Pashur, a significant figure in the Old Testament, is primarily known for his role as a priest and an antagonist to the prophet Jeremiah. He is identified as the son of Immer and served as a chief officer in the house of the LORD during the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah. His actions and interactions with Jeremiah are documented in the Book of Jeremiah, providing insight into the religious and political tensions of the time.

Role and Actions

Pashur's most notable encounter with Jeremiah is recorded in Jeremiah 20. As a priest and a chief officer, Pashur held a position of authority and influence within the temple hierarchy. When Jeremiah prophesied against Jerusalem, foretelling its destruction due to the people's unfaithfulness, Pashur reacted with hostility. He had Jeremiah beaten and put in stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin, a public place where the prophet would be humiliated and scorned by passersby.

The Berean Standard Bible recounts this incident: "When Pashur the priest, the son of Immer, the chief officer in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things, he had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put in the stocks at the Upper Gate of Benjamin at the house of the LORD" (Jeremiah 20:1-2).

Prophetic Judgment

After being released from the stocks, Jeremiah delivered a prophetic message directly to Pashur. The prophet declared that the LORD had renamed Pashur as "Magor-Missabib," meaning "terror on every side." This name symbolized the impending disaster that would befall Pashur and his associates. Jeremiah prophesied that Pashur and his friends would be taken captive to Babylon, where they would die and be buried. This prophecy underscored the seriousness of opposing God's message and His messenger.

Jeremiah's words to Pashur are recorded as follows: "The LORD has called you not Pashur, but Magor-Missabib. For this is what the LORD says: 'I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends. They will fall by the sword of their enemies while you look on. I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, who will carry them away to Babylon and put them to the sword'" (Jeremiah 20:3-4).

Family and Legacy

Pashur was the father of Gedaliah, who is mentioned in Jeremiah 38:1 as one of the officials who opposed Jeremiah's message during the siege of Jerusalem. Gedaliah, along with other officials, accused Jeremiah of demoralizing the soldiers and the people by urging them to surrender to the Babylonians. This familial connection highlights the continued opposition to Jeremiah's prophetic ministry within Pashur's lineage.

Pashur's legacy is marked by his resistance to the divine message delivered by Jeremiah. His actions serve as a cautionary tale about the consequences of opposing God's will and the futility of relying on human authority and power against divine prophecy. Through Pashur's account, the biblical narrative emphasizes the importance of heeding God's word and the inevitable fulfillment of His plans, regardless of human opposition.Jeremiah 38:1
Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken to all the people, saying,
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