Jeremiah 26 20

Jeremiah 26:20 kjv

And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 26:20 nkjv

Now there was also a man who prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjath Jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 26:20 niv

(Now Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim was another man who prophesied in the name of the LORD; he prophesied the same things against this city and this land as Jeremiah did.

Jeremiah 26:20 esv

There was another man who prophesied in the name of the LORD, Uriah the son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land in words like those of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 26:20 nlt

At this time Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim was also prophesying for the LORD. And he predicted the same terrible disaster against the city and nation as Jeremiah did.

Jeremiah 26 verses

Jeremiah 26 20 meaning

Jeremiah 26:20 introduces Uriah, a prophet from Kiriath-jearim, who delivered the very same message of impending judgment against Jerusalem and Judah as Jeremiah did. This verse serves to underscore the perilous nature of Jeremiah's prophetic calling and to illustrate the murderous character of King Jehoiakim, who pursued and killed Uriah for his faithfulness in declaring God's word. It highlights that the message itself, not merely the messenger, was considered an offense by the king.

Jeremiah 26 20 Context

Jeremiah 26 is set during the early reign of King Jehoiakim (c. 609-598 BC), a period marked by political instability, spiritual declension, and violent suppression of dissent. The chapter records Jeremiah delivering a stern temple sermon, similar in tone to Jeremiah 7, warning Judah that unless they repent, Jerusalem and its Temple would face the same destruction as Shiloh. This message provoked outrage from priests, prophets, and the people, leading to Jeremiah's arrest and demand for his execution. During Jeremiah's trial before the officials and people, the precedent of Micah (who prophesied doom against Jerusalem in Hezekiah's time but was not killed, Jer 26:17-19) is recalled. Verse 20, however, immediately introduces a contrasting example: Uriah, who also prophesied against "this city and this land" with words identical to Jeremiah's. Uriah's fate—fleeing to Egypt but being extradited and murdered by Jehoiakim—serves as a grim contemporary counterpoint to Micah's story, revealing Jehoiakim's brutal tyranny and highlighting the extreme danger Jeremiah himself was in. The account of Uriah underscores the real and immediate threat to Jeremiah's life for speaking God's unwelcome truth.

Jeremiah 26 20 Word analysis

• Indeed, (וְגַם - vegam): This Hebrew particle literally means "and also" or "furthermore." Its placement here signals an additional, significant illustration or piece of evidence that corroborates and intensifies the narrative, rather than simply introducing new information. It links Uriah's story directly to Jeremiah's precarious situation, emphasizing the pattern of prophetic persecution.
• there was also a man who prophesied (אִישׁ הָיָה מִתְנַבֵּא - ish hayah mitnabbe'): "A man who was prophesying." "מִתְנַבֵּא" (mitnabbe') from the root נָבָא (naba'), means to prophesy, to speak by divine inspiration. The reflexive form here emphasizes that he himself was performing the act of prophesying, rather than passively receiving. This clearly identifies him as a legitimate spokesperson for God.
• in the name of the LORD (בְּשֵׁם יְהוָה - b'shem YHVH): This phrase is crucial for validating a true prophet in ancient Israel (Deu 18:20-22). It indicates divine authority and commission. Uriah was not speaking his own words or mere political commentary, but delivering God's message. His prophecy carried the full weight of the Lord's word, distinguishing him from false prophets who spoke "in their own name."
• Uriah (אוּרִיָּה - Uriyah): Meaning "My light is Yahweh" or "Yahweh is light." Names in the Bible often carried significant meaning. While not directly expounded upon in this context, the name itself subtly points to the source of his message and life's purpose.
• son of Shemaiah (בֶן-שְׁמַעְיָהוּ - ben-Shema'yahu): "Shemaiah" means "Heard by Yahweh" or "Yahweh has heard." Providing a father's name rooted in Yahweh signifies an established lineage, adding historical concreteness and authenticity to Uriah's identity. This detail roots him in Israel's tradition and society.
• from Kiriath-jearim (מִקִּרְיַת יְעָרִים - mi-Kiryat Ye'arim): This town, "City of Forests," was located about eight miles northwest of Jerusalem. It was historically significant as the place where the Ark of the Covenant rested for twenty years before David brought it to Jerusalem (1 Sam 7:1-2). His origin from here gives him a specific geographic identity and perhaps hints at a prophet who, though from outside the immediate Jerusalem elite, still brought a crucial divine word to the capital.
• who prophesied against this city (אֶל-הָעִיר הַזֹּאת - 'el ha-'ir ha-zot): Refers to Jerusalem. The specific direction of the prophecy—"against" Jerusalem—indicates a message of judgment and condemnation. This parallels Jeremiah's message explicitly.
• and against this land (וְאֶל-הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת - v'el ha-'aretz ha-zot): Refers to Judah. The inclusion of "this land" shows that the judgment was not just for the capital but for the entire kingdom, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of their national apostasy.
• just like all the words of Jeremiah (כְּכֹל דִּבְרֵי יִרְמְיָהוּ - k'chol divrei Yirmeyahu): This is the pivotal comparison. It directly equates Uriah's prophetic message with Jeremiah's, making it undeniable that both spoke God's truth. This direct parallel underscores the main point of presenting Uriah's story in this context: if Uriah, who spoke exactly as Jeremiah did, was executed, then Jeremiah was also at mortal risk. It legitimizes Jeremiah's words by demonstrating that God used multiple prophets with the same dire message.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Indeed, there was also a man who prophesied in the name of the LORD": This opening establishes Uriah's status as a legitimate, divinely authorized prophet, confirming that he operated with God's imprimatur, not on human initiative. The Hebrew "vegam" emphasizes this as a further significant point, directly relevant to Jeremiah's predicament.
• "Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim": These identifying details firmly place Uriah within the historical context of Judah, preventing him from being a vague or allegorical figure. His specific hometown might suggest he was an "outsider" in Jerusalem's power circles, yet God used him to deliver a word directly to the capital.
• "who prophesied against this city and against this land": This phrase pinpoints the target of Uriah's prophecy – Jerusalem (the religious and political center) and the entire kingdom of Judah. It signifies a comprehensive divine judgment against the whole nation for its transgressions.
• "just like all the words of Jeremiah": This concluding comparison is central to the verse's purpose. It explicitly links Uriah's message to Jeremiah's, creating an undeniable parallel. It is a key literary device to underscore the seriousness of Jeremiah's message, the historical precedent of its rejection, and the very real danger of execution that Jeremiah himself faced at the hands of King Jehoiakim.

Jeremiah 26 20 Bonus section

The narrative of Uriah serves as a potent illustration of what it means to be a "prophet in Israel" during a period of national apostasy, directly contrasting with the leniency shown to Micah a century earlier. The detailing of Uriah's specific origin from Kiriath-jearim, rather than being an elite Jerusalem figure, highlights God's willingness to raise up prophets from diverse backgrounds to deliver His unvarnished truth. This story directly informed the deliberations during Jeremiah's own trial, acting as a recent and alarming case study. While some of Jeremiah's accusers pointed to the fate of Uriah to demand Jeremiah's death, God's intervention, possibly through Ahikam, showed divine sovereignty over who would face the ultimate earthly consequence and who would be protected to continue their ministry. The act of fleeing to Egypt suggests a human response to extreme danger, yet God still allowed him to be returned to face his fate. This aspect of the narrative implicitly questions the concept of 'escaping' divine calling, reminding readers of the inescapable nature of one's prophetic assignment and God's ultimate control over outcomes.

Jeremiah 26 20 Commentary

Jeremiah 26:20 introduces the crucial, albeit brief, narrative of Uriah, a prophet whose experience stands as a stark warning and powerful validation within Jeremiah's trial. By stating that Uriah "prophesied in the name of the LORD," the text affirms his legitimacy, distinguishing him from false prophets and underscoring that his message of judgment against "this city and against this land" was divine in origin, not personal. The explicit comparison "just like all the words of Jeremiah" serves as the textual anchor for this account, demonstrating that the very message Jeremiah was being prosecuted for had already been declared by another true prophet. This narrative, then, highlights not the content of the prophecy as the ultimate offense (since God sent it), but King Jehoiakim's brutal and defiant rejection of God's word and His messengers. Uriah's fate — flight, extradition, and execution — contrasts sharply with the earlier mention of Micah, who prophesied doom under Hezekiah but was not put to death (Jer 26:17-19). This juxtaposition starkly reveals the unique depravity and authoritarianism of Jehoiakim's reign, making Jeremiah's miraculous deliverance (Jer 26:24) even more profound. The memory of Uriah likely fueled the fears and pressures surrounding Jeremiah's own situation, offering a grim, contemporary precedent of martyrdom for speaking divine truth.