Jeremiah 18:20
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What's easy to miss is that Jeremiah isn't just complaining about being treated badly; he's highlighting the inversion of divine order. He asks how good can be repaid with evil, and then reminds God that his own role was to stand "before you to speak good for them," mirroring God's own desire to bless. This paints Jeremiah as an agent of God's goodness, making his enemies' evil actions a direct affront to God Himself.
Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for my life. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The people are furiously angry with Jeremiah because he’s prophesied their impending destruction, and in response, they’re plotting to silence him. They see his message as a betrayal, not as a warning from God, and are actively seeking to harm him. Jeremiah cries out to God, bewildered by their ingratitude, reminding the Lord of his faithful intercession for them in the past, a role he fulfilled to avert God's wrath.
Jeremiah laments being repaid with evil for good. But what makes this betrayal so profound?
The Shock of Ungratefulness
Jeremiah cries out, "Shall evil be repaid with good?" (v. 20). This isn't just about personal hurt; it's about a deep violation of natural order and divine principle.
Jeremiah reminds God of his specific role: 'I stood before you to speak good for them.' What does this intercession reveal?
The Prophet's Sacred Duty
Jeremiah's plea, 'Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them,' reveals the heart of his ministry.
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The imagery of digging a pit for Jeremiah's life is stark. What does this primal threat signify?
The Danger of the Undermined Life
The phrase 'they have dug a pit for my life' (v. 20) is a powerful metaphor for the lethal danger Jeremiah faced.
This grim picture contrasts sharply with Jeremiah's role as protector and intercessor, highlighting the depth of his people's depravity.
Understand the original words
chemah · Hebrew Noun
The righteous indignation of God against sin and rebellion. It is a holy response of God's character against that which violates His nature and covenant.
This verse captures Jeremiah's deep anguish as he faces violent opposition and plots against his life from his own people, whom he had tirelessly interceded for with God.
c. 626 BC
Jeremiah's Call
Jeremiah is called by God to prophesy to Judah, a time of immense political instability and spiritual decay.
c. 612 BC
Fall of Nineveh
The Assyrian capital falls to the Babylonians, signaling a shift in regional power that directly impacts Judah's precarious position.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Under Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonians defeat the Egyptians and Assyrians at Carchemish, subsequently deporting some of Judah's elite, including Daniel.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports more of Judah's population and leading figures, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel.
c. 588-586 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem, leading to its destruction, the temple's ruin, and a final, massive deportation of the remaining population.
c. 586 BC— this verse
Jeremiah Imprisons and Assailed
Jeremiah is imprisoned and nearly killed by his own people, facing intense opposition for his consistent message of judgment and warning, as described in this verse.
This passage echoes Jeremiah's cry of injustice, where his enemies repay his kindness with curses and ill will, highlighting the painful experience of receiving evil for good.
Psalm 57:6This psalm uses the vivid imagery of a 'pit' for the soul, similar to Jeremiah's experience, portraying the deep distress and danger faced when plots are laid against one's life.
Luke 23:34Jesus, facing betrayal and condemnation, prays for forgiveness for those who wronged Him, mirroring Jeremiah's intercession for his people even as they plotted against him.
Romans 12:21This verse offers a direct counter-command to Jeremiah's experience, urging believers not to be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good, providing a path forward beyond the prophet's lament.
This passage refers to Jeremiah as 'a lover of the brethren who prayeth much for the people and the holy city,' directly supporting the understanding of Jeremiah's role as a persistent intercessor for his ungrateful nation.
barnesJeremiah 18:20: "Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them."
Jeremiah had been laboring earnestly to avert the ruin of his country, but the Jews treated him as farmers do some noxious animal which wastes their fields, and for which they dig pitfalls.
clarkeJeremiah 18:20: "Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them."
They have digged a pit for my soul - For my life; this they wish to take away. Stood before thee to speak good for them - I was their continual intercessor.
What's easy to miss is that Jeremiah isn't just complaining about being treated badly; he's highlighting the inversion of divine order. He asks how good can be repaid with evil, and then reminds God that his own role was to stand "before you to speak good for them," mirroring God's own desire to bless. This paints Jeremiah as an agent of God's goodness, making his enemies' evil actions a direct affront to God Himself.
The people are furiously angry with Jeremiah because he’s prophesied their impending destruction, and in response, they’re plotting to silence him. They see his message as a betrayal, not as a warning from God, and are actively seeking to harm him. Jeremiah cries out to God, bewildered by their ingratitude, reminding the Lord of his faithful intercession for them in the past, a role he fulfilled to avert God's wrath.
The people are furiously angry with Jeremiah because he’s prophesied their impending destruction, and in response, they’re plotting to silence him. They see his message as a betrayal, not as a warning from God, and are actively seeking to harm him. Jeremiah cries out to God, bewildered by their ingratitude, reminding the Lord of his faithful intercession for them in the past, a role he fulfilled to avert God's wrath.
"Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for my life. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them." — What's easy to miss is that Jeremiah isn't just complaining about being treated badly; he's highlighting the inversion of divine order. He asks how good can be repaid with evil, and then reminds Go…
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Last reviewed October 2026
