Jeremiah 20:7

KJV

¶ 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible

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.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 20:7 captures one of the prophet's most agonizing "confessions," a raw outpouring of anguish to the LORD. In this verse, Jeremiah expresses a profound sense of having been enticed or "deceived" by God into a prophetic ministry that has brought him nothing but relentless public ridicule and suffering. He acknowledges God's overwhelming power and irresistible call, admitting his inability to resist the divine compulsion, even as he laments the daily derision and mockery he endures from all sides for faithfully delivering God's unpopular message.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 20:7 is a pivotal verse within a series of deeply personal laments and complaints from the prophet, often referred to as Jeremiah's "confessions" (Jeremiah 11-20). This particular lament immediately follows a severe incident where Jeremiah was beaten and placed in the stocks by Pashhur, a chief priest and temple official, as punishment for prophesying Judah's impending judgment and exile to Babylon ([Jeremiah 20:1-6](/jeremiah/20-1 "Jeremiah 20:1-6 - Pashhur's Persecution of Jeremiah")). The physical abuse and public humiliation serve as the immediate trigger for Jeremiah's desperate cry to God, revealing the intense emotional and spiritual toll of his prophetic calling. This verse encapsulates the prophet's internal struggle, caught between the irresistible divine mandate and the crushing reality of human rejection and suffering. It highlights the unique burden of a prophet called to speak truth to a rebellious people.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah prophesied during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of several kings from Josiah to Zedekiah (late 7th to early 6th centuries BCE). This era was marked by widespread idolatry, social injustice, and a superficial religiosity that masked deep spiritual corruption. The people, including religious and political leaders, largely rejected Jeremiah's warnings of impending Babylonian invasion and exile, preferring the comforting lies of false prophets who promised peace and prosperity ([Jeremiah 14:13-16](/jeremiah/14-13 "Jeremiah 14:13-16 - False Prophets' Deception")). In this context, Jeremiah's message of judgment, repentance, and inevitable destruction was profoundly unpopular and seen as unpatriotic or even treasonous. His public derision was a common form of social punishment and ostracism for those who challenged the prevailing norms or delivered unwelcome news, reflecting the deep animosity and resistance he faced from a society unwilling to confront its sins.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 20:7 powerfully articulates several core themes present throughout the book of Jeremiah and prophetic literature in general. Firstly, it underscores the **Prophetic Anguish and Complaint**, showcasing the immense personal suffering and emotional honesty of a true prophet who feels overwhelmed by his divine commission. Jeremiah's lament validates the human experience of feeling "let down" or burdened by God's call. Secondly, the verse highlights **Divine Sovereignty and Irresistible Call**, as Jeremiah acknowledges God's superior strength and prevailing will, indicating that his prophetic ministry was not a choice but an inescapable divine compulsion ([Jeremiah 1:7](/jeremiah/1-7 "Jeremiah 1:7 - Jeremiah's Call to Prophecy")). This theme emphasizes God's absolute authority over His chosen servants. Lastly, it vividly portrays **The Cost of Obedience**, demonstrating the severe social and personal consequences of faithfully delivering God's unpopular truth. Jeremiah's "daily derision" is a stark reminder that true faithfulness often invites scorn and opposition from a world resistant to divine revelation, a theme echoed in the New Testament regarding the persecution of those who live righteously ([2 Timothy 3:12](/2_timothy/3-12 "2 Timothy 3:12 - Persecution for Godliness")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **deceived (Hebrew, _pâthâh'_):** This word (H6601) is crucial for understanding Jeremiah's complaint. While it can mean "to trick" or "to mislead," its primary sense is "to open," "to be spacious," and by extension, "to persuade," "to entice," or "to allure." Jeremiah is not accusing God of malicious trickery in the sense of a lie, but rather of having powerfully persuaded or enticed him into a prophetic role that proved far more painful and burdensome than he could have anticipated. He felt drawn in by a divine call that, once embraced, became an inescapable and costly burden.
* **stronger (Hebrew, _châzaq'_); prevailed (Hebrew, _yâkôl'_):** The word for "stronger" (H2388, _châzaq_) means "to fasten upon," "to seize," "to be strong," "to conquer," or "to prevail." It denotes an overwhelming, irresistible power. The word for "prevailed" (H3201, _yâkôl_) means "to be able," "to attain," or "to overcome." Together, these terms underscore Jeremiah's profound recognition of God's absolute sovereignty and the irresistible nature of His divine call. Jeremiah could not resist the compulsion to prophesy, even though it led to his personal ruin and suffering. God's strength utterly surpassed his own will or ability to refuse.
* **derision (Hebrew, _sᵉchôwq'_); mocketh (Hebrew, _lâʻag'_):** "Derision" (H7814, _sᵉchôwq_) refers to laughter in scorn or defiance, indicating public ridicule and contempt. "Mocketh" (H3932, _lâʻag_) means "to deride," "to laugh to scorn," or "to speak unintelligibly" (as if imitating a foreigner, implying contemptuous mimicry). These words vividly portray the constant, public humiliation and scorn Jeremiah faced. His prophetic message, far from being respected, made him an object of daily sport and mockery in the eyes of his own people.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived":** Jeremiah opens with a direct, raw accusation against God. The use of "deceived" (from _pâthâh_) indicates that Jeremiah felt enticed or persuaded into a prophetic ministry whose true cost and suffering were not fully apparent at the outset. He felt drawn in by God's powerful call, only to find himself in a situation of immense personal pain and public humiliation, leading him to feel as if he had been lured into a trap.
* **"thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed":** Despite his complaint, Jeremiah immediately acknowledges God's overwhelming power and irresistible will. He recognizes that he was utterly powerless to resist the divine call to prophesy. God's strength and purpose were greater than his own desires, fears, or attempts to escape the burden of the prophetic office. This clause highlights the divine compulsion that drove Jeremiah, even when it led to profound personal suffering.
* **"I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me":** This final clause describes the agonizing reality of Jeremiah's daily life. His prophetic ministry, far from bringing him honor, had made him an object of constant public scorn, laughter, and mockery. The phrase "every one mocketh me" emphasizes the pervasive and relentless nature of this humiliation, indicating that he faced universal contempt from his society for speaking God's unwelcome truth.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 20:7 is rich in literary devices that amplify the prophet's profound anguish. The most prominent is **Lament**, as the verse functions as a direct, impassioned cry of distress and complaint to God, characteristic of the "confessions" of Jeremiah and many Psalms. This lament is intensified by **Hyperbole**, particularly in "every one mocketh me," which, while perhaps not literally true for every single person, effectively conveys the overwhelming and pervasive nature of the prophet's social rejection. There is also an element of **Paradox** or **Irony** in Jeremiah's accusation of being "deceived" by a God who is simultaneously "stronger" and "prevailed." This highlights the tension between Jeremiah's human experience of suffering and his theological understanding of God's sovereign power. The verse also employs a form of **Personification** where God's call is depicted as an irresistible force that "deceived" and "prevailed" over Jeremiah, almost as if it were a wrestling opponent.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 20:7 offers profound theological insights into the nature of divine calling, human suffering, and God's sovereignty. It reveals that faithfulness to God's truth can lead to immense personal cost and public scorn, challenging the notion that divine service always brings ease or popular acclaim. Jeremiah's raw honesty validates the experience of believers who feel overwhelmed or even "let down" by the difficulties of their walk with God, demonstrating that such struggles do not negate faith or God's faithfulness. His acknowledgment of God's irresistible power, even amidst his pain, underscores the ultimate sovereignty of God, whose purposes will prevail regardless of human resistance or the prophet's personal agony. This tension between divine compulsion and human suffering is central to understanding the prophetic vocation and the cost of discipleship.

This lament connects to other biblical passages that speak to the suffering of God's faithful servants:
* [Psalm 69:7-9](/psalms/69-7 "Psalm 69:7-7 - Suffering for God's Sake")
* [Amos 7:10-13](/amos/7-10 "Amos 7:10-13 - Amos's Persecution by Amaziah")
* [Matthew 5:10-12](/matthew/5-10 "Matthew 5:10-12 - Blessings for the Persecuted")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 20:7 is a deeply resonant passage for believers today, particularly those who find themselves in difficult ministries or facing opposition for their faith. It provides a powerful validation for the experience of spiritual struggle, reminding us that even the most devoted servants of God can feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and deeply wounded by the challenges of obedience. Jeremiah's lament gives us permission to be honest with God about our pain and confusion, without it being a sign of weak faith. His ultimate submission to God's prevailing will, despite his anguish, encourages us to trust in God's sovereignty even when His path leads through suffering and ridicule. This verse calls us to persevere in speaking God's truth, even when it is unpopular or brings personal cost, knowing that our suffering for righteousness' sake is not in vain but part of a larger divine purpose. It challenges us to examine our own expectations of Christian service: do we anticipate ease and popularity, or are we prepared for the derision that often accompanies faithful witness in a fallen world?

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways have you felt "enticed" or drawn into a calling or commitment by God that proved more challenging or painful than you initially imagined?**
* **How do you reconcile God's sovereignty and irresistible will with your own feelings of struggle, frustration, or even disappointment in your spiritual journey?**
* **What forms of "derision" or "mockery" might believers face today for upholding biblical truth in a secular or hostile culture?**
* **How does Jeremiah's raw honesty in lamenting to God encourage or challenge your own prayer life?**
* **What does this verse teach us about perseverance in ministry or faith, even when faced with constant opposition?**

### FAQ
**Did God literally "deceive" Jeremiah in a malicious way?**

Answer: No, the Hebrew word _pâthâh_ (H6601), translated as "deceived," carries a nuanced meaning here. While it can imply trickery, its primary sense is "to persuade," "to entice," or "to allure." Jeremiah is not accusing God of malicious deception or lying, but rather of having powerfully persuaded or drawn him into a prophetic ministry whose immense personal cost and suffering he could not have fully foreseen or resisted. He felt enticed into a calling that proved far more burdensome and painful than he could have imagined, leading to a profound sense of being "taken in" by God's irresistible call, even if it wasn't a deliberate trick. It's an expression of raw human anguish and frustration, not a theological statement questioning God's integrity.

**Why did Jeremiah continue to prophesy if it brought him so much suffering?**

Answer: Jeremiah himself provides the answer in the very next verse ([Jeremiah 20:9](/jeremiah/20-9 "Jeremiah 20:9 - Jeremiah's Inescapable Burden")). He explains that when he tried to stop speaking in the LORD's name, God's word became like a "burning fire shut up in my bones," making him weary of holding it in. This highlights the irresistible nature of God's call and the divine compulsion that drove him. Despite the profound personal cost and public derision, Jeremiah could not escape his prophetic burden. His suffering was immense, but the internal pressure of God's word was even greater, compelling him to continue.

**How does this verse relate to the character of God, who is always truthful?**

Answer: This verse, when properly understood, does not contradict God's character as truthful. Jeremiah's lament is a deeply personal, emotional outcry from a prophet in extreme distress, not a theological treatise. It reflects his human perception and feeling of being overwhelmed by a calling that brought him unexpected pain. God is indeed faithful and true ([Psalm 33:4](/psalms/33-4 "Psalm 33:4 - God's Word is True")). The "deception" Jeremiah refers to is not a divine lie, but the profound human experience of being powerfully drawn into a divine purpose that far exceeds one's capacity or expectation for suffering. God's call is often accompanied by a cost, and Jeremiah's honesty reveals the depth of that cost.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah's wrenching lament in [Jeremiah 20:7](/jeremiah/20-7 "Jeremiah 20:7 - Jeremiah's Lament") finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. Jeremiah, the "weeping prophet," foreshadows the ultimate suffering Servant who would be "despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain" ([Isaiah 53:3](/isaiah/53-3 "Isaiah 53:3 - The Suffering Servant")). Like Jeremiah, Jesus was "enticed" or drawn into His divine mission by the Father's will, a mission whose full cost was revealed in His agony in Gethsemane, where He cried out, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will" ([Matthew 26:39](/matthew/26-39 "Matthew 26:39 - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane")). This demonstrates the same tension between human will and divine compulsion that Jeremiah experienced, but with a perfect, obedient submission. Jesus, too, was "stronger" than any human opposition and "prevailed" in fulfilling His Father's will, even unto death. He was mocked, derided, and scorned daily by His own people, from the religious leaders to the crowds who cried "Crucify him!" ([Luke 23:21](/luke/23-21 "Luke 23:21 - The Crowd Cries for Crucifixion")). His public humiliation on the cross, where He was exposed to the derision of all, perfectly embodies Jeremiah's cry of being "in derision daily, every one mocketh me." Yet, unlike Jeremiah, Jesus' suffering was not merely for the sake of delivering a message, but as the ultimate atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world, the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Thus, Jeremiah's lament becomes a poignant prophetic shadow of the greater suffering and ultimate triumph of Christ, who endured the cross, despising its shame, for the joy set before Him ([Hebrews 12:2](/hebrews/12-2 "Hebrews 12:2 - Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of Faith")).

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

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.