Jeremiah 20:8

KJV

For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.

KJV (with Strong's)

For since {H1767} I spake {H1696}, I cried out {H2199}, I cried {H7121} violence {H2555} and spoil {H7701}; because the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068} was made a reproach {H2781} unto me, and a derision {H7047}, daily {H3117}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Whenever I speak, I have to cry out; I shout, "Violence!" and "Destruction!" Thus the word of ADONAI becomes for me the cause of reproach and derision all day!

Berean Standard Bible

For whenever I speak, I cry out; I proclaim violence and destruction. For the word of the LORD has become to me a reproach and derision all day long.

American Standard Version

For as often as I speak, I cry out; I cry, Violence and destruction! because the word of Jehovah is made a reproach unto me, and a derision, all the day.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 20:8 encapsulates the profound agony and personal cost endured by the prophet Jeremiah as he faithfully delivered God's challenging message to a rebellious nation. In this lament, Jeremiah articulates how his divinely appointed pronouncements of impending judgment—specifically "violence and spoil"—had transformed him into a constant object of "reproach" and "derision" in the daily lives of his own people, highlighting the immense suffering inherent in his prophetic calling and the deep spiritual rebellion of those who rejected God's word.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a poignant segment of Jeremiah's "confessions" or laments, a series of deeply personal outpourings of the prophet's anguish and frustration directed to God, found primarily within [Jeremiah 11-20](/jeremiah/11 "Jeremiah's Confessions and Laments"). Immediately preceding this lament, Jeremiah had experienced public humiliation and physical assault at the hands of Pashur, the chief officer of the temple, for prophesying against Jerusalem and its spiritual leaders ([Jeremiah 20:1-3](/jeremiah/20-1-3 "Pashur Strikes Jeremiah")). This public disgrace intensified Jeremiah's private sorrow, making the "reproach" and "derision" he speaks of in verse 8 a tangible, daily reality that compounded his suffering and isolation. The lament here serves as a raw outpouring of his soul, questioning the very purpose of his existence given the relentless opposition he faced, yet revealing his unbreakable compulsion to speak God's word in the following verse.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jeremiah prophesied during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, spanning the reigns of the last five kings before the Babylonian exile (late 7th to early 6th century BCE). This era was marked by profound political instability, widespread spiritual apostasy, and the looming threat of foreign invasion, primarily from the burgeoning Neo-Babylonian Empire. Despite repeated warnings from prophets like Jeremiah, the people of Judah, including their leaders and priests, stubbornly clung to idolatry, social injustice, and a false sense of security based on the presence of the Temple in Jerusalem. In this cultural milieu, true prophets were often seen as divine spokespersons, but their messages were frequently met with fierce resistance, especially when they challenged the status quo or foretold doom. Jeremiah’s message of impending "violence and spoil" (destruction and plunder by an enemy) directly contradicted the popular, optimistic prophecies of false prophets, making him an unpopular and often persecuted figure. His experience reflects the societal tendency to reject uncomfortable truths, particularly when they emanate from a divine source and demand repentance.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 20:8 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Jeremiah and the broader prophetic tradition. Firstly, it underscores **The Burden of Prophecy**, highlighting the immense personal cost of being God's messenger, especially when the message is one of judgment and repentance to a resistant audience. Jeremiah's cry of "violence and spoil" was not a personal opinion but the very word of the LORD he was compelled to speak, even when it brought him profound personal pain and isolation. This internal struggle and the compulsion to speak God's word, despite the suffering it caused, is further elaborated in [Jeremiah 20:9](/jeremiah/20-9 "Jeremiah's Burning Word and Compulsion to Speak"). Secondly, it illustrates **Persecution for Righteousness**, as Jeremiah's daily experience of "reproach" and "derision" serves as a stark example of the opposition faced by those who faithfully stand for God's truth in a hostile world. His suffering foreshadows the experiences of later prophets and indeed, the ultimate rejection and mockery faced by Jesus Christ Himself. This theme resonates deeply with the New Testament teaching that those who live righteously will often face opposition, and that there is a blessing associated with being persecuted for Christ's sake, as articulated in [Matthew 5:11-12](/matthew/5-11-12 "Blessed are You When Persecuted for Christ's Sake"). Finally, the verse profoundly highlights **The Rejection of God's Word** itself. It is significant that "the word of the LORD" became the very source of Jeremiah's humiliation. This reveals the depth of the people's spiritual rebellion; their derision was not merely directed at Jeremiah as a person, but fundamentally at the divine message he carried. Their scorn for the prophet was, in essence, a profound rejection of God's authority, wisdom, and sovereign will, demonstrating their hardened hearts and spiritual blindness.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Word (Hebrew, _dâbâr'_):** (H1697) This crucial term, meaning "word," "matter," or "thing," refers specifically to "the word of the LORD." It signifies not merely spoken utterances but carries the weight of divine decrees, commands, and the very essence of God's communication. In this context, it emphasizes that Jeremiah's suffering stemmed directly from the divine message itself, not from any personal failing or human invention. The people's scorn was directed at God's authoritative pronouncement, underscoring their profound rebellion against the Almighty.
* **Violence (Hebrew, _châmâç'_):** (H2555) This term denotes "violence," "wrong," or "unjust gain." When Jeremiah "cried violence and spoil," he was proclaiming the specific nature of the impending judgment: the physical and moral devastation that would befall Judah due to their pervasive sin. This was not a general lament but a precise prophetic declaration of the dire consequences of their unrighteousness, foretelling the brutal realities of war, conquest, and societal breakdown they would soon face.
* **Reproach (Hebrew, _cherpâh'_):** (H2781) Signifying "contumely," "disgrace," or "shame," this word vividly captures the public humiliation Jeremiah endured. It implies a deep sense of dishonor and insult, suggesting that Jeremiah was not merely ignored but actively shamed and disgraced in the public square. This "reproach" was a direct consequence of his prophetic faithfulness, making him an outcast and an object of scorn in his own society.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil":** This opening clause establishes Jeremiah's consistent and fervent prophetic activity. The repetition of "I cried" (using two different Hebrew verbs, _zâʻaq_ and _qârâʼ_, meaning to shriek from anguish/danger and to call out/proclaim, respectively) powerfully emphasizes the urgency, intensity, and distress with which he delivered his message. The content of his message was specific and dire: "violence and spoil," referring to the impending destruction and plunder of Judah by their enemies, a direct and deserved consequence of their persistent sin and rebellion against God.
* **"because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me":** This pivotal phrase reveals the direct cause of Jeremiah's profound suffering. It was not his own words or personal actions that brought him shame, but the very "word of the LORD" that he was divinely compelled to speak. The divine message, intended to bring about repentance or to announce righteous judgment, was instead twisted by the people into a source of public disgrace and profound dishonor for the prophet who faithfully delivered it, signifying the deep spiritual rebellion and hardened hearts of his audience.
* **"and a derision, daily":** This final segment highlights the persistent and pervasive nature of Jeremiah's humiliation. Not only was he reproached, but he was also made an object of "derision"—scornful laughter, ridicule, and contempt. The adverb "daily" underscores the relentless, unceasing nature of this suffering, indicating that Jeremiah's life was a constant cycle of delivering God's unpopular truth and enduring the resulting contempt and mockery from his own people, a profound burden on his soul.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 20:8 employs several powerful literary devices to convey the prophet's profound anguish and the challenging nature of his ministry. The passage is a prime example of a **Lament** or **Confession**, a genre common in the Psalms and prophetic literature where the speaker pours out their heart to God, often expressing suffering, confusion, or complaint. The repetition and intensity in "I cried out, I cried" demonstrate **Anaphora** and **Amplification**, emphasizing the prophet's distress and the urgency of his divinely mandated message. There is a strong element of **Juxtaposition** between the divine origin and inherent authority of "the word of the LORD" and its human reception, which is characterized by "reproach" and "derision." This striking contrast highlights the profound spiritual rebellion of the people. The phrase "the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me" uses a subtle form of **Personification**, where the divine word itself is treated as an entity that can be subjected to human scorn, underscoring the direct affront to God. Finally, the word "daily" serves as an **Intensifier**, stressing the relentless and unceasing nature of Jeremiah's suffering, reinforcing the profound and constant burden of his prophetic calling.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 20:8 offers a profound theological insight into the nature of divine revelation and human response. It reveals that God's truth, when faithfully proclaimed, often provokes hostility from those unwilling to repent and conform to His will. The prophet's suffering is not a sign of God's abandonment or a failure of the message, but rather a testament to the integrity of the divine word and the depth of the people's spiritual resistance. This verse underscores the immense cost of prophetic faithfulness, illustrating that obedience to God's call can lead to social ostracism, personal pain, and public humiliation. Yet, it implicitly affirms the enduring power and ultimate purpose of God's word, for even when it is scorned, it will not return to Him empty but will accomplish His sovereign will. Jeremiah's experience thus becomes a paradigm for all who are called to speak truth in a world that often prefers comfortable lies, reminding believers that their ultimate vindication rests with God, not with human approval or popularity.

* [Isaiah 55:11](/isaiah/55-11 "God's Word Accomplishes Its Purpose")
* [Amos 7:10-13](/amos/7-10-13 "Amos Expelled for Prophesying")
* [Luke 6:22-23](/luke/6-22-23 "Blessed are You When People Hate You")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 20:8 resonates powerfully with believers today, offering a sobering yet encouraging perspective on the nature of faithfulness in a fallen world. It challenges us to honestly assess our own willingness to deliver or receive uncomfortable truths, particularly when they emanate directly from God's authoritative word. The prophet's experience reminds us that genuine commitment to Christ and His uncompromised message may not always lead to popularity or ease; instead, it can invite opposition, mockery, or even outright persecution. In a culture that often prioritizes acceptance, comfort, and self-affirmation, Jeremiah's steadfastness in the face of "reproach" and "derision" calls us to cultivate a courage rooted in divine approval rather than human applause. It encourages us to find our strength and solace in God's presence, trusting that even when His word, spoken through us, becomes an object of scorn, it remains sovereign and will ultimately achieve its intended purpose. This verse prompts us to examine whether we are truly willing to bear the cross of Christ, which often involves enduring the world's contempt and rejection for the sake of His unwavering truth and the gospel.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do we respond when our faith, convictions, or attempts to share biblical truth are met with scorn, ridicule, or social rejection?**
* **What "violence and spoil"—unpopular or challenging truths about sin, judgment, or repentance—might God be calling us to acknowledge, embrace, or speak in our personal lives or cultural contexts today?**
* **In what ways can Jeremiah's perseverance in the face of daily derision encourage us to remain faithful to God's calling, even when the personal cost is high and the immediate outcome is not favorable?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jeremiah continue to prophesy despite such profound suffering and rejection?**

Answer: Jeremiah continued to prophesy despite immense suffering because he felt an irresistible divine compulsion. As he famously articulated in [Jeremiah 20:9](/jeremiah/20-9 "Jeremiah's Burning Word"), the word of the LORD was like "a burning fire shut up in my bones," making it impossible for him to hold back, even though speaking it brought him daily reproach and derision. His faithfulness stemmed from an unshakeable conviction that he was God's chosen messenger, and the divine imperative outweighed his personal anguish and the severe consequences he faced. He understood that his obedience was to God alone, regardless of human response.

**How was "the word of the LORD" made a "reproach" and "derision" to Jeremiah?**

Answer: The "word of the LORD" became a "reproach" and "derision" to Jeremiah because the people of Judah stubbornly rejected its message of impending judgment and a call to repentance. Instead of heeding God's warnings about the coming "violence and spoil" due to their pervasive sin, they scorned the messenger and, by extension, the divine message itself. Their mockery and contempt for Jeremiah were a direct manifestation of their rebellion against God's authority and wisdom. They perceived his prophecies as foolish, unpatriotic, or even treasonous, thus turning God's sacred and authoritative word into an object of public shame and ridicule for the prophet who dared to speak it faithfully.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah's experience in [Jeremiah 20:8](/jeremiah/20-8 "Jeremiah's Lament of Reproach") serves as a poignant foreshadowing of the ultimate Prophet, Jesus Christ, who also proclaimed God's truth and faced profound "reproach" and "derision." Like Jeremiah, Jesus spoke words of both judgment and salvation, challenging the spiritual complacency and hypocrisy of His generation ([Matthew 23:13-36](/matthew/23-13-36 "Jesus Denounces the Scribes and Pharisees")). His divine message, though full of grace and truth, was often met with hostility, disbelief, and outright mockery from those who rejected His authority and claims to be the Son of God ([John 7:48-49](/john/7-48-49 "No Ruler or Pharisee Believes in Him")). The ultimate culmination of this derision was seen in His passion, where He was physically abused, spat upon, and mocked by soldiers and rulers alike ([Matthew 27:27-31](/matthew/27-27-31 "Jesus Mocked by Soldiers"); [Luke 23:35](/luke/23-35 "Rulers Scoff at Jesus")). Yet, unlike Jeremiah, whose suffering was for his faithfulness, Christ's suffering and reproach were redemptive. He willingly became "a reproach" for us, bearing the shame and contempt that humanity deserved for its sin ([Romans 15:3](/romans/15-3 "Christ Did Not Please Himself")). In His perfect obedience, Jesus endured the ultimate derision on the cross, making a way for us to be reconciled to God and receive honor instead of shame ([Philippians 2:8-11](/philippians/2-8-11 "Christ's Humiliation and Exaltation")). Thus, Jeremiah's lament finds its profound and glorious fulfillment in the Lamb of God, who took away the sin of the world and transformed the ultimate reproach into eternal glory and salvation for all who believe.

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

Jeremiah 6:10

To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear [is] uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

2 Chronicles 36:16

But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till [there was] no remedy.

Hebrews 11:26

Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

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.

Luke 11:45

Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.

Jeremiah 28:8

The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.

Jeremiah 18:16

To make their land desolate, [and] a perpetual hissing; every one that passeth thereby shall be astonished, and wag his head.