For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, [say they], and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, [saying], Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.
For I heard {H8085} the defaming {H1681} of many {H7227}, fear {H4032} on every side {H5439}. Report {H5046}, say they, and we will report {H5046} it. All my familiars {H582}{H7965} watched {H8104} for my halting {H6763}{H6761}, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed {H6601}, and we shall prevail {H3201} against him, and we shall take {H3947} our revenge {H5360} on him.
I have heard many whispering their plot: "'Terror in every direction'? Denounce him! Let's denounce him!" Even all my close friends are watching for me to make a false step - "Maybe he can be tricked, then we'll get the better of him, then we'll take our revenge on him."
For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that we may prevail against him and take our vengeance upon him.”
For I have heard the defaming of many, terror on every side. Denounce, and we will denounce him, say all my familiar friends, they that watch for my fall; peradventure he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.
-
Psalms 41:9
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up [his] heel against me. -
Psalms 31:13
For I have heard the slander of many: fear [was] on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life. -
Isaiah 29:21
That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought. -
Jeremiah 18:18
¶ Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words. -
Psalms 55:13
But [it was] thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. -
Psalms 55:14
We took sweet counsel together, [and] walked unto the house of God in company. -
Acts 24:13
Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
Jeremiah 20:10 captures the profound anguish and isolation felt by the prophet Jeremiah, often known as the "weeping prophet." In this verse, he articulates the intense persecution and betrayal he faced from almost every quarter, even from those he considered close.
Historical and Cultural Context
This verse is part of Jeremiah's "confessions" or laments (Jeremiah 11-20), where he pours out his heart to God about the immense suffering he endured for faithfully delivering God's unpopular messages to Judah. At this point, Jeremiah was active during a tumultuous period leading up to the Babylonian exile, a time marked by political instability, spiritual apostasy, and societal decay. His prophecies often condemned the people's idolatry and warned of impending judgment, which made him deeply unpopular with the religious and political leaders, and even the general populace. He was seen as a traitor or a doomsayer rather than a messenger of truth.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insight
The powerful phrase "fear on every side" is a translation of the Hebrew Magor-missabib (מָגוֹר מִסָּבִיב). This term is highly significant in Jeremiah's narrative. In fact, just a few verses earlier, in Jeremiah 20:3, the prophet renames Pashhur, a chief priest who had him beaten and put in stocks, "Magor-missabib," signifying that Pashhur himself would become a terror to himself and his friends. This recurring phrase emphasizes the inescapable and pervasive nature of the dread and opposition surrounding Jeremiah, which he then projects onto his enemies.
Related Scriptures
Jeremiah's experience of betrayal and persecution is a recurring motif throughout biblical history. His suffering foreshadows the experiences of many who stand for truth, including Jesus Christ, who was also betrayed by a familiar friend (Psalm 41:9; John 13:18) and faced relentless opposition. The New Testament similarly warns believers that they will face persecution for righteousness' sake, as highlighted in 2 Timothy 3:12: "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
Practical Application
Jeremiah 20:10 offers profound lessons for believers today. It reminds us that faithfully serving God may not always lead to popularity or ease; it can bring opposition, slander, and even betrayal from those we trust. When facing such trials, Jeremiah's raw honesty in his lament serves as a model for bringing our pain and frustration directly to God. It encourages perseverance in the face of adversity, trusting that God sees our suffering and will ultimately vindicate His faithful servants, even when the world seems to conspire against them. This verse is a powerful reminder that if God is for us, who can be against us in a way that truly matters eternally?