Jeremiah 20:10 - For I have heard the defaming of many, “Terror on every side! Denounce, and we will denounce him!” say all my familiar friends, those who watch for my fall. “Perhaps he will be persuaded, and we will prevail against him, and we will take our revenge on him.”
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What does "Jeremiah 20:10" mean?
This verse, Jeremiah 20:10, is a powerful expression of Jeremiah's suffering and the intense opposition he faced due to his prophetic pronouncements. Let's break it down:
"For I have heard the defaming of many, 'Terror on every side!'" This sets the scene. Jeremiah is surrounded by people who are spreading malicious rumors and slander about him. The phrase "Terror on every side!" (Hebrew: Magor missabib) is a recurring motif in Jeremiah's prophecies (Jeremiah 6:25, 46:5, 49:29). It suggests a pervasive atmosphere of fear and anxiety, and that they are actively trying to instill fear in Jeremiah. The people are using fear as a weapon against him.
"Denounce, and we will denounce him!'" This reveals the people's strategy. They are encouraging others to accuse Jeremiah of wrongdoing, hoping to build a case against him. It shows a unified effort to discredit and silence him. They want to publicly condemn him and invite others to join in the condemnation.
"say all my familiar friends, those who watch for my fall." This is particularly painful. The betrayal comes not from distant enemies, but from those close to him – his "familiar friends," people he likely trusted and confided in. They are actively "watching for his fall," meaning they are waiting for him to make a mistake or stumble so they can exploit it. The fact that his friends are now enemies is a profound source of anguish.
"Perhaps he will be persuaded, and we will prevail against him, and we will take our revenge on him.'" This outlines their ultimate goal. They hope to manipulate or deceive Jeremiah ("Perhaps he will be persuaded"). If they can convince him to compromise his message or abandon his faith, they believe they will "prevail against him," meaning they will defeat him and discredit his ministry. Finally, they seek "revenge" – they want to punish him for his prophecies, which they perceive as a threat to their way of life and their power.
In summary, Jeremiah 20:10 depicts a prophet facing intense opposition, betrayal by close friends, and a concerted effort to silence him through slander, fear, and manipulation. It highlights the personal cost of standing for truth and the pain of being rejected and persecuted for one's beliefs. The verse reveals the people's desire to discredit Jeremiah, undermine his message, and ultimately, exact revenge for challenging their authority and comfortable status quo.
The verse is also important because it echoes throughout history wherever prophets, reformers, or anyone standing against the grain are met with resistance and betrayal.
Jeremiah 20:10 - For I have heard the defaming of many, “Terror on every side! Denounce, and we will denounce him!” say all my familiar friends, those who watch for my fall. “Perhaps he will be persuaded, and we will prevail against him, and we will take our revenge on him.”
What does "Jeremiah 20:10" mean?
This verse, Jeremiah 20:10, is a powerful expression of Jeremiah's suffering and the intense opposition he faced due to his prophetic pronouncements. Let's break it down:
"For I have heard the defaming of many, 'Terror on every side!'" This sets the scene. Jeremiah is surrounded by people who are spreading malicious rumors and slander about him. The phrase "Terror on every side!" (Hebrew: Magor missabib) is a recurring motif in Jeremiah's prophecies (Jeremiah 6:25, 46:5, 49:29). It suggests a pervasive atmosphere of fear and anxiety, and that they are actively trying to instill fear in Jeremiah. The people are using fear as a weapon against him.
"Denounce, and we will denounce him!'" This reveals the people's strategy. They are encouraging others to accuse Jeremiah of wrongdoing, hoping to build a case against him. It shows a unified effort to discredit and silence him. They want to publicly condemn him and invite others to join in the condemnation.
"say all my familiar friends, those who watch for my fall." This is particularly painful. The betrayal comes not from distant enemies, but from those close to him – his "familiar friends," people he likely trusted and confided in. They are actively "watching for his fall," meaning they are waiting for him to make a mistake or stumble so they can exploit it. The fact that his friends are now enemies is a profound source of anguish.
"Perhaps he will be persuaded, and we will prevail against him, and we will take our revenge on him.'" This outlines their ultimate goal. They hope to manipulate or deceive Jeremiah ("Perhaps he will be persuaded"). If they can convince him to compromise his message or abandon his faith, they believe they will "prevail against him," meaning they will defeat him and discredit his ministry. Finally, they seek "revenge" – they want to punish him for his prophecies, which they perceive as a threat to their way of life and their power.
In summary, Jeremiah 20:10 depicts a prophet facing intense opposition, betrayal by close friends, and a concerted effort to silence him through slander, fear, and manipulation. It highlights the personal cost of standing for truth and the pain of being rejected and persecuted for one's beliefs. The verse reveals the people's desire to discredit Jeremiah, undermine his message, and ultimately, exact revenge for challenging their authority and comfortable status quo.
The verse is also important because it echoes throughout history wherever prophets, reformers, or anyone standing against the grain are met with resistance and betrayal.