Persecution by Pashhur the Priest
Jeremiah 20:1-6
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Jer.20.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- וישמע: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- פשחור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הכהן: NOUN,m,sg,def
- והוא: CONJ+PRON,3,m,sg
- פקיד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נגיד: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- ירמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נבא: VERB,qal,impf,1,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- הדברים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- האלה: DEM,pl
Parallels
- Jeremiah 26:1–11 (structural): Same setting and action: Jeremiah proclaims judgment in the house of the LORD and temple officials/elders seize him and complain to the authorities — a parallel incident of a prophet arrested for speaking in the temple.
- Jeremiah 38:4–6 (thematic): Temple officials (including a different Pashur) oppose and physically restrain Jeremiah, casting him into a cistern — another episode of Jerusalem leaders persecuting Jeremiah for his prophecies.
- 2 Chronicles 24:20–22 (thematic): Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest is confronted and ultimately killed in the court of the house of the LORD after prophesying — a parallel of priests/officials hostile to a prophetic word in the temple precincts.
- Amos 7:12–13 (thematic): A priest (Amaziah of Bethel) opposes the prophet Amos and tells him to prophesy elsewhere, reflecting the pattern of temple priests resisting prophetic ministry within sacred spaces.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now Pashhur son of Immer the priest, who was chief officer in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these words.
- And Pashhur son of Immer the priest heard it—he was the chief officer in the house of the LORD—and he heard Jeremiah the prophet proclaiming these words.
Jer.20.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויכה: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- פשחור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- ירמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הנביא: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- על: PREP
- המהפכת: NOUN,f,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בשער: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בנימן: NOUN,m,sg,proper
- העליון: ADJ,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,def
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 26:8-11 (structural): Jeremiah faces arrest and a death sentence for speaking God’s word in the temple court — a similar temple/civic prosecution of the prophet for prophetic speech.
- Jeremiah 37:15-21 (structural): Officials seize and imprison Jeremiah (placed in the court/prison), paralleling the arrest and confinement by Pashhur in Jer 20:2.
- Jeremiah 38:6 (thematic): Jeremiah is thrown into a cistern/dungeon by officials who oppose him — another instance of violent mistreatment and attempted silencing of the prophet.
- 2 Chronicles 36:16 (thematic): The leaders repeatedly mocked and persecuted God’s messengers/prophets, a broad thematic parallel to the hostile treatment Jeremiah receives from Pashhur.
- Acts 7:52 (allusion): Stephen charges Jewish leaders with resisting and murdering the prophets — a New Testament summary of the recurring pattern of persecuting God’s messengers exemplified in Jer 20:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- And Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks that were at the upper gate of Benjamin in the house of the LORD.
- Then Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks that were at the upper Benjamin Gate in the house of the LORD.
Jer.20.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ממחרת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- פשחור: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- את: PRT,acc
- ירמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מן: PREP
- המהפכת: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ירמיהו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לא: PART_NEG
- פשחור: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- קרא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- שמך: NOUN,m,sg,cs,2,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- אם: CONJ
- מגור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מסביב: ADV,loc
Parallels
- Isaiah 8:3-4 (verbal): God commands a prophetic renaming—'Call his name Maher‑shalal‑hash‑baz'—paralleling Jeremiah's renaming of Pashhur as a symbolic proclamation of fate/judgment.
- Hosea 1:4-6 (thematic): Children given prophetic names (Jezreel, Lo‑Ruhamah, Lo‑Ammi) that announce judgment/relationship; parallels the use of a name as a public prophetic sign in Jeremiah 20:3.
- Genesis 32:28 (verbal): Jacob is renamed Israel by the divine/angelic agent to signify destiny and character—an example of naming as authoritative declaration like Jeremiah's renaming of Pashhur.
- Jeremiah 38:6 (thematic): Later in Jeremiah the prophet is violently confined (thrown into a cistern) by officials—paralleling the motif of prophetic persecution and physical restraint implied by Pashhur's treatment and Jeremiah's response in 20:2–3.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it came to pass the next day that Pashhur brought Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then Jeremiah said to him, “The LORD has not called your name Pashhur, but Magor-missabib, ‘Terror on every side.’”
- And it came to pass the next day that Pashhur brought Jeremiah out of the stocks. Jeremiah said to him, “The LORD has not called your name Pashhur, but Magor‑missabib—terror on every side.”
Jer.20.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- כי: CONJ
- כה: ADV
- אמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- הנני: PRT+PRON,1,sg
- נתנך: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg+obj2ms
- למגור: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- ולכל: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אהביך: NOUN,m,pl,abs+2f
- ונפלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בחרב: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- איביהם: NOUN,m,pl,suff_3mp
- ועיניך: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,abs+suff(2ms)
- ראות: VERB,qal,ptc,3,f,pl
- ואת: CONJ
- כל: DET
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- אתן: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- בבל: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- והגלם: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg+PRON,3,m,pl
- בבלה: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- והכם: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,1,_,sg+PRON,3,m,pl
- בחרב: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 21:9 (verbal): Uses the same formula of God giving the city/people into the hand of the king of Babylon who will destroy them (parallelling 'I will give... into the hand of the king of Babylon').
- Jeremiah 25:11-12 (thematic): Broad prophecy of Judah’s exile to Babylon and the land’s desolation—same theme of removal to Babylon as divine judgment.
- 2 Kings 24:14 (structural): Historical fulfillment: Nebuchadnezzar carried off Jerusalem’s people and officials to Babylon, echoing Jeremiah’s prediction that Judah would be given to Babylon and carried away.
- Isaiah 39:6-7 (allusion): Hezekiah’s oracle that people and treasures will be carried to Babylon foreshadows the Babylonian exile described in Jeremiah 20:4.
- Ezekiel 12:13 (verbal): Similar language of delivering into the hand of enemies and scattering/exile as punishment—echoes Jeremiah’s motif of God handing Judah over to foreign powers.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your companions; they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes shall see it. I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them away to Babylon, and you shall fall by the sword.
- Thus says the LORD: I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes shall behold it. I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them away to Babylon; they shall be slain by the sword.
Jer.20.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ונתתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- חסן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- הזאת: DEM,f,sg,def
- ואת: CONJ
- כל: DET
- יגיעה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- כל: DET
- יקרה: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- כל: DET
- אוצרות: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- מלכי: NOUN,pl,m,cons
- יהודה: NOUN,m,sg,prop
- אתן: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- איביהם: NOUN,m,pl,suff_3mp
- ובזזום: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs+3mp
- ולקחום: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- והביאום: CONJ+VERB,hiph,impf,3,m,pl
- בבלה: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Jeremiah 52:17-23 (structural): Historical appendix recounts Nebuchadnezzar taking the treasures of the temple and the king's house to Babylon — a direct fulfillment of Jeremiah's declaration that the city's precious things would be given into the hand of its enemies.
- 2 Kings 24:13-14 (structural): Royal annals record the Babylonian king carrying off all the treasures of the house of the LORD and the king's house, echoing the prophecy that Judah's valuables would be plundered and taken to Babylon.
- 2 Chronicles 36:18-19 (structural): Chronicles describes the exile and the removal of temple vessels to Babylon, paralleling Jeremiah's promise that the city's riches and treasures would be delivered to its enemies.
- Isaiah 39:6-7 (verbal): Isaiah prophesies that 'all that is in your house... shall be carried to Babylon,' a verbal/thematic parallel foretelling the removal of royal and temple wealth to Babylon as in Jeremiah 20:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- I will give the strength of this city, all its toil, all its wealth, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah into the hand of their enemies; they shall plunder them, take them, and carry them to Babylon.
- I will give the strength of this city, all its labor, all its precious things, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah into the hand of their enemies; they shall plunder them, seize them, and carry them off to Babylon.
Jer.20.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ואתה: CONJ+PRON,2,m,sg
- פשחור: NOUN,prop,sg,m
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- ישבי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- ביתך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2ms
- תלכו: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,pl
- בשבי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובבל: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תבוא: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- ושם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תמות: VERB,qal,yiqtol,2,m,sg
- ושם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- תקבר: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- אהביך: NOUN,m,pl,abs+2f
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נבאת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- בשקר: PREP
Parallels
- Jeremiah 20:3-5 (structural): Immediate context: the episode addressing Pashhur (the priest) — his humiliation and the prophetic denunciation that he and his household will be taken into exile, of which 20:6 is the concluding sentence.
- Jeremiah 23:30-32 (thematic): Jeremiah condemns false prophets who prophesy lies and promises that God will judge and punish those who mislead the people — same theme of accountability for false prophecy as in 20:6.
- Ezekiel 13:9-16 (thematic): Ezekiel attacks false prophets who lead Israel astray and declares divine judgment on them; parallels Jeremiah’s denunciation of prophets who ‘prophesy lies’ and the promise of punishment.
- 2 Chronicles 36:17-21 (structural): Historic summary of Judah’s punishment — deportation to Babylon and desolation of the land — the concrete fate Jeremiah foretells for Pashhur and those led astray.
- 2 Kings 25:21 (structural): Narrative account of the Babylonian deportations (captives taken away by Nebuzaradan); furnishes the historical reality behind Jeremiah’s prediction that Pashhur and his household ‘shall go into captivity’.
Alternative generated candidates
- And you, Pashhur, and all who dwell in your house shall go into captivity; you shall come to Babylon, and there you shall die and be buried— you and all your friends for whom you prophesied falsely.
- And you, Pashhur, and all who dwell in your house shall go into exile; to Babylon you shall come, and there you shall die and there you shall be buried—you and all your friends, for whom you prophesied falsely.
And Pashhur son of Immer the priest heard — and he was chief officer in the house of the LORD — when Jeremiah prophesied these words.
Then Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks that were in the upper gate of Benjamin, which is by the house of the LORD. And it came to pass the next day that Pashhur brought Jeremiah out of the stocks. Jeremiah said to him, “The LORD has not called you Pashhur; rather, Magor‑missabib — ‘terror on every side.’” Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends; they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes shall behold it. And I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, who will carry them off to Babylon; and you shall be struck down by the sword.
I will give over the strength of this city, all its toil, all its valuables, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah into the hand of their enemies; they shall plunder them, take them, and carry them off to Babylon. And you, Pashhur, and all who dwell in your house shall go into captivity; to Babylon you shall go, and there you shall die and be buried — you and all your friends to whom you prophesied lies.”