Jeremiah 15:10-12
Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me. The LORD said, “Have I not set you free for their good? Have I not pleaded for you before the enemy in the time of trouble and in the time of distress? Can one break iron, iron from the north, and bronze?
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jeremiah laments that he's known as a "man of strife," but he clarifies this isn't from personal quarrels, like lending or borrowing money. Instead, he's hated simply for delivering God's unpopular message, showing that faithfully proclaiming truth often leads to being misunderstood and cursed by those who reject it.
Jeremiah is deeply lamenting his difficult calling, feeling like he brings conflict wherever he goes and is hated for it. He explains that this isn't due to any personal wrongdoing or financial dealings, as he's neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses him. This outcry comes after God's judgment on Judah, highlighting Jeremiah's personal anguish over being a messenger of doom to a people who reject him.
Jeremiah cries out, 'Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention!' Have you ever felt like your very existence or purpose causes friction?
Jeremiah feels trapped. He's called to deliver God's message to a rebellious people, a message that inherently creates division. He sees himself not as someone seeking conflict, but as someone made for it by his calling.
The Prophet's Dilemma
Jeremiah states, 'I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me.' How can someone live blamelessly and still face widespread condemnation?
This verse reveals a profound injustice: Jeremiah is condemned by people he has no personal conflict with, financially or otherwise. He hasn't engaged in the common disputes of lending and borrowing, which often created bitterness and resentment in ancient society.
The Currency of Condemnation
Understand the original words
oy · Hebrew Interjection
A prophetic exclamation of profound grief, despair, or impending judgment. It captures the heavy burden of declaring God's message in a hostile environment.
madon · Hebrew Noun
The state of being in constant conflict or legal dispute. In the prophetic context, it refers to the struggle of a faithful messenger who stands in opposition to a sinful culture.
Yahweh · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, representing His self-existence, faithfulness, and holiness. It is the name by which He revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush.
sharath · Hebrew Verb
Refers to a state of being set loose, liberated, or delivered from bondage, constraint, or a difficult situation. In a theological sense, it often points to God's act of delivering His people for their benefit or restoration.
This verse reveals the profound personal cost Jeremiah paid for his faithfulness. Living through the final, collapsing decades of Judah, he faced relentless opposition and scorn from his own people, even as he delivered God's unvarnished warnings of judgment.
Late 7th century BC - Early 6th century BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Ministry in Judah
Jeremiah prophesied during a tumultuous period in Judah, warning of impending Babylonian invasion and exile due to the nation's persistent idolatry and injustice.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, attacked Jerusalem and deported some of the royal family and skilled citizens, including Daniel, to Babylon.
597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
After a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar again besieged Jerusalem, exiling King Jehoiachin and thousands more of the elite and craftsmen.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonians razed Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple, the heart of Israel's worship, and exiled the majority of the remaining population.
Like Jeremiah, Job laments the day of his birth due to his immense suffering, calling his existence a curse.
Matthew 10:34-36Jesus' words here echo Jeremiah's experience, highlighting that His message of truth would bring division and contention, not peace, to families and communities.
Psalm 109:3-5This psalm describes a similar situation where the speaker is repaid with curses and hatred despite having shown them love and help, mirroring Jeremiah's complaint.
Luke 2:34-35Simeon's prophecy about Jesus being a 'sign that is spoken against' and that a sword would pierce Mary's soul directly connects to Jeremiah's experience of being a 'man of strife' and the pain this causes those who love him.
clarkeJeremiah 15:10: "Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me."
A man of contention to the whole earth! - To the whole Land, to all his countrymen; though he had done nothing to merit their displeasure.
calvinJeremiah 15:10: "Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me."
Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.
Hei mihi! mater, mea, quod genueris me virum rixae et virum…
Jeremiah laments that he's known as a "man of strife," but he clarifies this isn't from personal quarrels, like lending or borrowing money. Instead, he's hated simply for delivering God's unpopular message, showing that faithfully proclaiming truth often leads to being misunderstood and cursed by those who reject it.
Jeremiah is deeply lamenting his difficult calling, feeling like he brings conflict wherever he goes and is hated for it. He explains that this isn't due to any personal wrongdoing or financial dealings, as he's neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses him. This outcry comes after God's judgment on Judah, highlighting Jeremiah's personal anguish over being a messenger of doom to a people who reject him.
Jeremiah is deeply lamenting his difficult calling, feeling like he brings conflict wherever he goes and is hated for it. He explains that this isn't due to any personal wrongdoing or financial dealings, as he's neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses him. This outcry comes after God's judgment on Judah, highlighting Jeremiah's personal anguish over being a messenger of doom to a people who reject him.
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paga · Hebrew Verb
The act of making a formal petition, argument, or appeal on behalf of another. It suggests an intercessory action where one intervenes to advocate for someone facing opposition or adversity.
tsarah · Hebrew Noun
A period of affliction, anguish, or severe pressure. It represents the trials of life where an individual or nation experiences intense suffering, often calling for divine intervention.
tsarah · Hebrew Noun
A condition of extreme need, pain, or danger. It conveys the idea of being in a 'tight place' or trapped, highlighting the desperation of the one experiencing it.
barzel · Hebrew Noun
An alloy symbolizing strength, hardness, and durability. In prophetic literature, it often represents stubbornness or a force that is nearly impossible to overcome by human power alone.
nehosheth · Hebrew Noun
A strong metal known for its durability and resistance. Metaphorically, it often represents stubbornness, judgment, or an unbreakable obstacle.
"Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me. The LORD said, “Have I not set you free for their good? Have I not pleaded for you be…" — Jeremiah laments that he's known as a "man of strife," but he clarifies this isn't from personal quarrels, like lending or borrowing money. Instead, he's hated simply for delivering God's unpopular m…
