Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame? New Living Translation Why was I ever born? My entire life has been filled with trouble, sorrow, and shame. English Standard Version Why did I come out from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame? Berean Standard Bible Why did I come out of the womb to see only trouble and sorrow, and to end my days in shame? King James Bible Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame? New King James Version Why did I come forth from the womb to see labor and sorrow, That my days should be consumed with shame? New American Standard Bible Why did I ever come out of the womb To look at trouble and sorrow, So that my days have been spent in shame? NASB 1995 Why did I ever come forth from the womb To look on trouble and sorrow, So that my days have been spent in shame? NASB 1977 Why did I ever come forth from the womb To look on trouble and sorrow, So that my days have been spent in shame? Legacy Standard Bible Why did I ever come forth from the womb To look on trouble and sorrow, So that my days have been spent in shame? Amplified Bible Why did I come out of the womb To see trouble and sorrow, So that my days have been filled with shame? Christian Standard Bible Why did I come out of the womb to see only struggle and sorrow, to end my life in shame? Holman Christian Standard Bible Why did I come out of the womb to see only struggle and sorrow, to end my life in shame? American Standard Version Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame? Contemporary English Version Why did I have to be born? Was it just to suffer and die in shame? English Revised Version Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame? GOD'S WORD® Translation Why did I come out of the womb? All I've seen is trouble and grief. I will finish my days in shame. Good News Translation Why was I born? Was it only to have trouble and sorrow, to end my life in disgrace? International Standard Version Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow, and to finish my life living in shame? NET Bible Why did I ever come forth from my mother's womb? All I experience is trouble and grief, and I spend my days in shame. New Heart English Bible Why came I forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame? Webster's Bible Translation Why was I brought into the world to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleWhy did I come out of the womb to see only trouble and sorrow, and to end my days in shame? World English Bible Why did I come out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame? Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionWhy [is] this? I have come out from the womb "" To see labor and sorrow, "" Indeed, my days are consumed in shame! Young's Literal Translation Why is this? from the womb I have come out, To see labour and sorrow, Yea, consumed in shame are my days! Smith's Literal Translation Wherefore this came I forth from the womb to see labor and sorrow, and my days shall be finished with shame? Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWhy came I out of the womb, to see labour and sorrow, and that my days should be spent in confusion? Catholic Public Domain Version Why did I depart from the womb, so that I would see hardship and sorrow, and so that my days would be consumed by trouble?” New American Bible Why did I come forth from the womb, to see sorrow and pain, to end my days in shame? New Revised Standard Version Why did I come forth from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWhy did I come forth out of the womb to see toil and sorrow? My days are spent in shame. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Why have I proceeded from the womb to see labor and misery, and my days are finished in shame?” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Wherefore came I forth out of the womb To see labour and sorrow, That my days should be consumed in shame? Brenton Septuagint Translation Why is it that I came forth of the womb to see troubles and distresses, and my days are spent in shame? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jeremiah's Complaint…17because he did not kill me in the womb so that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb forever enlarged. 18Why did I come out of the womb to see only trouble and sorrow, and to end my days in shame? Cross References Job 3:11-16 Why did I not perish at birth; why did I not die as I came from the womb? / Why were there knees to receive me, and breasts that I should be nursed? / For now I would be lying down in peace; I would be asleep and at rest ... Job 10:18-19 Why then did You bring me from the womb? Oh, that I had died, and no eye had seen me! / If only I had never come to be, but had been carried from the womb to the grave. Ecclesiastes 4:2-3 So I admired the dead, who had already died, above the living, who are still alive. / But better than both is he who has not yet existed, who has not seen the evil that is done under the sun. Job 3:1-3 After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. / And this is what he said: / “May the day of my birth perish, and the night it was said, ‘A boy is conceived.’ Job 14:1 “Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble. Job 3:20-23 Why is light given to the miserable, and life to the bitter of soul, / who long for death that does not come, and search for it like hidden treasure, / who rejoice and greatly exult when they reach the grave? ... Job 7:16 I loathe my life! I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath. Job 17:13-16 If I look for Sheol as my home, if I spread out my bed in darkness, / and say to corruption, ‘You are my father,’ and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’ / where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me? ... Job 21:7-15 Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? / Their descendants are established around them, and their offspring before their eyes. / Their homes are safe from fear; no rod of punishment from God is upon them. ... Psalm 88:3-6 For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol. / I am counted among those descending to the Pit. I am like a man without strength. / I am forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom You remember no more, who are cut off from Your care. ... Psalm 39:4-5 “Show me, O LORD, my end and the measure of my days. Let me know how fleeting my life is. / You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah Psalm 73:3-14 For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. / They have no struggle in their death; their bodies are well-fed. / They are free of the burdens others carry; they are not afflicted like other men. ... Psalm 90:10 The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty if we are strong—yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Lamentations 3:1-18 I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath. / He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness instead of light. / Indeed, He keeps turning His hand against me all day long. ... Isaiah 38:10-14 I said, “In the prime of my life I must go through the gates of Sheol and be deprived of the remainder of my years.” / I said, “I will never again see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living; I will no longer look on mankind with those who dwell in this world. / My dwelling has been picked up and removed from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver; He cuts me off from the loom; from day until night You make an end of me. ... Treasury of Scripture Why came I forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame? came. Job 3:20 Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul; Job 14:1,13 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble… Lamentations 3:1 I am the man that hath seen affliction by the rod of his wrath. to see. Jeremiah 8:18 When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me. Genesis 3:16-19 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee… Psalm 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. with. Psalm 69:19 Thou hast known my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonour: mine adversaries are all before thee. Isaiah 1:6 From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment. Isaiah 61:7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them. Jump to Previous Body Consumed End Forth Labor Mother's Pain Shame Sorrow Spend Spent Toil Trouble Wherefore Womb WorldJump to Next Body Consumed End Forth Labor Mother's Pain Shame Sorrow Spend Spent Toil Trouble Wherefore Womb WorldJeremiah 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. Why did I come out of the womb This phrase reflects Jeremiah's deep lament and personal anguish. It echoes the sentiments found in Job 3:11, where Job questions the purpose of his birth amidst suffering. Jeremiah's calling as a prophet brought him immense personal hardship, leading him to question the very purpose of his existence. This lament is not uncommon among biblical figures who faced intense trials, highlighting the human struggle with divine purpose and suffering. to see only trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame? Persons / Places / Events 1. JeremiahThe prophet who is speaking in this verse. Known as the "weeping prophet," Jeremiah often expressed deep sorrow and lament over the state of Israel and his own personal suffering. 2. Jerusalem The city where Jeremiah prophesied. It was a place of significant spiritual and political turmoil during his time. 3. Babylonian Exile The impending event that Jeremiah often warned about, where the Israelites would be taken captive by Babylon due to their disobedience to God. 4. Pashhur A priest and chief officer in the temple who persecuted Jeremiah, leading to the prophet's lament in this chapter. 5. The Womb Symbolically represents the beginning of life, which Jeremiah questions due to the suffering he experiences. Teaching Points The Reality of SufferingJeremiah's lament reminds us that even the faithful can experience deep sorrow and question their purpose. It is a part of the human condition and biblical account. Honesty in Prayer Jeremiah's raw expression of emotion teaches us that we can bring our deepest fears and questions to God without fear of rejection. Purpose in Pain While Jeremiah questions his existence, his life and prophecies had a profound impact on Israel and the world. Our struggles can have a greater purpose in God's plan. Faith Amidst Despair Despite his lament, Jeremiah continued to fulfill his prophetic mission. We are called to remain faithful even when we don't understand our circumstances. Hope Beyond the Present Jeremiah's account encourages us to look beyond our current suffering to the hope and restoration that God promises. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Jeremiah 20:18?2. How does Jeremiah 20:18 reflect struggles faced by believers today? 3. What can we learn from Jeremiah's lament about God's purpose for our lives? 4. How does Jeremiah 20:18 connect with Romans 8:28 on God's plan? 5. How can we find hope in God's promises despite feelings like Jeremiah's? 6. What practical steps can we take when questioning our purpose like Jeremiah? 7. Why did Jeremiah curse the day of his birth in Jeremiah 20:18? 8. How does Jeremiah 20:18 reflect on the value of life? 9. What historical context led to Jeremiah's lament in Jeremiah 20:18? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Jeremiah 20? 11. Does Jeremiah's bitter lament in Jeremiah 20:14-18 contradict the portrayal of a steadfast prophet elsewhere in the book? 12. Lamentations 2:20 - Does the reference to horrific acts like eating one's own children indicate a literal event, and if so, how can such a command coexist with a just and loving God? 13. Jeremiah 16:10-12 implies children are punished for ancestors' sins--does this contradict Deuteronomy 24:16, where each person is held responsible only for their own sin? 14. Why do evil people succeed? What Does Jeremiah 20:18 Mean Why did I come out of the womb“Why did I come out of the womb…” (Jeremiah 20:18) • Jeremiah speaks after being beaten and locked in stocks by the priest Pashhur (Jeremiah 20:1-2). The physical pain and public humiliation provoke this raw lament. • His question echoes Job 3:11-19, where Job also asks why he was ever born. Honest lament has a long biblical pedigree; God allows His servants to bring their anguish to Him. • Yet even while questioning, Jeremiah’s life remains purpose-filled. Earlier God had told him, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” (Jeremiah 1:5). Psalm 139:13-16 reinforces that every life begins by God’s deliberate design. • The prophet is not rejecting God’s sovereignty; he is wrestling with it. Scripture records the wrestling so we can see faith persevering under pressure (Psalm 73:13-17). to see only trouble and sorrow “…to see only trouble and sorrow…” (Jeremiah 20:18) • “Trouble” summarizes decades of rejection: – False accusations (Jeremiah 37:13-14) – Imprisonment in a cistern (Jeremiah 38:6) – Constant ridicule: “I am a laughingstock all day long” (Jeremiah 20:7). • Jesus prepared His disciples for the same reality: “In this world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). Paul later affirmed, “We must go through many troubles to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). • Sorrow is not the whole story. Jeremiah 15:16 records how God’s words also became “the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” Following Christ means both the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:10) and the comfort of His presence (2 Corinthians 1:5). • Seeing “only” trouble feels absolute in the moment, but Psalm 34:19 promises, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” and to end my days in shame “…and to end my days in shame?” (Jeremiah 20:18) • Jeremiah fears dying disgraced, buried beneath the contempt of his nation. Shame in Scripture often reflects public scorn (Psalm 31:11-13). • God immediately counters that fear: “But the LORD is with me like a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble… their everlasting disgrace will never be forgotten” (Jeremiah 20:11). The shame Jeremiah dreads will ultimately land on those who reject the word of the LORD. • Isaiah 50:7 anticipates Messiah’s confidence: “I know I will not be put to shame.” Romans 10:11 applies the promise to every believer: “Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.” • The New Testament widens the horizon: what looks like defeat can be God’s path to honor. Jesus endured the cross, “despising the shame,” and is now exalted (Hebrews 12:2). Similarly, temporary disgrace for righteousness will be reversed in glory (2 Timothy 2:12; 1 Peter 1:6-7). summary Jeremiah 20:18 records a faithful prophet at his lowest ebb, voicing the anguish of a life spent confronting sin in a hostile culture. He wonders why he was born, seeing only relentless trouble and anticipating a shameful end. Scripture responds on three levels: God ordained Jeremiah’s birth and ours; trouble is real yet never unaccompanied by divine comfort; and apparent shame will be overturned in God’s final vindication. Honest lament, endured in faith, becomes another way God proves His steadfast love and ultimate triumph. (18) Wherefore came I forth . . .?--Like the preceding verse, this is in its tone, almost in its words, an echo of Job 3:11-12; Job 3:20.
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