Jeremiah 15:10

¶ Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; [yet] every one of them doth curse me.

Woe {H188} is me, my mother {H517}, that thou hast borne {H3205} me a man {H376} of strife {H7379} and a man {H376} of contention {H4066} to the whole earth {H776}! I have neither lent on usury {H5383}, nor men have lent to me on usury {H5383}; yet every one of them doth curse {H7043} me.

Woe to me, mother, that you gave me birth, a man who is the object of strife and controversy throughout the land! I neither lend nor borrow, yet all of them curse me.

Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me, a man of strife and conflict in all the land. I have neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses me.

Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have not lent, neither have men lent to me; yet every one of them doth curse me.

Jeremiah 15:10 captures a profound lament from the prophet Jeremiah, often called the "weeping prophet." This verse reveals his deep personal anguish and sense of isolation amidst his prophetic ministry to the nation of Judah.

Context

This verse is part of a larger section in Jeremiah where the prophet expresses his profound despair and weariness with his calling. Jeremiah lived during a tumultuous period leading up to the Babylonian exile, a time when Judah was steeped in idolatry and moral decay. His divinely appointed task was to deliver God's severe warnings of impending judgment and call the people to repentance. This message, however, was highly unpopular, leading to widespread rejection, ridicule, and persecution from his own people, including priests, false prophets, and even his family. His lament here underscores the immense personal cost of his faithfulness to God's word.

Key Themes

  • Prophetic Suffering and Isolation: Jeremiah's cry, "Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention," vividly expresses his feeling of being an adversary to everyone. He isn't seeking conflict, but his uncompromising message of truth inevitably creates division and opposition. This highlights the profound loneliness and suffering often experienced by those called to speak God's difficult truths, resonating with other prophetic figures throughout the Bible.
  • Unjust Persecution: The prophet emphasizes his blamelessness in the common financial practices of his day: "I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury." Usury (lending money at interest, especially to fellow Israelites in need) was often a source of social friction and was restricted by Mosaic Law (Exodus 22:25, Leviticus 25:36, Deuteronomy 23:19). By stating he has avoided such practices, Jeremiah underscores that his widespread cursing is not due to any personal misdeed or financial grievance, but solely because of the divine message he carries.
  • The Cost of Obedience: Jeremiah's experience exemplifies the profound personal cost of obedience to God's calling, particularly when that calling involves delivering an unpopular or challenging message. Despite his faithfulness, he is met with universal animosity, leading him to question his very birth (compare Jeremiah 20:14-18).

Linguistic Insights

  • The phrase "Woe is me" is the Hebrew 'oy li (אוֹי לִי), a common expression of deep lament, distress, or sorrow. It conveys a profound sense of personal anguish.
  • "Man of strife" (אִישׁ רִיב - ish riv) and "man of contention" (אִישׁ מָדוֹן - ish madon) are strong terms describing someone who is perpetually in dispute or conflict. Jeremiah is not inherently quarrelsome, but his prophetic pronouncements make him perceived as such by a hostile populace.
  • The mention of "usury" (נָשָׁא - nasha, related to lending with interest) highlights Jeremiah's moral integrity even in common societal dealings, making the undeserved hatred he faces even more poignant.

Reflection and Application

Jeremiah 15:10 offers powerful insights for believers today. It reminds us that faithfulness to God's truth may not always lead to popularity or acceptance; in fact, it can often result in significant opposition and personal suffering. Like Jeremiah, those who stand for biblical truth in a world increasingly hostile to it may find themselves misunderstood, maligned, and isolated. This verse encourages us to remember that God understands the pain and loneliness of His servants and that our ultimate reward is not human applause but divine approval. It calls us to persevere in our divine calling, even when it means facing persecution for righteousness' sake, trusting that God is with us in our suffering.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Exodus 22:25

    ¶ If thou lend money to [any of] my people [that is] poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.

  • Luke 6:22

    Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company], and shall reproach [you], and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

  • 1 Kings 22:8

    And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, [There is] yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

  • 1 Kings 21:20

    And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found [thee]: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.

  • Matthew 24:9

    Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

  • Deuteronomy 23:19

    Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury:

  • Deuteronomy 23:20

    Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

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