The Meaning of Jeremiah 20:13 Explained

Jeremiah 20:13

KJV: Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.

YLT: Sing ye to Jehovah, praise Jehovah, For He hath delivered the soul of the needy From the hand of evil doers.

Darby: Sing ye unto Jehovah, praise Jehovah, for he hath delivered the soul of the needy from the hand of evildoers.

ASV: Sing unto Jehovah, praise ye Jehovah; for he hath delivered the soul of the needy from the hand of evil-doers.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Sing  unto the LORD,  praise  ye the LORD:  for he hath delivered  the soul  of the poor  from the hand  of evildoers. 

What does Jeremiah 20:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The prophet closed this lament with a call to praise the Lord in song because He had delivered Jeremiah from those who wanted to do him evil.

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 20:13 mean?

Sing to Yahweh Praise - Yahweh for He has delivered the life of the poor from the hand of evildoers -
שִׁ֚ירוּ לַֽיהוָ֔ה הַֽלְל֖וּ אֶת־ ! יְהוָ֑ה כִּ֥י הִצִּ֛יל נֶ֥פֶשׁ אֶבְי֖וֹן מִיַּ֥ד מְרֵעִֽים ס

שִׁ֚ירוּ  Sing 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שִׁיר  
Sense: to sing.
לַֽיהוָ֔ה  to  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הַֽלְל֖וּ  Praise 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: הָלַל 
Sense: to shine.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
! יְהוָ֑ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
הִצִּ֛יל  He  has  delivered 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָצַל  
Sense: to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder.
נֶ֥פֶשׁ  the  life 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: נֶפֶשׁ  
Sense: soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion.
אֶבְי֖וֹן  of  the  poor 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: אֶבְיׄון  
Sense: in want, needy, chiefly poor, needy person.
מִיַּ֥ד  from  the  hand 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
מְרֵעִֽים  of  evildoers 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural
Root: מֵרֵעַ 
Sense: to be bad, be evil.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation