The Meaning of Jeremiah 20:10 Explained

Jeremiah 20:10

KJV: For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

YLT: For I have heard the evil report of many, Fear is round about: 'Declare, and we declare it,' All mine allies are watching for my halting, 'Perhaps he is enticed, and we prevail over him, And we take our vengeance out of him.'

Darby: For I have heard the defaming of many, terror on every side: Report, and we will report it. All my familiars are watching for my stumbling: Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him; and we shall take our revenge on him.

ASV: For I have heard the defaming of many, terror on every side. Denounce, and we will denounce him,'say all my familiar friends, they that watch for my fall; peradventure he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For I heard  the defaming  of many,  fear  on every side.  Report,  [say they], and we will report  it. All my familiars  watched  for my halting,  [saying], Peradventure he will be enticed,  and we shall prevail  against him, and we shall take  our revenge  on him. 

What does Jeremiah 20:10 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The prophet knew that the people were complaining that all he ever talked about was coming terror. He had become a "Magomassibib" (terror on every side) of sorts himself (cf. Jeremiah 20:3), and the people may well have applied this nickname to him. They felt someone should denounce him for speaking so pessimistically and harshly about their nation. Even his trusted friends had turned against him and were hoping that he would make some mistake so they could discredit him for his words. The Lord Jesus Christ suffered similar opposition (cf. Mark 3:2; Mark 14:58; Luke 6:7; Luke 14:1; Luke 20:20).

Context Summary

Jeremiah 20:1-18 - The Folly Of Idolatry
Jeremiah 10:1-10
We are here introduced into an idol-factory. Contrasted with the manufactured idols is the majesty of our God. There is none like Him. His name is great in might; He is the King of the nations, the true and living God, and the everlasting King! Christian, fear not or be dismayed when enemies plot against you. It is a vain device that they frame. To hide in God is a sure defence from all that man can do for our hurt. O thou true and living Savior, in thy wounds harried and faithful souls become strong and brave again.
Jeremiah 10:19-25
The prophet now bids the people prepare for their captivity. Their city would be as when a shepherd removed his slight and insubstantial tent, leaving no trace. But Jeremiah's soul is lacerated and torn with the message he must needs announce. Are we called to be shepherds? Let us see to it that we seek the Lord; so only shall our flocks not be scattered, Jeremiah 10:21. Are we in perplexity as to our path in life? It is not for us to direct ourselves, but to look up for God's sure guidance, which will be given to the soul that waits for it, Jeremiah 10:23. Are we being corrected? Let us be patient; it is only when we endure without complaining that our trial works out the highest good, and God will not give us more than we can bear, Jeremiah 10:24. [source]

Chapter Summary: Jeremiah 20

1  Pashur, smiting Jeremiah, receives a new name, and a fearful doom
7  Jeremiah complains of contempt;
10  of treachery;
14  and of his birth

What do the individual words in Jeremiah 20:10 mean?

For I heard mocking many fear on every side Report [they say] and we will report it every man of my acquaintance watched for my stumbling [saying] Perhaps he can be induced and we will prevail against him and we will take our revenge on him
כִּ֣י שָׁמַ֜עְתִּי דִּבַּ֣ת רַבִּים֮ מָג֣וֹר מִסָּבִיב֒ הַגִּ֙ידוּ֙ וְנַגִּידֶ֔נּוּ כֹּ֚ל אֱנ֣וֹשׁ שְׁלוֹמִ֔י שֹׁמְרֵ֖י צַלְעִ֑י אוּלַ֤י יְפֻתֶּה֙ וְנ֣וּכְלָה ל֔וֹ וְנִקְחָ֥ה נִקְמָתֵ֖נוּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ

שָׁמַ֜עְתִּי  I  heard 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
דִּבַּ֣ת  mocking 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: דִּבָּה  
Sense: whispering, defamation, evil report.
רַבִּים֮  many 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: רַב 
Sense: much, many, great.
מָג֣וֹר  fear 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָגֹור  
Sense: fear, terror.
מִסָּבִיב֒  on  every  side 
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb
Root: מוּסָב 
Sense: places round about, circuit, round about adv.
הַגִּ֙ידוּ֙  Report  [they  say] 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
וְנַגִּידֶ֔נּוּ  and  we  will  report  it 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common plural, third person masculine singular
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
כֹּ֚ל  every 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֱנ֣וֹשׁ  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: אֱנׄושׁ 
Sense: man, mortal man, person, mankind.
שְׁלוֹמִ֔י  of  my  acquaintance 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
שֹׁמְרֵ֖י  watched  for 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
צַלְעִ֑י  my  stumbling 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: צֶלַע  
Sense: limping, stumbling.
אוּלַ֤י  [saying]  Perhaps 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אוּלַי  
Sense: perhaps, peradventure.
יְפֻתֶּה֙  he  can  be  induced 
Parse: Verb, Pual, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּתָה 
Sense: to be spacious, be open, be wide.
וְנ֣וּכְלָה  and  we  will  prevail 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common plural
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
ל֔וֹ  against  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
וְנִקְחָ֥ה  and  we  will  take 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common plural
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
נִקְמָתֵ֖נוּ  our  revenge 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: נְקָמָה  
Sense: vengeance.
מִמֶּֽנּוּ  on  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.