Jeremiah 20:17

KJV

Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb [to be] always great [with me].

KJV (with Strong's)

Because he slew {H4191} me not from the womb {H7358}; or that my mother {H517} might have been my grave {H6913}, and her womb {H7358} to be always {H5769} great {H2030} with me.

Complete Jewish Bible

because God did not put me to death in the womb and let my mother become my grave, her womb forever filled with me.

Berean Standard Bible

because he did not kill me in the womb so that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb forever enlarged.

American Standard Version

because he slew me not from the womb; and so my mother would have been my grave, and her womb always great.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 20:17 encapsulates the prophet's profound anguish and existential despair, expressing a fervent wish for non-existence—specifically, that he had died at birth or remained perpetually within his mother's womb. This intense lament arises from the relentless persecution and suffering he endured as God's divinely appointed messenger, highlighting the immense personal cost of his prophetic calling amidst a hostile environment in Judah. It stands as a raw, honest outcry that underscores the depth of human pain, even for those divinely commissioned, and forms a poignant part of his "confessions" to God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 20:17 serves as the climactic expression of a deeply personal and agonizing lament (Jeremiah 20:7-18), often referred to as one of Jeremiah's "confessions." This section immediately follows the prophet's public humiliation and imprisonment by Pashhur, the chief officer of the temple (Jeremiah 20:1-6). Having just pronounced a severe judgment against Pashhur and Jerusalem, Jeremiah turns inward, expressing a profound sense of betrayal by God, whom he feels has "deceived" him and compelled him into a role that brings only ridicule and suffering. The preceding verses detail his internal struggle, his vow not to speak in the Lord's name again, and his inability to keep that vow due to a "burning fire" within him. Verse 17, along with the subsequent verse 18, represents the absolute nadir of his despair, a wish for his very birth to have been negated, bringing this intensely emotional confession to a dramatic close.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah prophesied during one of the most tumultuous periods in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of the last five kings before the Babylonian exile (c. 627-586 BC). This era was marked by profound political instability, pervasive spiritual apostasy, and the looming threat of foreign invasion. Jeremiah's consistent message of impending judgment and his urgent call to repentance was deeply unpopular, often clashing with the prevailing false prophecies of peace and prosperity. Culturally, prophets were expected to deliver messages from God, but Jeremiah's unwavering pronouncements of doom made him an outcast, ridiculed and persecuted by priests, false prophets, and the general populace. His suffering was not merely personal but a stark reflection of the nation's spiritual decline and the dire consequences of rejecting God's word. The intensity of his lament reflects the profound isolation, physical hardship, and emotional torment he experienced in a society that vehemently opposed his divinely appointed task.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the Book of Jeremiah. Firstly, it vividly exemplifies the **burden and cost of true prophecy**, demonstrating that being God's messenger often entails immense personal suffering and opposition, as seen throughout Jeremiah's ministry (e.g., his lament over his birth in [Jeremiah 15:10](/jeremiah/15-10 "Jeremiah's Lament Over His Birth")). Secondly, it highlights the theme of **lament and honest prayer**, revealing that even a great prophet can express raw, unfiltered despair to God, questioning divine purposes and even his own existence. This contrasts sharply with simplistic notions of unshakeable faith, demonstrating the Bible's realistic portrayal of human emotion and struggle. Finally, it subtly points to the **sovereignty of God** even amidst human suffering; despite Jeremiah's desperate wish, God's plan for him, established before his birth (as declared in [Jeremiah 1:5](/jeremiah/1-5 "Jeremiah's Divine Calling")), remained unfulfilled, indicating a divine purpose that transcends human desire and pain.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **slew (Hebrew, _mûwth_):** From H4191, a primitive root meaning "to die" (literally or figuratively) or, causatively, "to kill." In this context, Jeremiah wishes that the one who brought him into existence (implicitly, God or fate) had instead caused his death, specifically from the womb. This expresses a desire for non-existence or an immediate end to life before it truly began, thereby preventing the subsequent suffering and sorrow.
* **womb (Hebrew, _rechem_):** From H7358, referring to the physical organ of gestation. This word is crucial to the verse's imagery, representing the place of origin and the very beginning of life. Jeremiah's wish to have been "slain from the womb" or for his "womb" to have been his "grave" signifies a desire to have his very beginning be his end, a complete reversal of life's natural course.
* **grave (Hebrew, _qeber_):** From H6913, meaning a "sepulchre," "burying place," or "grave." The shocking juxtaposition of "mother" and "grave," and "womb" and "grave," creates a powerful, disturbing metaphor. Jeremiah wishes his mother's womb, the source of his life, had instead functioned as his tomb, perpetually holding him in a state of non-being, thus sparing him the profound pain and conflict of his earthly existence.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Because he slew me not from the womb;":** This clause expresses Jeremiah's bitter regret that he was allowed to be born and live. The "he" is often interpreted as the one who oversees life and death, implicitly God, or even the messenger who brought news of his birth. Jeremiah wishes that this "he" had intervened to prevent his birth or cause his death while still in the womb, thereby sparing him the immense suffering he now endures as a prophet.
* **"or that my mother might have been my grave,":** This is a profoundly powerful and morbid metaphor. Jeremiah wishes that his mother's womb, the very source of his life, had instead functioned as his tomb. This imagery signifies a desire for his birth to have been a perpetual burial, preventing his entry into a life filled with such overwhelming sorrow, conflict, and opposition.
* **"and her womb [to be] always great [with me].":** This final clause intensifies the previous wish, adding a dimension of perpetual non-emergence. "Always great" (Hebrew: _ʻôwlâm hâreh_) suggests a perpetual state of pregnancy, a never-ending gestation that would have prevented his birth and subsequent suffering. It is a wish for eternal non-emergence, a permanent state of being hidden from the world and its pain, a longing for an unending concealment that would spare him the agony of his prophetic ministry.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 20:17 is replete with potent literary devices that amplify the prophet's profound despair and existential agony. The most striking is **Hyperbole**, an extreme exaggeration used for dramatic emphasis. Jeremiah's wish for non-existence, specifically to have been "slain from the womb" or for his mother's womb to be his "grave," is an over-the-top expression of pain, not a literal desire for matricide but a desperate, visceral cry for release from suffering. This hyperbole is powerfully intertwined with a chilling **Metaphor**, where the mother's "womb" is equated with a "grave." This shocking juxtaposition of life's origin with death's finality underscores the depth of Jeremiah's agony, transforming the sacred place of life into a desired place of perpetual burial. The phrase "always great [with me]" further employs **Irony**, as the natural joy and anticipation associated with a mother being "great with child" is twisted into a morbid wish for an eternal, unfulfilled pregnancy, preventing the birth of sorrow and suffering. Overall, the verse functions as a profound **Lament**, a genre common in biblical literature (e.g., Psalms, Job), allowing the speaker to express raw, honest anguish directly to God, even questioning divine providence and the very purpose of their existence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah's lament in verse 17 is a stark reminder that faithfulness to God does not exempt one from profound suffering; indeed, it can often intensify it. The prophet's cry for non-existence echoes the deepest human despair, a feeling of being so overwhelmed by life's burdens that one wishes they had never been born. Theologically, this passage affirms the Bible's radical honesty about the human condition, demonstrating that even God's chosen servants wrestle with existential anguish and profound questioning. It challenges simplistic notions of faith, revealing that true piety can coexist with deep lament and questioning. Yet, the very inclusion of such a raw confession within the inspired text testifies to God's willingness to hear and validate human pain, even when it expresses a desire to escape His sovereign plan. Jeremiah's suffering, particularly for the sake of delivering God's unpopular message, foreshadows the ultimate suffering of the Messiah, who would also experience profound anguish for the sake of God's people and their redemption.

* [Job 3:1-16](/job/3-1-16 "Job's Lament Over His Birth")
* [Psalm 88:1-18](/psalms/88 "A Psalm of Deep Despair")
* [Lamentations 3:1-20](/lamentations/3-1-20 "Jeremiah's Lament Over Suffering")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah's desperate cry in verse 17 offers a profound invitation for believers to bring their whole selves, including their darkest moments of despair and most difficult questions, before God. The Bible does not sanitize faith; rather, it portrays the raw reality of human suffering, even for those called by God into significant ministry. In a world that often pressures us to present a facade of unwavering strength and constant joy, Jeremiah's vulnerability grants us "permission to lament." It reminds us that expressing profound anguish, even questioning our very existence or the purpose of our suffering, is not a sign of spiritual weakness but an honest engagement with the realities of a fallen world and a sovereign God. For those who feel overwhelmed, betrayed, or burdened by their circumstances—perhaps even by their calling or ministry—Jeremiah's words validate their feelings. This passage encourages us to pour out our hearts to God, trusting that He hears and understands, even when our words are born of the deepest pain and despair. It also serves as a sobering reminder that obedience to God's will may lead not to ease and comfort, but to profound difficulty and opposition, yet God remains present through it all, upholding His purpose.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jeremiah's raw lament challenge your understanding of what it means to have faith in God, especially during times of intense suffering?**
* **When have you experienced such profound despair that you wished for non-existence or an escape from your overwhelming circumstances? How did you respond, and what did you learn about God's presence in that moment?**
* **What does this verse teach us about God's willingness to hear our most difficult and honest prayers, even those that express doubt or a desire to avoid His will?**
* **How can we, as a community of faith, create a safe and empathetic space for others to express their laments and despair without judgment, fostering genuine spiritual honesty?**

### FAQ

**Does Jeremiah's wish for non-existence indicate a lack of faith?**

Answer: Not necessarily. While Jeremiah's words express extreme despair and a wish to escape his suffering, they are uttered within the context of a direct address to God. This act of lament, common throughout Scripture (e.g., in many Psalms, or Job's complaints in [Job 3](/job/3 "Job's Lament")), is itself an act of faith. It demonstrates that Jeremiah still turns to God, even in his darkest hour, rather than abandoning Him. His honesty reveals the depth of his pain, but also his continued engagement with the divine, trusting that God is the one who can hear and potentially alleviate his suffering. It underscores that faith is not the absence of doubt or despair, but the willingness to bring those very struggles before God, believing He is capable of hearing and responding.

**How does Jeremiah's suffering compare to other biblical figures?**

Answer: Jeremiah's suffering is often paralleled with that of Job, who also cursed the day of his birth in [Job 3:1-3](/job/3-1-3 "Job's Curse of His Birth"), wishing he had died at birth or never been conceived. Both figures experience immense, undeserved pain and express profound existential anguish. However, Jeremiah's suffering is unique in its specific connection to his prophetic calling—he suffers precisely because he is faithful to God's unpopular message. This sets him apart from many other prophets who faced opposition but perhaps not the same depth of personal, emotional, and physical torment for such an extended period. His experience is a powerful testament to the cost of being God's voice in a rebellious world, foreshadowing the ultimate suffering of the Messiah.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah's profound lament in [Jeremiah 20:17](/jeremiah/20-17 "Jeremiah's Wish for Non-Existence") finds its ultimate resolution and counterpoint in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Jeremiah wished he had never been born to escape suffering, Jesus willingly embraced his birth and mission, knowing it would lead to unimaginable pain and death. The prophet's cry for his mother's womb to be his "grave" is a desperate flight from suffering; Christ, by contrast, willingly entered the womb to become human, fully embracing the human condition, including its profound capacity for suffering and death. His life was not a lament for non-existence, but a purposeful journey toward the cross, where he would bear the ultimate burden of sin and suffering, not for his own sake, but for humanity's redemption. Unlike Jeremiah, who felt "deceived" and overwhelmed by his calling, Jesus steadfastly set his face towards Jerusalem ([Luke 9:51](/luke/9-51 "Jesus Sets His Face Toward Jerusalem")), fully obedient to the Father's will, even to the point of crying out in agony in Gethsemane, "not my will, but yours be done" ([Luke 22:42](/luke/22-42 "Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane")). Christ's resurrection then utterly reverses the lament of non-existence; through him, death is swallowed up in victory ([1 Corinthians 15:54](/1_corinthians/15-54 "Victory Over Death")), and eternal life is offered to all who believe. Thus, where Jeremiah expressed a desire for life to be undone, Christ, through his sacrificial life and triumphant resurrection, offers life in its fullest and most abundant form ([John 10:10](/john/10-10 "Jesus, the Good Shepherd")), transforming despair into hope and death into everlasting life.

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

Job 3:10

Because it shut not up the doors of my [mother's] womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.

Job 3:11

¶ Why died I not from the womb? [why] did I [not] give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

Job 10:18

Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!

Job 10:19

I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.

Job 3:16

Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants [which] never saw light.

Ecclesiastes 6:3

If a man beget an hundred [children], and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also [that] he have no burial; I say, [that] an untimely birth [is] better than he.