1.
Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.
Pashur = most noble. The first person named in this book, beside Jeremiah. Not the Pashur of Jeremiah 21 . This incident is in the third year of Jehoiakim, just before Nebuchadnezzar comes for the first time. Jeremiah 2 1 is in the latter part of Zedekiah's reign, nineteen years later.
Immer. The ancestor of the sixteenth order of priests (1 Chronicles 24:14 ).
the priest: i.e. Immer.
chief governor: i.e. Pashur.
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah.
prophesied = was prophesying.
2.
Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.
smote. Perhaps according to Deuteronomy 25:3 .
high = upper. Probably north of the Temple, which looked toward the gate of Benjamin.
3.
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magor-missabib.
not called thy name Pashur. Pashhur is the foreign Aramaic name, given by his parents. Jeremiah takes this Aramaic name and interprets it in Hebrew (as Isaiah had done in Jeremiah 8:1 , Jeremiah 8:3 ). Pash = to stay (or remain on), gur = to sojourn or wander about in a strange land. Aramaean sehor = Hebrew. sabib. Hence, "Thy name is not staying on, but wandering about. " Compare Jeremiah 20:3 with Jeremiah 20:6 . The opposite of Isaiah 8:1 , Isaiah 8:3 .
Magor-missabib. Hebrew. Magor- missabib = terror-round about, or fear on every side. Compare Jeremiah 20:10 ; Jeremiah 6:25 ; Jeremiah 46:5 , &c.
4.
For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it: and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword.
Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.
by the sword. Some codices, with two early printed editions, add "at the hand of".
the king of Babylon. This is the first occurrence in Jeremiah.
5.
Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.
strength = power, or might. Hebrew. hasen. Not the same word as in Jeremiah 20:7 . Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), for the wealth acquired by strength.
6.
And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies.
7.
O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.
deceived = induced, or persuaded. Hebrew. pathah, in a good sense: Genesis 9:27 ("enlarge"). Proverbs 25:15 ("persuade"). Hosea 2:14 ("allure"). The adjective Petthi means persuasible, and generally in a good sense: Psalms 19:7 ; and is rendered "simple": (Psalms 19:7 ; Psalms 116:6 ; Psalms 119:130 . Proverbs 1:4 ; Proverbs 8:5 ; Proverbs 21:11 , &c.)
stronger = stronger (to hold fast). Hebrew. hazak. Not the same word as in Jeremiah 20:5 .
mocketh = is laughing at.
8.
For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.
9.
Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
was = became.
10.
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.
fear on every side. Hebrew. magor-missabib, as in Jeremiah 20:3 . Compare Jeremiah 6:25 ; Jeremiah 46:5 , &c.
familiars = those whom I am wont to salute. See App-85 .
enticed = induced, or persuaded. Hebrew. pathah , Jeremiah 20:7 .
11.
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.
12.
But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.
LORD of hosts. See note on Jeremiah 6:6 , and 1 Samuel 1:3 .
triest = testest.
the righteous = a righteous one.
reins = kidneys. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for thoughts.
heart. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), for the affections.
13.
Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.
soul. Heb, nephesh. App-13 .
poor = helpless. Hebrew. 'ebyon. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .
evildoers. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .
14.
Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.
let not the day, &c. Figure of speech Pleonasm.
15.
Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad.
man child = a son, a male. Compare Revelation 12:5 .
16.
And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;
as the cities, &c. Reference to Pentateuch (Genesis 19:24 ).
cry: of the besieged for help. Compare Exodus 32 . shouting: of the besiegers for victory Jeremiah 17:18 .
17.
Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.
18.
Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
Wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. Compare Job 3 .