Jeremiah 20:18

Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?

Wherefore came I forth {H3318} out of the womb {H7358} to see {H7200} labour {H5999} and sorrow {H3015}, that my days {H3117} should be consumed {H3615} with shame {H1322}?

Why did I have to emerge from the womb, just to see toil and sorrow, and end my days in shame?

Why did I come out of the womb to see only trouble and sorrow, and to end my days in shame?

Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?

Jeremiah 20:18 is a raw, heart-wrenching lament from the prophet Jeremiah, often called the "weeping prophet." In this verse, he expresses profound regret at his birth, questioning why he ever came into existence only to experience relentless "labour and sorrow" and to have his days "consumed with shame."

Context

This verse concludes a deeply personal and intense lament (Jeremiah 20:7-18) that reveals the immense psychological and emotional toll of Jeremiah's prophetic ministry. He had just been beaten and put in stocks by Pashhur, a chief priest, for prophesying doom upon Jerusalem (Jeremiah 20:2). Despite his desire to stop speaking God's word due to the constant mockery and persecution, he found he could not, feeling a "burning fire shut up in my bones" (Jeremiah 20:9). His despair reaches its peak in this verse, wishing he had never been born to face such hardship and public disgrace.

Key Themes

  • Profound Despair and Lament: Jeremiah's words are a desperate cry, reflecting extreme emotional pain and a wish for non-existence. It highlights the biblical allowance for honest expression of suffering before God. This deep personal lament is a recurring feature in the book of Jeremiah.
  • The Cost of Prophetic Ministry: The verse vividly portrays the immense personal sacrifice and suffering involved in delivering an unpopular message from God to a rebellious people. His life was not one of honor but of constant opposition and ridicule, a heavy burden for the prophet.
  • Shame and Rejection: The prophet felt disgraced and humiliated, not because of personal sin, but because of the rejection of his message and the mockery he endured for being God's messenger. This sense of public shame consumed his daily life.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "labour" is ‘amal (עָמָל), which carries connotations of toil, trouble, and misery, often referring to the fruit of oppressive labor or affliction. "Sorrow" is yagon (יָגוֹן), indicating deep grief or affliction. The phrase "consumed with shame" uses kelimmah (כְּלִמָּה), which signifies disgrace, humiliation, or confusion, emphasizing the public and pervasive nature of his suffering and the feeling of dishonor.

Related Scriptures

Jeremiah's lament here echoes the sentiments of other biblical figures who faced immense suffering, such as Job in his initial despair (Job 3:1-3), who also cursed the day of his birth. This expression of deep anguish is characteristic of Jeremiah's prophetic voice, evident in other lamentations throughout his book, such as his plea in Jeremiah 15:10. Such passages remind us that even the most devoted servants of God are not immune to intense emotional pain and despair, offering a profound insight into human vulnerability within faith.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 20:18 offers several timeless insights. Firstly, it validates the experience of profound human despair and the right to express it honestly before God. It shows that even faithful individuals can struggle with overwhelming feelings of sorrow and shame. Secondly, it underscores that following God's call, especially in challenging times, can involve significant personal cost and suffering. Finally, while Jeremiah's lament is deep, it is important to remember that even in his darkest moments, he continued to serve God, demonstrating a faith that perseveres even through intense emotional turmoil. It can encourage those who feel burdened by their calling or life's circumstances that they are not alone in their struggles and that their honest cries are heard by a compassionate God.

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.

  • Job 3:20

    ¶ Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter [in] soul;

  • Job 14:1

    ¶ Man [that is] born of a woman [is] of few days, and full of trouble.

  • Lamentations 3:1

    ¶ I [am] the man [that] hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath.

  • 1 Peter 4:14

    If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy [are ye]; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

  • 1 Peter 4:16

    Yet if [any man suffer] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:9

    For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:13

    Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, [and are] the offscouring of all things unto this day.

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