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 states that a man named Urijah son of Shemaiah, who prophesied against Jerusalem and Judah, was also brought to Jeremiah's situation and met a similar fate by being killed. This highlights that Jeremiah was not alone in his prophetic warnings, and others faced persecution for delivering God's message, underscoring the severity of rejecting divine counsel.

Jeremiah 26 20 Context

This verse is part of a larger narrative in Jeremiah chapter 26 concerning the prophetic warning given by Jeremiah about the destruction of Jerusalem. King Jehoiakim and the priests and prophets of Judah sought to kill Jeremiah for his message, fearing it would incite the people against them. However, elders of the land intervened, citing the precedent of Micah of Moresheth, who prophesied similar things and was spared due to King Hezekiah's repentance. The chapter then brings up the case of Urijah, a contemporary prophet who had also warned against Jerusalem and Judah but had fled to Egypt out of fear. King Jehoiakim had him brought back and executed him, throwing his body into the common burial place. This incident serves as a stark contrast to the precedent set by Hezekiah and demonstrates the heightened resistance to God's word under Jehoiakim.

Jeremiah 26 20 Word Analysis

• "Moreover" (וְעוֹד - wə·‘ō·wḏ): Signifies an addition or continuation, indicating that another significant event or detail is about to be presented to further illustrate the prevailing atmosphere of disobedience and persecution.
• "Urijah" (אוּרִיָּה - ’Ū·rî·yāh): A Hebrew name meaning "Yahweh is my light." He was a contemporary prophet.
• "the son of Shemaiah" (בֶּן־שְׁמַעְיָה — ben-Šə·ma‘·yāh): Identifies his lineage, potentially connecting him to a priestly or notable family. Shemaiah is a common Hebrew name.
• "of Kirjath-jearim" (מִקִּרְיַת־יְעָרִים — miq·qir·yaṯ-yə·‘ā·rîm): Specifies his origin or association with this town, which was a significant Levitical city.
• "who also prophesied" (וְגַם־הוּא הִתְנַבֵּא — wə·ḡam-hū hɪṯ·na·ḇē): Emphasizes that Urijah’s message was consistent with Jeremiah’s, particularly regarding judgment against Jerusalem and Judah. The Hebrew hɪṯ·na·ḇē denotes active prophesying.
• "against this city" (עַל־הָעִיר־הַזֹּאת — ‘al-hā·‘îr-ha·zōṯ): Refers directly to Jerusalem, the capital city, and the focus of divine pronouncements.
• "and against this land" (וְעַל־הָאָרֶץ־הַזֹּאת — wə·‘al-hā·’ā·reṣ-ha·zōṯ): Broadens the scope of Urijah’s prophecy to include the entire land of Judah, highlighting the widespread national implications of the impending judgment.
• "according to all the words of Jeremiah" (כְּכָל־דִּבְרֵי יִרְמְיָה — kə·ḵāl-dib·rê Yir·mə·yāh): Underscores the similarity and corroboration of the prophetic messages delivered by both men.
• "and when Jehoiakim the king" (וּכְשָׁמְעוֹשׁ הַמֶּלֶךְ — ū·ḵə·šā·mə·‘ō·wō·w ha·me·leḵ): Introduces the critical action taken by the king, who was the ultimate authority responsible for either heeding or suppressing the prophetic word. The Hebrew here signifies "when he heard."
• "heard his words" (אֶת־דְּבָרָיו — ’eṯ-də·ḇā·rāw): Refers specifically to the pronouncements made by Urijah, which mirrored Jeremiah's severe warnings.
• "then king Jehoiakim sent" (וַיִּשְׁלַח הַמֶּלֶךְ — wa·yiš·laḥ ha·me·leḵ): Describes the immediate executive action ordered by the king to apprehend Urijah.
• "and brought him from Egypt" (וַיְבִיאֵהוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם — wa·yə·ḇi·’ē·hū mim·miṣ·rā·yim): Reveals that Urijah had fled to Egypt seeking refuge, likely fearing the same persecution Jeremiah faced.
• "and certain men of repute" (וַאֲנָשִׁים נִבְחָרִים — wa·’ă·nā·šîm·nɪḇ·ḥā·rîm): Indicates that the king commissioned specific individuals, possibly trusted officials or guards, to carry out the task. The Hebrew nɪḇ·ḥā·rîm implies chosen or select men.
• "and brought him with the sword" (וַיְבִיאוּהוּ עִם־חֶרֶב — wa·yə·ḇî·’ū·hū ‘im-ḥe·reḇ): This phrase is significant. While it can literally mean "with a sword," the context of the following verse (verse 23 where they "despise his words") suggests this might imply Urijah was forcibly brought back, perhaps under threat or in a manner that indicated the king's displeasure and intent. Some interpret it as "at sword-point" or referring to the king’s intent to use the sword against him. However, the preceding part of the verse does not explicitly state his execution here, but rather his apprehension and bringing back from Egypt. The act of being brought "with the sword" can also refer to military escort or seizure.
• "and killed Uriah the son of Shemaiah" (וַיָּמִיתוּ אֶת־אוּרִיָּה בֶּן־שְׁמַעְיָה — wa·yā·mî·ṯū ’eṯ-’Ū·rî·yāh ·ben-Šə·ma‘·yāh): The final outcome of Urijah’s apprehension, his death being directly attributed to the king's order.
• "and gave his dead body" (וַיִּתֵּן אֶת־גְּוִיָּתוֹ — wa·yɪ·ṯên ’eṯ-gə·ḇî·yā·ṯō): Details the disrespectful disposal of Urijah’s corpse. Gə·ḇî·yā·ṯō refers to his dead body or corpse.
• "to the common burial place" (אֶל־קֶבֶר הָעָם — ’el-qe·ḇeṟ hā-‘ām): Specifies the indignity of his burial. It was not in a family plot or a place of honor, but a mass grave for ordinary people, signifying a complete lack of respect and a public statement of condemnation.

Group Analysis:The narrative structure moves from the general prophecy against the city and land (Urijah's words) to the king's specific actions upon hearing them: fleeing to Egypt, being forcibly returned, and finally being executed and buried in a common grave. This sequence underscores the king's fierce opposition to prophetic dissent and the grave consequences faced by those who dared to speak God's judgment, even when the message aligned with genuine prophecy. The mention of being brought "with the sword" highlights the forceful and likely violent nature of his apprehension and the subsequent kingly decree for execution.

Jeremiah 26 20 Bonus Section

The contrast between Urijah’s treatment and that of Jeremiah, who was initially spared due to the intervention of elders, further emphasizes the fluctuating dynamics of resistance and the precarious position of prophets. Urijah’s execution demonstrates the ultimate price that some prophets paid for their obedience to God. His flight to Egypt reveals a primal human response to fear and persecution, but it also signifies a lack of full trust in God’s deliverance for him. The king’s order to bury Urijah in the "common burial place" was a significant act of public humiliation and condemnation, designed to erase any memory or respect for the prophet and his message. This incident predates the ultimate destruction of Jerusalem, serving as a precursor to the larger tragedy and foreshadowing the persistent rejection of divine guidance that would lead to the city's downfall.

Jeremiah 26 20 Commentary

This verse presents a chilling account of King Jehoiakim’s brutal suppression of prophecy. Urijah, a prophet whose message echoed Jeremiah's about judgment upon Judah, attempted to escape the rising persecution by fleeing to Egypt. However, his escape was futile. King Jehoiakim, demonstrating his contempt for God’s messengers and a determination to silence any warnings, had Urijah apprehended and brought back from Egypt. The detail that he was brought back "with the sword" implies a forceful capture, possibly under the threat of immediate execution, or indicating the royal authority’s resolve to enforce its will militarily. Urijah was then killed by the king's order and his body was unceremoniously cast into the common burial place. This stands in stark contrast to the actions of King Hezekiah decades earlier when he showed mercy to Jeremiah. Urijah’s fate highlights the increasing wickedness and hard-heartedness of Judah’s leadership under Jehoiakim, who was unwilling to hear or repent, even when the prophetic word was clear and echoed by multiple voices. It shows that the pronouncement of judgment was not a singular event tied only to Jeremiah but was a consistent message from God that provoked violent opposition.