Jeremiah 20:3

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magormissabib.

And it came to pass on the morrow {H4283}, that Pashur {H6583} brought forth {H3318} Jeremiah {H3414} out of the stocks {H4115}. Then said {H559} Jeremiah {H3414} unto him, The LORD {H3068} hath not called {H7121} thy name {H8034} Pashur {H6583}, but Magormissabib {H4036}.

The following morning, when Pash'chur led Yirmeyahu out of the stocks, Yirmeyahu said to him, "ADONAI no longer calls you Pash'chur but Magor-Missaviv [terror on every side].

The next day, when Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, “The LORD does not call you Pashhur, but Magor-missabib.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashhur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, Jehovah hath not called thy name Pashhur, but Magor-missabib.

Jeremiah 20:3 describes a pivotal moment following the prophet Jeremiah's first recorded physical persecution. After being beaten and put in the stocks by Pashur, the chief priest and temple overseer, Jeremiah is released the next day. Upon his release, Jeremiah does not cower or lament, but immediately delivers a powerful prophetic message directly to Pashur, signifying God's judgment.

Context

This verse directly follows Jeremiah's imprisonment by Pashur, son of Immer, who was enraged by Jeremiah's prophecies of doom and exile for Jerusalem. Pashur, a high-ranking religious official, represents the corrupt religious establishment that resisted God's true message. Jeremiah's prophetic act of renaming Pashur is a dramatic declaration that God's word, though delivered by a persecuted prophet, will ultimately prevail and bring about its intended judgment.

Key Themes

  • Divine Judgment: The renaming of Pashur to "Magormissabib" is a direct prophetic declaration of God's impending judgment, not just on Pashur but on all who oppose His word. It signifies a reversal of fortune and a future filled with terror.
  • Prophetic Authority and Courage: Despite having just endured physical abuse and public humiliation, Jeremiah stands firm in his calling, demonstrating unwavering courage and the undeniable authority of God's message through him.
  • Consequences of Opposing God's Word: Pashur's attempt to silence Jeremiah is met with a severe divine pronouncement, illustrating that opposition to God's truth, especially from religious leaders, carries grave consequences.
  • God's Sovereignty Over Names and Destiny: In biblical tradition, a change of name often signifies a change of destiny or identity given by God. Here, it is a prophetic curse, underscoring God's ultimate control over individuals' fates and the unfolding of history.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Magormissabib" (מָגוֹר מִסָּבִיב, māgōr missāvîv) is a profound Hebrew phrase meaning "terror on every side" or "terror all around." This is not a new name given as a blessing, but rather a prophetic descriptor of Pashur's future condition and the widespread fear that will engulf Jerusalem due to the impending Babylonian invasion. Interestingly, Jeremiah himself uses a similar phrase to describe his own suffering and the fear he experiences from his adversaries in Jeremiah 20:10, creating a poignant parallel between the prophet's personal anguish and the divine judgment pronounced upon his persecutor.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 20:3 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Standing for Truth: Jeremiah's resolve in the face of persecution encourages us to stand firm in our convictions and God's truth, even when it is unpopular or brings personal hardship.
  • God's Justice: This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God sees injustice and will ultimately bring His righteous judgment upon those who oppose His will and persecute His messengers.
  • Discerning Leadership: The fact that Pashur was a religious leader highlights the need for spiritual discernment. Opposition to God's truth can arise even from within religious institutions.
  • The Power of God's Word: Despite human attempts to suppress it, God's word is living and active, always accomplishing its purpose, whether for blessing or judgment.
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 20:10

    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.

  • Jeremiah 46:5

    Wherefore have I seen them dismayed [and] turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: [for] fear [was] round about, saith the LORD.

  • 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.

  • Lamentations 2:22

    Thou hast called as in a solemn day my terrors round about, so that in the day of the LORD'S anger none escaped nor remained: those that I have swaddled and brought up hath mine enemy consumed.

  • Jeremiah 6:25

    Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy [and] fear [is] on every side.

  • Isaiah 8:3

    And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.

  • Acts 16:35

    ¶ And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.

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