Now Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer, who was chief officer in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text doesn't just tell us Pashur heard Jeremiah; it specifies his title as "chief officer in the house of the LORD." This reveals Pashur wasn't just any priest, but held a position of authority responsible for maintaining order within the Temple itself, making Jeremiah's prophecy a direct challenge to his jurisdiction and power.
Now Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer, who was chief officer in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah has just delivered a harsh prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, a message that would have been scandalous and infuriating to hear within the sacred grounds. Pashhur, a high-ranking priest and overseer of the Temple, hears Jeremiah's pronouncements and is deeply offended by the prophet's words and their implications for the city and its religious center. This sets the stage for a direct confrontation between the established religious authority and the challenging voice of God's messenger.
Jeremiah's prophetic message stirred up trouble, and it landed on the desk of a man with significant power. Who was Pashur, and why did his position matter so much?
Pashur the priest held a position of considerable authority within the temple. The text calls him the "chief officer" or "chief governor" in the house of the Lord. While not the High Priest himself, he was likely a high-ranking official, possibly the "deputy governor" or "captain of the temple." Think of him as a senior administrator or head of security for God's house. His role involved maintaining order and upholding the sanctity of the temple. This means he wasn't just any priest; he was part of the leadership, responsible for the temple's functioning and reputation. When Jeremiah spoke, especially with such a jarring message, it directly impacted Pashur's domain and his responsibility to keep things orderly. He heard Jeremiah prophesying, and as an authority figure, he felt compelled to act.
Jeremiah's words were a powerful warning, but they didn't land softly. The very place meant for worship became the scene of conflict. What was Pashur's immediate reaction?
This verse marks the beginning of a direct confrontation between prophetic truth and religious authority. Jeremiah wasn't just speaking abstractly; he was prophesying specific things, likely about the impending doom of Jerusalem and the temple itself. Pashur, in his capacity as chief officer, heard these disruptive words. His immediate response, as detailed in the following verses (though not in this single verse), is to take action against Jeremiah. This encounter isn't about a neutral hearing; it's about authority hearing a message that threatens the status quo and its own perceived legitimacy. Pashur's role made him the gatekeeper of order, and Jeremiah's prophecy was seen as a disturbance that needed to be silenced, not considered.
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Understand the original words
kōhēn · Hebrew Noun
A priest is one set apart by God to serve in the sanctuary, act as a mediator between God and the people, and offer sacrifices for atonement. In the Old Testament, the priesthood was hereditary, descending through the line of Aaron.
Pashur, a high-ranking temple official, represents the religious and political authority that actively opposed Jeremiah's message of impending doom, highlighting the deep conflict between prophetic truth and the entrenched powers of Jerusalem.
c. 627 BC
Jeremiah Begins Prophesying
Jeremiah receives his call from God to prophesy to Judah and Jerusalem. This marks the beginning of his ministry during a turbulent period in Judah's history.
c. 609 BC
Josiah's Reforms End
The godly King Josiah is killed in battle at Megiddo. His death plunges Judah into political and religious turmoil, with subsequent kings undoing his reforms and leading the nation further astray.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Judah and takes a first group of exiles, including Daniel, to Babylon. This event signals the rising power of Babylon and the impending doom of Jerusalem.
c. 604 BC— this verse
Jeremiah Delivers Prophecies
Jeremiah, possibly at the temple during a public festival, prophesies about the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. His message directly challenges the religious and political establishment.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem
Nebuchadnezzar returns, destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, and deports most of the remaining population to Babylon. This is the catastrophic culmination of the prophecies Jeremiah delivered.
This passage shows another instance where a prophet (Elijah) is confronted by a powerful official (Ahab) who blames him for the nation's troubles, mirroring the tension between Jeremiah and Pashur.
Acts 4:1This verse identifies the 'captain of the temple' as being grieved by the apostles' preaching, a role similar to Pashur's as chief officer, showing the ongoing conflict between religious authorities and prophetic voices.
Jeremiah 38:1This verse introduces a different Pashur, also a leader, who conspires with others against Jeremiah, demonstrating that opposition to Jeremiah came from those in positions of authority within Jerusalem.
2 Chronicles 31:13This passage describes an overseer appointed to distribute temple offerings, illustrating the administrative roles within the temple that someone like Pashur would have held and the authority associated with them.
clarkeJeremiah 20:1: "Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things."
Pashur - chief governor - Pashur was probably one of the chief priests of the twenty-four classes.
wesleyJeremiah 20:1: "Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things."
20:1 Immer - The course of Immer was the sixteenth course of the priests, 1Chron 24:14. Pashur was his son, that is descended from him.
The text doesn't just tell us Pashur heard Jeremiah; it specifies his title as "chief officer in the house of the LORD." This reveals Pashur wasn't just any priest, but held a position of authority responsible for maintaining order within the Temple itself, making Jeremiah's prophecy a direct challenge to his jurisdiction and power.
Jeremiah has just delivered a harsh prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, a message that would have been scandalous and infuriating to hear within the sacred grounds. Pashhur, a high-ranking priest and overseer of the Temple, hears Jeremiah's pronouncements and is deeply offended by the prophet's words and their implications for the city and its religious center. This sets the stage for a direct confrontation between the established religious authority and the challenging voice of God's messenger.
Jeremiah has just delivered a harsh prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, a message that would have been scandalous and infuriating to hear within the sacred grounds. Pashhur, a high-ranking priest and overseer of the Temple, hears Jeremiah's pronouncements and is deeply offended by the prophet's words and their implications for the city and its religious center. This sets the stage for a direct confrontation between the established religious authority and the challenging voice of God's messenger.
"Now Pashhur the priest, the son of Immer, who was chief officer in the house of the LORD, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things." — The text doesn't just tell us Pashur heard Jeremiah; it specifies his title as "chief officer in the house of the LORD." This reveals Pashur wasn't just any priest, but held a position of authority r…
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Last reviewed October 2026