Jeremiah 20:10
For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! “Denounce him! Let us denounce him!” say all my close friends, watching for my fall. “Perhaps he will be deceived; then we can overcome him and take our revenge on him.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The most chilling part of this verse isn't just the external threats, but that Jeremiah hears these plotting whispers and accusations from "all my familiars"—literally "the men of my peace." This highlights the deep betrayal felt when those closest to you are the ones actively seeking your downfall, not just passively watching.
Jeremiah is lamenting his call to prophecy, feeling trapped and terrified by the plots of his enemies. These are not just strangers, but former acquaintances and even those he considered friends who are now whispering conspiracies and actively plotting his downfall. They are encouraging each other to report anything Jeremiah says or does, hoping to find a misstep or "halting" that will allow them to have him arrested and take their revenge.
Have you ever felt like people are talking about you behind your back, plotting your downfall? Jeremiah experienced this, and it was terrifying.
Jeremiah reveals a deeply personal and chilling experience in this verse. He 'heard the defaming of many,' which wasn't just general gossip but a 'whispering'— hushed conversations, secretive plots hatched in twos and threes.
The Atmosphere of Fear
This whispering created an atmosphere of 'terror on every side.' It wasn't just a feeling; it was a palpable threat. The conspirators weren't content with mere rumors; they were actively encouraging each other to 'Report, say they, and we will report it.' This implies a desire to turn whispers into formal accusations, to bring Jeremiah before authorities as a criminal.
The Goal: Entrapment and Revenge
Their ultimate aim was clear: to 'entice' him—to trick him into saying or doing something that could be twisted into a charge of treason or heresy. They were 'watching for my fall,' eager to exploit any slip-up to 'prevail against him' and 'take their revenge.' This wasn't just opposition; it was a calculated effort to destroy him.
Imagine your closest friends turning into your worst enemies. This is the painful reality Jeremiah faced.
The sting of betrayal cuts deepest when it comes from those closest to us. Jeremiah uses the phrase 'all my familiars,' literally 'all the men of my peace.'
The Paradox of 'Men of Peace'
This term is a stark paradox. 'Men of peace' were people with whom one shared a bond of friendship, an amicable relationship, perhaps even those who offered the common greeting of 'Peace be with you.' Yet, these were the very people 'watching for my halting'—waiting for him to stumble, to make a mistake, to falter.
The Deeper Treachery
This wasn't just about acquaintances; it speaks to a profound treachery from those who should have offered support and security. They were not only failing to protect him but actively seeking his downfall. This highlights the painful truth that opposition can come from unexpected and intimate quarters, making the prophet's burden even heavier.
Understand the original words
māgôr · Hebrew Noun
Biblical 'terror' refers to extreme dread or fear, often in the context of divine judgment or the realization of surrounding hostility. It describes the psychological and spiritual state of one surrounded by danger.
Jeremiah's prophecies were not abstract pronouncements; they were delivered into a volatile political climate where speaking truth meant facing intense personal danger from both authorities and former friends who sought to exploit any perceived misstep.
c. 627 BC
Jeremiah Begins Prophetic Ministry
Jeremiah is called by God to prophesy during the reign of King Josiah, a time of religious reform but also underlying political tension.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon deports key Judean citizens, including the prophet Daniel, marking the beginning of Babylonian dominance over Judah.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, more Judeans, including King Jehoiachin and the prophet Ezekiel, are exiled to Babylon.
c. 590 BC— this verse
Jeremiah Imprisoned by Pashur
Jeremiah is beaten and put in the stocks by Pashur, the priest, for his prophecies of Jerusalem's destruction, leading to Jeremiah's curse on Pashur.
This passage shares the exact phrasing about 'slander of many' and 'terror on every side,' highlighting Jeremiah's experience of widespread, malicious gossip and the pervasive fear it created.
Psalm 35:15This verse speaks of enemies rejoicing and gathering together to attack the psalmist when he was suffering and 'halted,' mirroring Jeremiah's experience of friends waiting for him to stumble so they could take advantage.
Matthew 26:4Here, the chief priests and scribes plotted together 'by subtlety' to arrest Jesus, reflecting the same underhanded tactics Jeremiah faced from those who sought to trap him with his own words.
John 11:53This verse describes how the religious leaders planned to kill Jesus, driven by their perceived threat and desire to protect their position, much like Jeremiah's accusers who sought his downfall and revenge.
Luke 6:22Jesus warns his followers that they will be reviled, excluded, and have their names cast out as evil when they are separated from others for his sake, a parallel to the intense social ostracization and slander Jeremiah endured.
clarkeJeremiah 20:10: "For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him."
Report - and we will report it - Let us spread calumnies against him every where; or let us spread reports of dangers coming upon him, that we may intimidate him, and cause him to desist.
pulpitJeremiah 20:10: "For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him."
Verse 10. - For I heard, etc.; rather, For I have heard the whispering of many; there is terror on every side. Inform (say they), and let us inform against him. This gives us the reason for Ms momentary inclinations to silence. He w…
The most chilling part of this verse isn't just the external threats, but that Jeremiah hears these plotting whispers and accusations from "all my familiars"—literally "the men of my peace." This highlights the deep betrayal felt when those closest to you are the ones actively seeking your downfall, not just passively watching.
Jeremiah is lamenting his call to prophecy, feeling trapped and terrified by the plots of his enemies. These are not just strangers, but former acquaintances and even those he considered friends who are now whispering conspiracies and actively plotting his downfall. They are encouraging each other to report anything Jeremiah says or does, hoping to find a misstep or "halting" that will allow them to have him arrested and take their revenge.
Jeremiah is lamenting his call to prophecy, feeling trapped and terrified by the plots of his enemies. These are not just strangers, but former acquaintances and even those he considered friends who are now whispering conspiracies and actively plotting his downfall. They are encouraging each other to report anything Jeremiah says or does, hoping to find a misstep or "halting" that will allow them to have him arrested and take their revenge.
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586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
Babylonian forces destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, exiling the remaining population, with Jeremiah's prophetic ministry reaching its tragic climax.
"For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! “Denounce him! Let us denounce him!” say all my close friends, watching for my fall. “Perhaps he will be deceived; then we can overcome him…" — The most chilling part of this verse isn't just the external threats, but that Jeremiah hears these plotting whispers and accusations from "all my familiars"—literally "the men of my peace." This hig…
