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Jeremiah 18:22

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Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.

Let a cry {H2201} be heard {H8085} from their houses {H1004}, when thou shalt bring {H935} a troop {H1416} suddenly {H6597} upon them: for they have digged {H3738} a pit {H7745}{H7882} to take {H3920} me, and hid {H2934} snares {H6341} for my feet {H7272}.

let screams be heard from their houses when you bring raiders on them without warning. For they have dug a pit to catch me and have laid snares for my feet.

Let a cry be heard from their houses when You suddenly bring raiders against them, for they have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden snares for my feet.

Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them; for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.

Commentary

Jeremiah 18:22 is a poignant cry from the prophet Jeremiah, expressing the deep pain and betrayal he experienced at the hands of his own people, coupled with a prophetic declaration of divine judgment against them.

Context

This verse comes within a larger section (Jeremiah 18:18-23) where Jeremiah laments the plots against his life and ministry. Earlier in chapter 18, God uses the metaphor of the potter and the clay to illustrate His sovereign right to shape nations, offering mercy to those who repent and judgment to those who persist in evil. Despite God's patience and Jeremiah's consistent warnings, the people of Judah, particularly the religious and political leaders, rejected his message and sought to silence him. They conspired against him, seeking to entrap him in his words and actions, leading to this fervent prayer for divine intervention.

Key Themes

  • Prophet's Persecution: The verse vividly portrays the personal suffering of Jeremiah, who faced intense opposition and death threats for delivering God's truth. This reflects a recurring theme in the prophetic books, where God's messengers are often rejected and persecuted by those they seek to warn.
  • Divine Justice: Jeremiah appeals to God's justice, asking for retribution against those who maliciously plotted his downfall. The "cry" from their houses and the sudden arrival of a "troop" represent the inevitable judgment God would bring upon Judah for their persistent sin and rejection of His word. This ultimately refers to the Babylonian invasion and the destruction of Jerusalem.
  • Treachery and Malice: The imagery of "digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet" is a powerful metaphor for the deliberate and cunning schemes devised to trap and destroy Jeremiah. This highlights the deep spiritual corruption and hostility towards God's appointed messenger. Similar imagery is found in the Psalms, describing the wicked's plots against the righteous (e.g., Psalm 35:7).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrases "digged a pit" (kārû šaḥat) and "hid snares" (ṭāmənû paḥîm) are potent metaphors. The term šaḥat for "pit" often implies a destructive trap or even a grave, while paḥîm, meaning "snares," refers to the nets or traps used by hunters. This emphasizes the deliberate, calculated, and life-threatening nature of the conspiracy against Jeremiah, underscoring the severity of the betrayal he faced.

Reflection and Application

Jeremiah 18:22 reminds us that faithfulness to God's truth can often lead to opposition, even from those within one's own community or religious circles. The prophet's experience highlights the reality of spiritual warfare and the schemes of those who oppose righteousness. However, it also underscores God's unwavering commitment to justice. While Jeremiah's prayer here is an imprecation, reflecting the Old Testament context of divine judgment, it ultimately serves as a testament to God's sovereign power to bring about His purposes and to deal with those who defy Him and persecute His servants. For believers today, it encourages us to trust in God's ultimate justice, even when facing unjust opposition, knowing that vengeance belongs to the Lord and He will right all wrongs in His perfect timing.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 6:26 (6 votes)

    O daughter of my people, gird [thee] with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, [as for] an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.

  • Psalms 140:5 (5 votes)

    The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.

  • Zephaniah 1:10 (4 votes)

    And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, [that there shall be] the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills.

  • Zephaniah 1:11 (4 votes)

    Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.

  • Jeremiah 25:34 (4 votes)

    Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves [in the ashes], ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.

  • Jeremiah 25:36 (4 votes)

    A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, [shall be heard]: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture.

  • Zephaniah 1:16 (3 votes)

    A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.