What is the meaning of Jeremiah 20:6? And you, Pashhur - The prophecy singles out Pashhur, the priest who had just beaten Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:1–2). God addresses him personally, showing that spiritual office does not shield anyone from accountability (James 3:1). - Like Eli’s sons who despised their role (1 Samuel 2:12–17), Pashhur misused his position, so God speaks directly to him. and all who live in your house - Judgment extends to Pashhur’s household, echoing God’s earlier words to families like Achan’s (Joshua 7:24–26) and Eli’s (1 Samuel 3:12–14). - The warning underscores how leaders’ choices affect those under their roof (Exodus 20:5; Acts 16:31 for contrast). will go into captivity - Exile is certain; no negotiation remains (Jeremiah 13:19; 15:2). - Captivity fulfills the covenant curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28:36–37 when the nation refuses to heed God’s word. You will go to Babylon - God names the destination, proving He controls international events (Jeremiah 25:11; 29:10). - Babylon is both literal place and instrument of divine discipline (Habakkuk 1:6). and there you will die and be buried— - Unlike those who would later return (Ezra 1:1–3), Pashhur’s story ends in a foreign grave, fulfilling Jeremiah 22:26. - Dying in exile signals complete loss of status and hope of restoration (Lamentations 4:22). you and all your friends to whom you have prophesied these lies. - False prophecy led many astray (Jeremiah 14:14; 23:32). God holds both speaker and hearers responsible (2 Timothy 4:3–4). - Contrast with faithful voices like Jeremiah and later Daniel, who spoke truth even in Babylon (Daniel 1:8–9). summary Jeremiah 20:6 delivers a personal, household, and communal warning: rejecting God’s true word brings unavoidable consequences. Pashhur’s misuse of spiritual authority secures exile, death, and disgrace for himself and those under his influence. The verse reminds readers that God’s pronouncements are exact, His judgments just, and His word utterly reliable. |
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