Jeremiah 17:18

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Let my persecutors be ashamed, not me; let them be terrified, not me. Bring on them the day of disaster, destroy them with double destruction.

Berean Standard Bible:

Let my persecutors be put to shame, but do not let me be put to shame. Let them be terrified, but do not let me be terrified. Bring upon them the day of disaster and shatter them with double destruction.

American Standard Version:

Let them be put to shame that persecute me, but let not me be put to shame; let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed; bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Let them be confounded^{H954} that persecute^{H7291} me, but let not me be confounded^{H954}: let them be dismayed^{H2865}, but let not me be dismayed^{H2865}: bring^{H935} upon them the day^{H3117} of evil^{H7451}, and destroy^{H7665} them with double^{H4932} destruction^{H7670}.

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Commentary for Jeremiah 17:18

Jeremiah 17:18 is a verse that captures the prophet Jeremiah's fervent plea for justice in the face of persecution. The historical context of this verse is set during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, around the late 7th century to early 6th century BCE. Jeremiah, known as the "weeping prophet," was called by God to deliver a message of repentance to the people of Judah and to warn them of the impending consequences of their disobedience to the covenant. Despite his unwavering commitment to his prophetic mission, Jeremiah faced severe opposition, ridicule, and persecution from his own people, including religious leaders and political figures.

In this verse, Jeremiah directly addresses God, asking for divine retribution against his adversaries. The themes present are those of vindication and justice, as Jeremiah requests that his persecutors be confounded and dismayed—essentially, that they would experience confusion and fear as a result of their actions. He goes further to invoke a "day of evil" upon them, a time when they would face judgment, and even asks for their destruction to be doubled. This language reflects the intensity of Jeremiah's suffering and the depth of injustice he perceived.

The verse also highlights the personal struggle and emotional toll of Jeremiah's prophetic role. His call for justice underscores a common theme in the prophetic literature of the Bible: the righteous individual's trust in God's justice amidst a world where the wicked often seem to prosper. Jeremiah's prayer for his enemies' downfall must be understood within the broader context of his ministry, where he consistently called for repentance and sought the welfare of his people, despite their hostility towards him. This cry for justice is not merely vindictive but reflects a longing for the recognition of God's sovereignty and the eventual restoration of righteousness.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H954
   There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוּשׁ
   Transliteration: bûwsh
   Pronunciation: boosh
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to pale, i.e. by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to be disappointed or delayed; (be, make, bring to, cause, put to, with, a-) shamed(-d), be (put to) confounded(-fusion), become dry, delay, be long.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7291
   There are 135 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָדַף
   Transliteration: râdaph
   Pronunciation: raw-daf'
   Description: a primitive root; to run after (usually with hostile intent; figuratively (of time) gone by); chase, put to flight, follow (after, on), hunt, (be under) persecute(-ion, -or), pursue(-r).
   
3. Strong's Number: H2865
   There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָתַת
   Transliteration: châthath
   Pronunciation: khaw-thath'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to prostrate; hence, to break down, either (literally) by violence, or (figuratively) by confusion and fear; abolish, affright, be (make) afraid, amaze, beat down, discourage, (cause to) dismay, go down, scare, terrify.
   
4. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3117
   There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יוֹם
   Transliteration: yôwm
   Pronunciation: yome
   Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
   
6. Strong's Number: H7451
   There are 623 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רַע
   Transliteration: raʻ
   Pronunciation: rah
   Description: from רָעַע; bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral); adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery, naught(-ty), noisome, [phrase] not please, sad(-ly), sore, sorrow, trouble, vex, wicked(-ly, -ness, one), worse(-st), wretchedness, wrong. (Incl. feminine raaah; as adjective or noun.).
   
7. Strong's Number: H7665
   There are 145 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁבַר
   Transliteration: shâbar
   Pronunciation: shaw-bar'
   Description: a primitive root; to burst (literally or figuratively); break (down, off, in pieces, up), broken (-hearted), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt, quench, [idiom] quite, tear, view (by mistake for שָׂבַר).
   
8. Strong's Number: H4932
   There are 34 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מִשְׁנֶה
   Transliteration: mishneh
   Pronunciation: mish-neh'
   Description: from שָׁנָה; properly, a repetition, i.e. a duplicate (copy of a document), or a double (in amount); by implication, a second (in order, rank, age, quality or location); college, copy, double, fatlings, next, second (order), twice as much.
   
9. Strong's Number: H7670
   There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שִׁבְרוֹן
   Transliteration: shibrôwn
   Pronunciation: shib-rone'
   Description: from שָׁבַר; rupture, i.e. a pang; figuratively, ruin; breaking, destruction.