Jeremiah 20:8

For whenever I prophesy, ¹  I must cry out, ²  “Violence and destruction are coming!” ³  This message from the Lord ⁴  has made me an object of continual insults and derision.

2Ch 36:16; Jer 4:19-22; Jer 5:1,6,15-17; Jer 6:6,7; Jer 6:10; Jer 7:9; Jer 13:13,14; Jer 15:1-4,13,14; Jer 17:27; Jer 18:16,17; Jer 19:7-11; Jer 20:7; Jer 28:8; La 3:61-63; Lu 11:45; Heb 11:26; Heb 13:13; 1Pe 4:14

¹ tn Heb “speak,” but the speaking is in the context of speaking as a prophet.

² tn Heb “I cry out, I proclaim.”

³ tn Heb “Violence and destruction.”

sn The words “Violence and destruction…” are a synopsis of his messages of judgment. Jeremiah is lamenting that his ministry up to this point has been one of judgment and has brought him nothing but ridicule because the Lord has not carried out his threats. He appears in the eyes of the people to be a false prophet.

⁴ tn Heb “the word of the Lord.” For the use of כִּי…כִּי (ki…ki) here in the sense of “for…and” see KBL 432 s.v. כּי 10.