Jeremiah 18:22
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This verse reveals a stark connection: the violence they plotted against Jeremiah is precisely the kind of violence God will unleash upon their homes. The "pit" and "snares" they laid for him become a horrifying prophecy of the enemy breaking into their own houses, turning their sanctuaries into scenes of terror.
May a cry be heard from their houses, when you bring the plunderer suddenly upon them! For they have dug a pit to take me and laid snares for my feet.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The people have just rejected Jeremiah's warning, plotting to destroy him instead of heeding God's message of repentance. This verse follows their malicious schemes by calling down divine judgment upon them. God declares He will bring an army to attack their city and homes, causing cries of devastation, because they had set deadly traps to ensnare and destroy His prophet.
Jeremiah calls for a terrifying sound: the cry of people whose homes are invaded. What does this intense imagery reveal about divine justice?
Jeremiah's prayer in verse 22 isn't just a curse; it's a stark depiction of the consequences for those who actively plot against God's messenger. He foresees a sudden, brutal invasion where the enemy breaches the supposed safety of homes, leading to widespread panic and suffering.
The Horrors of Invasion
The 'cry heard from their houses' paints a picture of ultimate violation. It’s the sound of families torn apart, possessions looted, and lives threatened. This isn't random destruction; it's a specific judgment on those who sought to destroy Jeremiah and, by extension, God's word through him. The commentaries highlight that such invasions were known for their extreme cruelty, emphasizing the severe consequences of their actions.
Jeremiah describes his enemies as digging pits and laying snares. What does this underground, hidden form of attack signify?
The imagery of digging a pit and laying snares reveals the deceitful and malicious nature of Jeremiah's persecutors. They weren't confronting him openly; instead, they were plotting in secret, setting traps to ensnare him. This reflects a deep-seated animosity and a desire to destroy him through cunning and treachery.
The Nature of Their Plotting
These 'snares' speak to the subtle, destructive ways people can work against God's purposes. It could be through slander, false accusations, or manipulative schemes. Jeremiah's prayer is a cry for divine intervention against such underhanded attacks, asking that the same kind of sudden, overwhelming force they intended for him would be brought upon them.
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Understand the original words
gedud · Hebrew Noun
In a biblical context, one who despoils or loots; often refers to an enemy nation or agent used by God to execute judgment upon a rebellious people.
pachat · Hebrew Noun
A metaphor for malicious schemes, hidden traps, or deceptive plans laid by the wicked to cause the downfall or destruction of the righteous.
This verse captures Jeremiah's desperate plea for divine justice as the people plot against him, foreshadowing the brutal destruction of Jerusalem and the exile that would befall them due to their persistent wickedness.
Late 7th Century BC
Jeremiah's Early Ministry
Jeremiah begins his prophetic ministry during a turbulent period in Judah's history, facing opposition from religious and political leaders.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invades Judah, taking Jehoiakim captive and deporting skilled workers, including Daniel, to Babylon.
c. 597 BC
Second Babylonian Deportation
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and more of Jerusalem's elite to Babylon, exiling the prophet Ezekiel.
586 BC— this verse
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the majority of the population to Babylon, marking the end of the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
Post-586 BC
Babylonian Exile
The remaining Jewish population in Judah faces continued oppression and eventual flight to Egypt, while those in Babylon live in exile.
This passage directly echoes Jeremiah's imagery of digging a pit and hiding snares, highlighting the deep-seated betrayal and danger the psalmist faced.
Psalm 119:85This psalm speaks of wicked people who act like trappers, digging pits and laying snares, much like the enemies described in Jeremiah 18:22 who plotted against the prophet.
Proverbs 23:27While not a direct parallel in action, this verse uses the metaphor of a prostitute as a 'deep pit' and a 'narrow well,' which some ancient commentators linked to the 'pit' dug against Jeremiah, suggesting a sense of treacherous moral decay.
Jeremiah 18:20This verse immediately preceding Jeremiah 18:22 shows Jeremiah pleading with God against his enemies who are actively plotting against him, directly setting the context for the imagery of the pit and snares.
barnesJeremiah 18:22: "Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet."
The sack of the city follows with all the horrible cruelties practiced at such a time.
gillJeremiah 18:22: "Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet."
Let a cry be heard from their houses,.... A shrieking of women and children, not only for the loss of husbands and parents, but because of the entrance of the enemy into the city, and into their houses, to take away their lives and their substance; as follows: when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them; or an army, as…
This verse reveals a stark connection: the violence they plotted against Jeremiah is precisely the kind of violence God will unleash upon their homes. The "pit" and "snares" they laid for him become a horrifying prophecy of the enemy breaking into their own houses, turning their sanctuaries into scenes of terror.
The people have just rejected Jeremiah's warning, plotting to destroy him instead of heeding God's message of repentance. This verse follows their malicious schemes by calling down divine judgment upon them. God declares He will bring an army to attack their city and homes, causing cries of devastation, because they had set deadly traps to ensnare and destroy His prophet.
The people have just rejected Jeremiah's warning, plotting to destroy him instead of heeding God's message of repentance. This verse follows their malicious schemes by calling down divine judgment upon them. God declares He will bring an army to attack their city and homes, causing cries of devastation, because they had set deadly traps to ensnare and destroy His prophet.
"May a cry be heard from their houses, when you bring the plunderer suddenly upon them! For they have dug a pit to take me and laid snares for my feet." — This verse reveals a stark connection: the violence they plotted against Jeremiah is precisely the kind of violence God will unleash upon their homes. The "pit" and "snares" they laid for him become…
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Last reviewed October 2026
