The Meaning of Jeremiah 20:11 Explained

Jeremiah 20:11

KJV: But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.

YLT: And Jehovah is with me, as a terrible mighty one, Therefore my persecutors stumble and prevail not, They have been exceedingly ashamed, For they have not acted wisely, Confusion age-during is not forgotten.

Darby: But Jehovah is with me as a mighty terrible one; therefore my persecutors shall stumble and shall not prevail; they shall be greatly ashamed, for they have not prospered: it shall be an everlasting confusion that shall not be forgotten.

ASV: But Jehovah is with me as a mighty one and a terrible: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail; they shall be utterly put to shame, because they have not dealt wisely, even with an everlasting dishonor which shall never be forgotten.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But the LORD  [is] with me as a mighty  terrible one:  therefore my persecutors  shall stumble,  and they shall not prevail:  they shall be greatly  ashamed;  for they shall not prosper:  [their] everlasting  confusion  shall never be forgotten. 

What does Jeremiah 20:11 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Yet Jeremiah was confident that the Lord would remain with him and defend him like a powerful bodyguard (cf. Jeremiah 1:18; Jeremiah 15:20). Consequently his persecutors among the people of Judah would not succeed. They were the ones who would stumble, feel ashamed, and experience everlasting disgrace-not him (cf. Jeremiah 20:10).

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 20:11 mean?

But Yahweh [is] with me as a mighty awesome one upon thus my persecutors will stumble and not will prevail They will be ashamed greatly for not they will prosper [Their] confusion everlasting never will be forgotten
וַֽיהוָ֤ה אוֹתִי֙ כְּגִבּ֣וֹר עָרִ֔יץ עַל־ כֵּ֛ן רֹדְפַ֥י יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ וְלֹ֣א יֻכָ֑לוּ בֹּ֤שׁוּ מְאֹד֙ כִּֽי־ לֹ֣א הִשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ כְּלִמַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֖ם לֹ֥א תִשָּׁכֵֽחַ

וַֽיהוָ֤ה  But  Yahweh  [is] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אוֹתִי֙  with  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
כְּגִבּ֣וֹר  as  a  mighty 
Parse: Preposition-k, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גִּבֹּור  
Sense: strong, mighty.
עָרִ֔יץ  awesome  one 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: עָרִיץ  
Sense: awe-inspiring, terror-striking, awesome, terrifying, ruthless, mighty.
עַל־  upon 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
כֵּ֛ן  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
רֹדְפַ֥י  my  persecutors 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: רָדַף  
Sense: to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after.
יִכָּשְׁל֖וּ  will  stumble 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: כָּשַׁל  
Sense: to stumble, stagger, totter.
וְלֹ֣א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יֻכָ֑לוּ  will  prevail 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
בֹּ֤שׁוּ  They  will  be  ashamed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: בֹּושׁ 
Sense: to put to shame, be ashamed, be disconcerted, be disappointed.
מְאֹד֙  greatly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: מְאֹד  
Sense: exceedingly, much subst.
הִשְׂכִּ֔ילוּ  they  will  prosper 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׂכַל 
Sense: to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper.
כְּלִמַּ֥ת  [Their]  confusion 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: כְּלִמָּה  
Sense: disgrace, reproach, shame, confusion, dishonour, insult, ignominy.
עוֹלָ֖ם  everlasting 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֹולָם  
Sense: long duration, antiquity, futurity, for ever, ever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world.
לֹ֥א  never 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תִשָּׁכֵֽחַ  will  be  forgotten 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: כָּשַׁח 
Sense: to forget, ignore, wither.