Jeremiah 20:4
For thus says the LORD: Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends. They shall fall by the sword of their enemies while you look on. And I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon. He shall carry them captive to Babylon, and shall strike them down with the sword.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights a chilling prophecy: Pashur won't just be a terror to others, but will become a terror to himself. This means God’s judgment will be so profound that Pashur will be haunted by internal torment, a horrifying spectacle even to his closest friends, making him a living monument of God's vengeance.
The prophet Jeremiah has just been assaulted and imprisoned by Pashur, the priest who was in charge at the Temple, for prophesying doom. In response, God declares that He will rename Pashur "Terror All Around" and reveals that Pashur and his friends will become objects of dread, ultimately witnessing the downfall of Judah and its people at the hands of the Babylonian king. This judgment is not just external calamity, but an internal terror that will consume Pashur, reflecting his own false prophecies and the disastrous consequences they foretold.
Pashur, the chief priest, had a position of power and respect. Yet, in this prophecy, he's destined for something vastly different: to become a 'terror.' How does this shift happen?
The Name Change
Pashur's physical punishment by Jeremiah was being thrown into stocks. But God's judgment goes deeper. Jeremiah renames him 'Magor-missabib,' which means 'Terror All Around.' This isn't just a nickname; it's a prophetic declaration of Pashur's future reality.
A Self-Inflicted Fear
The prophecy states Pashur will be 'a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends.' This means his fear and dread will become so overwhelming that it consumes him internally. His own conscience, his own guilt, will amplify the external threats, making him a source of dread even to those closest to him. He won't just face terror; he'll embody it.
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Pashur's personal doom is intertwined with the fate of an entire nation. What does this connection reveal about God's judgment?
National Calamity
The prophecy isn't just about Pashur; it expands to encompass 'all Judah.' The king of Babylon's impending conquest and exile are explicitly stated. This shows that individual sin, especially from leadership like Pashur's, has devastating ripple effects on the entire community.
Witnessing the Fall
Adding to Pashur's torment, he is told his friends 'shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it.' He will not only face his own terror but will also be forced to witness the destruction of his nation and his loved ones. This personal suffering, seeing his world crumble while he is powerless, serves as a stark testament to God's justice.
Understand the original words
ḥereḇ · Hebrew Noun
The sword is a primary instrument of war and, biblically, a symbolic representation of God’s judgment, warfare, or divine discipline. It often signifies the inescapable consequences of rebellion against God’s commands.
gālāh · Hebrew Verb
Captivity refers to the state of being taken prisoner or exiled by an enemy, often as a direct result of God’s judgment upon a nation for covenant disobedience. It represents a loss of land, identity, and freedom, serving as a sign of spiritual and political bondage.
This prophecy against Pashur reveals that the terror of Babylonian invasion wasn't just a distant threat, but a present reality for the people of Judah, with the suffering of the nation directly mirroring the personal downfall of those who opposed God's message.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, besieges Jerusalem and takes captives, including members of the royal family and skilled workers, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
c. 597 BC— this verse
Second Deportation and Jehoiachin's Exile
Following a revolt, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and thousands more Judeans to Babylon. Jeremiah's prophecy in chapter 20 likely occurs around this time, with Pashur's actions preceding or coinciding with this event.
c. 597 BC
Pashur Punished and Exiled
The priest Pashur, who had opposed Jeremiah and struck him, is himself divinely punished. He is renamed Magormissabib ('Terror on Every Side') and, along with his friends, faces the consequences of his actions, likely being among the exiles.
c. 586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Third Deportation
After further rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its temple, carrying the majority of the remaining population into exile in Babylon. This fulfills the broader prophecy given to Pashur.
This passage describes a similar consequence of sin, where God commands Ezekiel to eat defiled bread, symbolizing the uncleanness and exile that will come upon Israel due to their rebellion.
Jeremiah 29:1This verse directly relates to the prophecy in Jeremiah 20:4, showing Jeremiah sending a letter to the exiles in Babylon, confirming the reality of their captivity and the king of Babylon's power.
Lamentations 1:18This passage expresses deep sorrow and acknowledges God's righteousness in the face of Judah's suffering and exile, echoing the sense of judgment described in Jeremiah 20:4.
Psalm 73:19This Psalm reflects on the confusion and terror experienced when observing the wicked prosper, aligning with the theme of being a 'terror to yourself' as one witnesses the downfall of others and the nation.
calvinJeremiah 20:4: "For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it: and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword."
- For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine…
barnesJeremiah 20:4: "For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it: and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword."
A terror to thyself, and to all thy friends - Jeremiah plays upon the meaning of Magormissabib saying that Pusbur would be a terror to all around. It is remar…
This verse highlights a chilling prophecy: Pashur won't just be a terror to others, but will become a terror to himself. This means God’s judgment will be so profound that Pashur will be haunted by internal torment, a horrifying spectacle even to his closest friends, making him a living monument of God's vengeance.
The prophet Jeremiah has just been assaulted and imprisoned by Pashur, the priest who was in charge at the Temple, for prophesying doom. In response, God declares that He will rename Pashur "Terror All Around" and reveals that Pashur and his friends will become objects of dread, ultimately witnessing the downfall of Judah and its people at the hands of the Babylonian king. This judgment is not just external calamity, but an internal terror that will consume Pashur, reflecting his own false prophecies and the disastrous consequences they foretold.
The prophet Jeremiah has just been assaulted and imprisoned by Pashur, the priest who was in charge at the Temple, for prophesying doom. In response, God declares that He will rename Pashur "Terror All Around" and reveals that Pashur and his friends will become objects of dread, ultimately witnessing the downfall of Judah and its people at the hands of the Babylonian king. This judgment is not just external calamity, but an internal terror that will consume Pashur, reflecting his own false prophecies and the disastrous consequences they foretold.
"For thus says the LORD: Behold, I will make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends. They shall fall by the sword of their enemies while you look on. And I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon. He shall carry t…" — This verse highlights a chilling prophecy: Pashur won't just be a terror to others, but will become a terror to himself. This means God’s judgment will be so profound that Pashur will be haunted by…
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