." | Desire for vindication |
| Isaiah 49:4 | "But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity." | Prophet's sense of futility |
| Ezekiel 3:7 | "But the house of Israel will not listen to you; for they are not willing to listen to me." | Resistance to prophecy |
| Ezekiel 3:14 | "So the Spirit lifted me up and bore me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the Lord being strong upon me." | Spirit's powerful presence |
| Acts 4:20 | "For we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard." | Compulsion to speak |
| Acts 26:14 | "And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'" | God's overwhelming call |
| Galatians 1:16 | "to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not consult with flesh and blood." | Divine revelation |
| 2 Corinthians 12:9 | "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”" | God's strength in weakness |
| Romans 1:15 | "thus I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome." | Eagerness to preach |
| Job 5:12 | "He frustrates the devices of the prudent, so that their hands accomplish nothing.” | God frustrating human plans |
| Job 12:16 | "With him are strength and sound, the deft and the inept." | God's sovereignty |
| Psalm 31:14 | "But I, O Lord, cry to you; to you, O Lord, I pray;" | Direct prayer to God |
| Psalm 71:4 | "My God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked, from the grip of the unjust and cruel man." | Plea for deliverance |
| Psalm 120:5 | "Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!" | Lament of dwelling with opposition |
| Amos 7:14 | "Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I am no prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet. But I am a shepherd, and a dresser of sycamore trees," | Humility before God's call |
| Mark 14:36 | "“Abba, Father,” all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”" | Submission to God's will |
Jeremiah 20 verses
Jeremiah 20 7 Meaning
Jeremiah 20:7 expresses the prophet's deep sense of being deceived and overcome by God's message. It's a lamentation of being lured into a prophetic role where he experiences constant ridicule and opposition because of God's word. The verse reveals the internal struggle and personal cost of faithfully proclaiming God's truth in a hostile environment.
Jeremiah 20 7 Context
Jeremiah 20:7 occurs within a broader section of Jeremiah's ministry (chapters 1-29) where the prophet faces intense opposition and persecution for his unwavering prophecies of judgment against Judah. This particular verse is part of Jeremiah's personal lament and a powerful expression of his inner turmoil. The historical context is the looming Babylonian threat and the internal spiritual and political corruption within Jerusalem, leading to the eventual destruction of the city and the Temple. Jeremiah's message was unpopular and seen as treasonous by the religious and political establishment. He is depicted as an unwilling prophet, burdened by the message God gave him, a message that brought him only hardship and scorn.
Jeremiah 20 7 Word Analysis
- “O LORD God” (transliteration: Adonai YHWH): This is a direct address to God, using two of His most significant covenant names. "Adonai" means Lord or Master, emphasizing God's sovereignty and authority. "YHWH" (Yahweh) is God's personal covenant name, revealed to Moses, signifying His faithfulness and presence. This double address signifies a plea to the ultimate authority and the covenant-keeping God.
- “You have persuaded me” (transliteration: Pituwtani): The Hebrew verb patah can mean to persuade, entice, seduce, or deceive. Here, it conveys God's irresistible drawing of Jeremiah into prophecy. While not an accusation of malicious deceit, it highlights the overwhelming, compelling nature of God's call that drew Jeremiah in, despite his initial reluctance and the subsequent suffering.
- “and I am persuaded” (transliteration: Tepat Tni): This is a passive form, indicating Jeremiah feels acted upon. He acknowledges that he yielded to God's powerful influence or invitation.
- “You have been too strong for me” (transliteration: Amtzta Li): The verb amatz means to be strong, bold, or firm. Jeremiah feels God's strength has overcome his own will and resistance, making him unable to refuse the prophetic call.
- “and have prevailed” (transliteration: Tatzalni): The verb tazal means to deliver or snatch away. Here, it implies that God has forcefully taken possession of Jeremiah, compelling him to this role. He feels he has been overpowered and captured by divine will.
- “I have become a laughingstock” (transliteration: Ehyah lzlm): Jeremiah acknowledges the consequence of his calling: ridicule. The noun zulah refers to a joke, mockery, or something derided. He is openly mocked by his opponents.
- “all day long” (transliteration: Kol ha yom): This emphasizes the continuous and relentless nature of the mockery he faces.
- “everyone mocks me” (transliteration: Kol Tzchoq li): This reinforces the pervasiveness of the ridicule from all directions.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "You have persuaded me, and I am persuaded": This dual statement captures Jeremiah's feeling of being irresistibly drawn into a ministry he did not fully choose. It's not a blaming statement against God, but an honest expression of his submission to God's sovereign will that pulled him into a difficult path.
- "You have been too strong for me, and have prevailed": This group of words emphasizes the power differential between God and the prophet. Jeremiah felt completely outmatched and overtaken by God's divine power, leading him to fulfill his prophetic commission.
Jeremiah 20 7 Bonus Section
This verse resonates deeply with the prophetic calling throughout scripture, portraying prophecy not merely as a divine message, but as a life-altering encounter that can lead to profound personal struggle. Jeremiah's lament is echoed in the New Testament. For instance, Jesus himself speaks of his mission with a sense of destiny that would lead to suffering. The Apostle Paul also shares similar sentiments, describing how the "mystery was hidden for ages" but now revealed, implying a divine imperative to preach it despite hardship (Rom 16:25-27). The sense of being divinely compelled to speak, even when it brings tribulation, is a hallmark of true prophetic ministry across both Testaments. The verse also speaks to the burden of truth; when one carries a message that goes against the prevailing culture, they often face social alienation, just as Jeremiah did.
Jeremiah 20 7 Commentary
Jeremiah 20:7 reveals the profound and often painful intimacy between God and His prophets. The prophet expresses his feeling of being "persuaded" or "overpowered" by God, acknowledging that the divine call to preach an unpopular message was so compelling that it overcame his natural desires and attempts to avoid the role. This wasn't a coercion, but a profound drawing by the Holy Spirit. He admits to being made a "laughingstock" because of this faithful obedience. This verse underscores the spiritual warfare inherent in proclaiming God's truth, where prophets often faced ridicule and ostracism. The phrase "too strong for me" doesn't imply God was unfair, but that God's strength enabled and compelled Jeremiah despite his own human frailty and the opposition he faced. It’s a testament to the sovereign call of God which equips and sustains even in the face of immense personal cost.