Jeremiah 20:2

Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that [were] in the high gate of Benjamin, which [was] by the house of the LORD.

Then Pashur {H6583} smote {H5221} Jeremiah {H3414} the prophet {H5030}, and put {H5414} him in the stocks {H4115} that were in the high {H5945} gate {H8179} of Benjamin {H1144}, which was by the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}.

he had him flogged and put him in the stocks at the Upper Binyamin Gate of the house of ADONAI.

he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.

Then Pashhur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the upper gate of Benjamin, which was in the house of Jehovah.

Jeremiah 20:2 describes a pivotal moment in the prophet Jeremiah’s ministry, where he faces direct persecution for delivering God’s challenging message. Pashur, a high-ranking priest and chief officer in the Temple, physically assaulted Jeremiah and imprisoned him in the stocks, a humiliating and painful form of restraint, near the very heart of religious life in Jerusalem.

Context

This verse immediately follows Jeremiah's dire prophecy in Jeremiah 19:15, where he declared God's judgment upon Jerusalem and Judah for their idolatry and sin. Pashur, identified in Jeremiah 20:1 as the son of Immer the priest and "chief governor in the house of the LORD," was deeply offended by Jeremiah's words, which threatened the established religious and political order. His response was swift and violent: he struck Jeremiah and put him in the stocks. The "high gate of Benjamin" was a prominent gate near the Temple, making Jeremiah's public humiliation visible to many entering and leaving the sacred precinct. This act was not merely personal anger but an official attempt to silence a dissenting voice perceived as a threat to national stability and religious authority.

Key Themes

  • Persecution of Prophets: Jeremiah’s suffering here is a stark example of the common fate of God's messengers who speak unwelcome truths to a rebellious people. It highlights the conflict between divine revelation and human resistance, often leading to hostility against the messenger.
  • The Cost of Faithfulness: Jeremiah endured physical abuse and public shame for remaining faithful to God's call to prophesy, regardless of the personal consequences. This incident underscores the significant personal sacrifice often required to serve God wholeheartedly.
  • Conflict of Authority: Pashur, representing the human religious establishment, directly opposes Jeremiah, who represents God's divine authority. This clash reveals a spiritual battle where institutional power attempts to suppress prophetic truth.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "smote" is nakah (נָכָה), which signifies a forceful striking or beating, indicating physical violence. The term "stocks" translates the Hebrew mahpeketh (מַהְפֶּכֶת), which literally means "a distortion" or "perversion." This instrument was designed to contort the body, particularly the neck, hands, and feet, causing extreme discomfort and pain, often in a public place. This made the punishment not only physically agonizing but also profoundly humiliating, aimed at breaking the spirit of the one confined.

Practical Application

Jeremiah's experience serves as a powerful reminder that speaking truth, especially God's truth, can come at a great personal cost. For believers today, this verse encourages:

  • Courage in Conviction: To stand firm in faith and speak truth, even when it is unpopular or provokes opposition, just as Peter and John declared they must obey God rather than men.
  • Empathy for the Persecuted: To recognize and support those who suffer for their faith or for speaking out against injustice.
  • Trust in God's Sovereignty: Despite the immediate suffering, God's plan for Jeremiah and His word ultimately prevailed, demonstrating that no human authority can ultimately thwart divine purpose.

Reflection

This incident marks a turning point in Jeremiah’s ministry, intensifying his personal suffering (as seen in Jeremiah 20:7-9). It highlights the profound spiritual resistance to God's message during that era. Yet, even from the stocks, Jeremiah's voice would not be silenced, reinforcing the enduring power of God's word against all human opposition. This persecution foreshadows the greater suffering endured by Christ and His apostles for the sake of the Gospel, affirming that faithfulness often walks the path of tribulation.

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.

  • Jeremiah 37:13

    And when he was in the gate of Benjamin, a captain of the ward [was] there, whose name [was] Irijah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah; and he took Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou fallest away to the Chaldeans.

  • 2 Chronicles 16:10

    Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for [he was] in a rage with him because of this [thing]. And Asa oppressed [some] of the people the same time.

  • Zechariah 14:10

    All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and [from] the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.

  • Jeremiah 1:19

    And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I [am] with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.

  • Jeremiah 36:26

    But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.

  • Jeremiah 29:26

    The LORD hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the LORD, for every man [that is] mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks.

  • Amos 7:10

    ¶ Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, Amos hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of Israel: the land is not able to bear all his words.

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