Jeremiah 20:7

¶ O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.

O LORD {H3068}, thou hast deceived {H6601} me, and I was deceived {H6601}: thou art stronger {H2388} than I, and hast prevailed {H3201}: I am in derision {H7814} daily {H3117}, every one mocketh {H3932} me.

You fooled me, ADONAI; I have been your dupe. You overpowered me, and you have prevailed. All day long I'm a laughingstock; everyone makes fun of me.

You have deceived me, O LORD, and I was deceived. You have overcome me and prevailed. I am a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me.

O Jehovah, thou hast persuaded me, and I was persuaded; thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am become a laughing-stock all the day, every one mocketh me.

Context

Jeremiah 20:7 is one of the prophet Jeremiah's most raw and personal laments, often referred to as his "confessions." This verse immediately follows an incident where Jeremiah was beaten and put in stocks by Pashhur, a chief priest and temple official, because of his prophecies of impending judgment against Judah and Jerusalem (Jeremiah 20:2). Facing such harsh persecution from his own people, Jeremiah pours out his heart to God, expressing deep anguish, frustration, and a profound sense of abandonment and ridicule for accepting his difficult prophetic calling.

Key Themes

  • Prophetic Anguish and Complaint: Jeremiah expresses a feeling of being misled or overpowered by God. His ministry, far from being glorious, has brought him only scorn and pain. This raw honesty provides a glimpse into the human side of divine service and the heavy burden of being a true prophet.
  • Divine Sovereignty and Irresistible Call: Despite his suffering, Jeremiah acknowledges God's overwhelming power. He states, "thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed," indicating that he could not resist the divine compulsion to prophesy, even when it led to personal ruin and immense suffering.
  • The Cost of Obedience: The verse vividly portrays the social cost of delivering God's unpopular truth. Jeremiah is "in derision daily," highlighting the constant mockery and rejection he faced for speaking against the prevailing sins of his generation and warning of impending Babylonian captivity.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "deceived" (פתיתני - pātîtanî) carries a nuanced meaning beyond simple trickery. It stems from a root meaning "to be open, spacious," and can imply "to persuade," "to entice," or even "to seduce." Jeremiah is not accusing God of malicious deception, but rather of having enticed him into a task that proved far more burdensome and painful than he could have imagined. He felt drawn in by God's powerful call, only to face relentless opposition and ridicule.

Significance and Application

Jeremiah 20:7 offers profound insights for believers today, particularly those engaged in spiritual service or facing opposition for their faith.

  • Understanding Spiritual Struggle: It validates the experience of those who feel overwhelmed or even "let down" by the challenges of following God's call. Jeremiah's lament shows that even faithful servants can experience deep emotional and spiritual struggles without it negating their faith or God's faithfulness.
  • Embracing God's Irresistible Will: Despite his pain, Jeremiah recognized God's ultimate power and sovereignty. This encourages believers to submit to God's will, even when it leads to difficult paths, trusting that God's purposes will ultimately prevail.
  • Perseverance in the Face of Opposition: Jeremiah's daily derision reminds us that speaking truth, especially God's truth, can often invite scorn and opposition from the world. This verse encourages perseverance for those who suffer for righteousness' sake, knowing that their suffering is part of a greater divine plan, much like the blessings promised to the persecuted in Matthew 5:11.
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.

  • Hosea 9:7

    ¶ The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know [it]: the prophet [is] a fool, the spiritual man [is] mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.

  • Lamentations 3:14

    I was a derision to all my people; [and] their song all the day.

  • Jeremiah 20:9

    Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But [his word] was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not [stay].

  • Ezekiel 3:14

    So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.

  • Psalms 22:6

    But I [am] a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people.

  • Psalms 22:7

    All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, [saying],

  • Psalms 69:9

    For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

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