Jeremiah 15:15

KJV

¶ O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.

KJV (with Strong's)

O LORD {H3068}, thou knowest {H3045}: remember {H2142} me, and visit {H6485} me, and revenge {H5358} me of my persecutors {H7291}; take me not away {H3947} in thy longsuffering {H639}{H750}: know {H3045} that for thy sake I have suffered {H5375} rebuke {H2781}.

Complete Jewish Bible

ADONAI, you know. Remember me, think of me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. Because you are patient, don't banish me; know that for your sake I suffer insults.

Berean Standard Bible

You understand, O LORD; remember me and attend to me. Avenge me against my persecutors. In Your patience, do not take me away. Know that I endure reproach for Your honor.

American Standard Version

O Jehovah, thou knowest; remember me, and visit me, and avenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered reproach.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 15:15 presents a poignant and impassioned lament from the prophet to the Lord, revealing the profound personal suffering and relentless persecution he endured precisely because of his faithful obedience to God's prophetic call. It is a desperate, yet trusting, appeal for divine remembrance, active intervention, and swift justice against his tormentors, coupled with a fervent plea that his life not be cut short by God's prolonged patience with the wicked. Underlying this raw outpouring is Jeremiah's unwavering assertion that his affliction is a direct consequence of his devotion to God's truth and his unwavering commitment to the divine mandate.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 15:15 is a deeply personal and emotionally charged lament, strategically positioned within a broader section of intense prophetic pronouncements and intimate divine-human dialogue (Jeremiah 15:1-18). The immediate preceding verses establish a grim backdrop: God's unyielding resolve to bring severe judgment upon Judah for their persistent idolatry and sin, even rejecting the intercession of revered figures like Moses and Samuel (Jeremiah 15:1-4). This divine decree leads to a vivid portrayal of Judah's impending desolation (Jeremiah 15:5-9). Jeremiah himself, burdened by the unpopularity of his message and the constant opposition, expresses profound despair over his prophetic calling, lamenting his very birth and the perpetual strife it brings (Jeremiah 15:10). God responds with a promise of protection and deliverance for Jeremiah, albeit through hardship (Jeremiah 15:11-14). Jeremiah 15:15, therefore, serves as the prophet's anguished and deeply personal response to this intense exchange, a fervent cry for vindication and relief in the face of overwhelming opposition. It highlights the immense personal cost of his prophetic ministry and marks a pivotal moment where the prophet, crushed by the divine message and the people's rejection, pours out his heart to the Omniscient One.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** This verse is deeply rooted in the tumultuous pre-exilic period of Judah, specifically during the reigns of kings such as Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, leading up to the catastrophic Babylonian exile (c. 605-586 BC). Jeremiah was called to prophesy during a time of profound national apostasy, pervasive political instability, and widespread moral decay. His divinely ordained message of impending judgment, urgent calls for repentance, and the necessity of submission to Babylon was profoundly unpopular. It directly contradicted the soothing, yet false, prophecies of peace and prosperity propagated by other religious figures. Consequently, Jeremiah faced relentless opposition, ridicule, imprisonment, and credible threats to his life from the ruling elite, the priesthood, false prophets, and the general populace. He was often isolated, famously describing himself as "a man of strife and contention to the whole land" (Jeremiah 15:10), experiencing the profound loneliness and suffering that frequently accompanied true prophetic ministry in ancient Israel. His plea for justice against "persecutors" (H7291, _râdaph_) reflects the very real and often violent threats he endured, including being beaten and put in stocks (Jeremiah 20:2), thrown into a cistern (Jeremiah 38:6), and facing assassination plots (Jeremiah 11:19). The prevailing cultural expectation was that Yahweh, the covenant God, would actively defend and vindicate His righteous servants, and Jeremiah's appeal taps into this deep-seated belief in divine justice and intervention.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 15:15 powerfully contributes to several overarching theological and narrative themes prevalent in the book of Jeremiah and across the broader prophetic literature. Firstly, it vividly illustrates the **suffering of the righteous prophet**, a motif central to Jeremiah's entire ministry and one that profoundly foreshadows the ultimate suffering servant, Jesus Christ. Jeremiah's personal anguish underscores the immense burden of delivering God's unpopular truth to a rebellious and unrepentant people. Secondly, the verse emphasizes **divine omniscience and justice**, as Jeremiah appeals directly to God's intimate knowledge of his circumstances and pleads for His righteous intervention against those who oppose and persecute God's faithful messenger. This reinforces the foundational biblical conviction that God sees all injustice and will ultimately act to judge it. Thirdly, it explores the profound tension between **God's longsuffering** and the urgent human desire for immediate vindication. Jeremiah's plea to "take me not away in thy longsuffering" (Jeremiah 15:15) reveals his struggle with God's patience towards the wicked, a theological tension also powerfully explored in passages like [Psalm 73](/psalms/73 "Psalm 73 - The Problem of Evil") and [Habakkuk 1](/habakkuk/1 "Habakkuk 1 - Habakkuk's Lament"). Finally, the declaration "know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke" (Jeremiah 15:15) solidifies the crucial theme of **suffering for God's name** or for righteousness, positioning Jeremiah as a faithful witness whose affliction is directly tied to his unwavering commitment to the Lord, a pattern consistently observed throughout biblical history, from Moses to the apostles (e.g., [Acts 5:41](/acts/5-41 "Acts 5:41 - Rejoicing in Suffering for Christ") and [Philippians 1:29](/philippians/1-29 "Philippians 1:29 - Suffering for Christ")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Knowest (Hebrew, _yâdaʻ'_):** From H3045, "to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)." Jeremiah's opening "O LORD, thou knowest" is far more than a simple statement of fact; it is a profound and intimate appeal to God's comprehensive, all-encompassing understanding of his plight, his suffering, and the inherent righteousness of his cause. It implies God's full and perfect awareness of the prophet's unwavering fidelity and the deep injustice he endures, thereby forming the very basis for his subsequent fervent pleas for divine intervention and vindication.
* **Remember (Hebrew, _zâkar'_):** From H2142, "to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male; [idiom] burn (incense), [idiom] earnestly, be male, (make) mention (of), be mindful, recount, record(-er), remember, make to be remembered, bring (call, come, keep, put) to (in) remembrance, [idiom] still, think on, [idiom] well." In this context, "remember" is not merely a cognitive act of recalling information. Instead, it is a dynamic plea for God to act decisively and powerfully on the basis of His remembrance. For God to "remember" Jeremiah signifies an active, covenantal intervention on his behalf, bringing His sovereign power and righteous justice to bear on the dire situation, thereby demonstrating His unwavering faithfulness to His servant.
* **Rebuke (Hebrew, _cherpâh'_):** From H2781, "contumely, disgrace, the pudenda; rebuke, reproach(-fully), shame." This potent word encapsulates the profound public humiliation, scorn, and deep disgrace that Jeremiah was forced to endure. It signifies the relentless verbal abuse, mocking, and public shaming he suffered, which constituted a significant and deeply painful part of his persecution. This "rebuke" cut deep into his spirit and severely damaged his reputation. His suffering was thus not merely physical but profoundly emotional, psychological, and social, a constant and pervasive source of shame and reproach from the very people he sought to warn and save.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"O LORD, thou knowest:"** This opening phrase is an immediate, direct, and deeply personal address to God, specifically using His covenant name, **Yᵉhôvâh** (H3068). It serves as a foundational declaration of God's omniscience and His intimate awareness of Jeremiah's precise circumstances. This acknowledgment forms the bedrock for all the prophet's subsequent petitions, expressing a profound trust that God fully comprehends the depth of his suffering and the injustice he faces. It is a plea rooted in the absolute certainty that nothing, not even the most hidden pain, is concealed from the divine gaze.
* **"remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors;"** This tripartite plea articulates the profound depth of Jeremiah's distress and his urgent desire for God's active intervention. "Remember me" (H2142, _zâkar_) is a powerful call for God to act on His covenant promises, not merely to recall Jeremiah's existence. "Visit me" (H6485, _pâqad_) implies a divine inspection and active engagement, often with consequential outcomes, here desired to be favorable to Jeremiah and decisively unfavorable to his enemies. "Revenge me of my persecutors" (H5358, _nâqam_ from H7291, _râdaph_) is a fervent cry for divine vindication and righteous justice against those who relentlessly pursue, oppress, and harm him precisely for his faithfulness to God. It is a righteous appeal for God to uphold His own divine justice and righteousness, rather than a personal vendetta.
* **"take me not away in thy longsuffering:"** This is a deeply poignant expression of Jeremiah's acute fear that he might perish, be overwhelmed, or simply be consumed by his relentless suffering before God's justice is fully enacted. "Take me not away" (H3947, _lâqach_) suggests a profound fear of premature death or being utterly consumed by the trials he faces. The phrase "in thy longsuffering" (H639, _ʼaph_ and H750, _ʼârêk_) refers to God's divine attribute of patience, His slowness to anger, particularly towards the wicked, giving them time for repentance. Jeremiah is essentially pleading with God to accelerate His judgment against the wicked, lest God's prolonged patience inadvertently lead to the prophet's demise or an unbearable continuation of his agony. It powerfully highlights the inherent tension between divine timing and urgent human endurance.
* **"know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke."** This powerful and assertive declaration serves as the ultimate justification and moral ground for Jeremiah's entire plea. He unequivocally asserts that his suffering (H5375, _nâsâʼ_) and the "rebuke" (H2781, _cherpâh_) he endures are not a consequence of his own sin or personal fault, but are directly "for thy sake"—that is, because of his unwavering loyalty, steadfast obedience, and faithful proclamation of God's word. This declaration powerfully aligns him with a long and venerable tradition of righteous sufferers in biblical history and profoundly underscores the immense personal cost of prophetic faithfulness.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 15:15 is a profound and emotionally resonant example of a **Lament**, a common and distinctive genre in biblical literature, particularly prominent in the Psalms and prophetic books. This genre is characterized by a direct address to God, an appeal to God's character and attributes, a vivid description of the speaker's intense suffering, a fervent plea for divine intervention, and often an assertion of the speaker's innocence or righteousness. The verse also employs **Apostrophe**, a rhetorical device involving a direct address to an absent or imaginary person, or a personified abstraction; in this case, the prophet directly addresses God ("O LORD"). The phrase "take me not away in thy longsuffering" utilizes **Metonymy**, where "longsuffering" (referring to God's attribute of patience) stands in for the extended period during which God exercises that patience, a period that feels agonizingly long to the suffering prophet. Furthermore, there is a strong and palpable element of **Pathos**, which is the quality of evoking deep sympathy, pity, or sorrow. Jeremiah's raw, anguished cry for justice and relief powerfully evokes empathy for his emotional distress and the profound injustice he endures, making his suffering profoundly relatable to anyone who has experienced affliction for the sake of righteousness.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 15:15 offers profound theological insights into the nature of divine justice, the often-painful reality of suffering for righteousness, and the intimate, covenantal relationship between God and His faithful servants. Jeremiah's opening appeal to God's omniscience ("thou knowest") powerfully underscores the foundational biblical truth that God is never a distant or detached observer, but is intimately and perfectly aware of every detail of His people's lives and their deepest afflictions. His fervent plea for God to "remember" and "visit" him reflects a deep-seated trust in God's unwavering covenant faithfulness and His active, sovereign involvement in human affairs, particularly in vindicating the oppressed and upholding justice. The prophet's suffering "for thy sake" establishes a crucial theological precedent for vicarious suffering and highlights the inherent cost of discipleship, affirming that unwavering faithfulness to God can indeed lead to profound hardship. Yet, such suffering is not only seen but also recognized, valued, and ultimately redeemed by the Almighty. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that while God is indeed "longsuffering" (Exodus 34:6), His patience with evil does not negate His ultimate commitment to justice for His own and His promise to bring all things to account in His perfect timing.

* [Psalm 7:8-9](/psalms/7-8 "Psalm 7:8-9 - God Judges the Peoples") - "The LORD shall judge the peoples; Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me. Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds."
* [Psalm 35:1-3](/psalms/35-1-3 "Psalm 35:1-3 - A Prayer for Vindication") - "Plead my cause, O LORD, with those who strive with me; Fight against those who fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for your help! Also draw out the spear, and stop those who pursue me. Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation.'"
* [1 Peter 4:16](/1_peter/4-16 "1 Peter 4:16 - Suffering as a Christian") - "Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name."

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 15:15 provides a profound and liberating template for honest, heartfelt prayer in the midst of intense suffering for one's faith. It validates the raw and often unsettling emotions of pain, fear, frustration, and a deep-seated desire for justice that can inevitably arise when one is persecuted or unjustly treated for righteousness' sake. Like Jeremiah, believers are invited to pour out their entire hearts to God, holding nothing back, trusting implicitly in His perfect knowledge and intimate awareness of their precise circumstances. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that suffering for the sake of Christ is a very real and often deeply painful reality in the Christian life, but it is never unseen or unacknowledged by God. It encourages us to persevere with steadfast faith, knowing that our afflictions are not in vain but are intricately woven into a larger divine purpose. While we are unequivocally called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us, we can also, like Jeremiah, confidently trust God to be the ultimate arbiter of justice, confident that He will perfectly vindicate His faithful servants in His sovereign and perfect timing. Our patience in the face of God's longsuffering with evil is indeed a test of our faith, but His ultimate and righteous justice is absolutely assured.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what specific ways have you experienced "rebuke" or suffering "for God's sake" in your own life or ministry, and how did you respond?**
* **How does Jeremiah's honest and vulnerable lament encourage you to be more transparent and authentic in your prayers to God, especially when facing injustice or deep pain?**
* **How do you reconcile God's profound attribute of "longsuffering" with your own urgent desire for immediate justice or swift relief from suffering?**
* **What profound comfort and assurance can you draw from knowing that God "knows" your struggles, understands their depth, and fully comprehends the reasons behind them?**

### FAQ
**Is it permissible for believers to pray for "revenge" against their persecutors, as Jeremiah does here?**

Answer: Jeremiah's prayer for "revenge" (H5358, _nâqam_) must be understood within the specific theological and historical context of biblical justice and the prophetic office. It is not a call for personal, vindictive retaliation or an expression of private malice, but rather a fervent plea for God to execute His righteous, divine judgment. In the Old Testament, God is frequently portrayed as the one who "avenges" or vindicates His people against their oppressors, especially when their suffering is a direct result of their faithfulness to Him and His covenant. This is a prayer for divine justice to be meted out by the sovereign hand of God, not a license for personal vengeance. In the New Testament, while believers are indeed called to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them (Matthew 5:44), there is also a clear understanding that God is the ultimate and righteous judge, and that He will bring justice in His appointed time (Romans 12:19; [2 Thessalonians 1:6-7](/2_thessalonians/1-6-7 "2 Thessalonians 1:6-7 - God's Righteous Judgment")). Jeremiah's prayer reflects a deep trust that God will uphold His own righteousness and ultimately vindicate His faithful servant.

**What does Jeremiah mean by "take me not away in thy longsuffering"?**

Answer: This phrase expresses Jeremiah's profound anguish and a very real fear that his life might be prematurely cut short, or that he might be utterly overwhelmed and consumed by his relentless suffering and die, before God's righteous justice is fully realized against his persecutors. "Longsuffering" (H639, _ʼaph_ and H750, _ʼârêk_) is a divine attribute signifying God's patience, His slowness to anger, particularly towards the wicked, granting them extended time to repent. Jeremiah is essentially pleading with God to act swiftly and decisively, imploring Him not to let His divine patience with the unrighteous lead to the prophet's demise or to a prolonged, unbearable continuation of his agony. It powerfully highlights the inherent tension between God's perfect, sovereign timing and the urgent, often desperate, human desire for immediate relief and vindication in the face of extreme distress.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 15:15 finds its ultimate and most profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant par excellence. Jeremiah's agonizing experience of being persecuted and suffering "for thy sake" (Jeremiah 15:15) profoundly prefigures Christ, who willingly endured ultimate rebuke, rejection, and suffering not for His own sin, but entirely for the Father's perfect will and the redemption of humanity (Isaiah 53:4-5; [1 Peter 2:21](/1_peter/2-21 "1 Peter 2:21 - Christ Our Example in Suffering")). Just as Jeremiah appealed to God's perfect knowledge ("O LORD, thou knowest"), Jesus lived a life fully known, understood, and approved by the Father, even in His deepest agony in Gethsemane, submitting to the Father's will (Luke 22:42; [John 8:29](/john/8-29 "John 8:29 - The Father is With Me")). The prophet's desperate plea for divine remembrance and vindication echoes in Christ's unwavering trust that the Father would raise Him from the dead and grant Him ultimate triumph over His persecutors and death itself (Psalm 16:10; [Acts 2:24](/acts/2-24 "Acts 2:24 - God Raised Jesus")). While Jeremiah struggled with God's "longsuffering" and the delay of justice, Christ perfectly embodied divine patience, enduring the cross with steadfast resolve, knowing that God's justice and ultimate victory would prevail through His resurrection and glorious ascension (Hebrews 12:2; [Philippians 2:8-11](/philippians/2-8-11 "Philippians 2:8-11 - Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation")). Ultimately, Christ's unparalleled suffering and divine vindication provide the definitive answer to the righteous cries of all who suffer for God's sake, assuring believers that their own "rebuke" and trials endured for His name will culminate in glory, eternal justice, and co-reigning with Him (Romans 8:17; [2 Timothy 2:12](/2_timothy/2-12 "2 Timothy 2:12 - If We Endure, We Will Also Reign With Him")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 12:3

But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

Psalms 69:7

Because for thy sake I have borne reproach; shame hath covered my face.

Psalms 69:9

For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

Luke 21:17

And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake.

Jeremiah 20:12

But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, [and] seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.

Jeremiah 17:16

As for me, I have not hastened from [being] a pastor to follow thee: neither have I desired the woeful day; thou knowest: that which came out of my lips was [right] before thee.

Nehemiah 13:22

And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and [that] they should come [and] keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, [concerning] this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.