O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jeremiah isn't accusing God of malicious deceit; he's expressing how God "enticed" or "persuaded" him into the prophetic role. This wasn't about trickery, but about an irresistible divine call that Jeremiah felt compelled to obey, even when it led to suffering and mockery.
O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Just before this, the prophet Jeremiah had been publicly beaten and thrown into the stocks by a priest named Pashur, who then had him released the next day. This intense suffering and humiliation leads Jeremiah to cry out to God, feeling utterly overwhelmed and mocked by everyone. He laments that God "enticed" him into the prophetic calling, a call he initially resisted, but now feels trapped by, especially as his warnings seem to fall on deaf ears and bring only ridicule.
Jeremiah cries out, 'You have deceived me!' But what if the original meaning is far from an accusation of trickery?
The prophet uses a Hebrew word that's better understood as 'persuaded,' 'enticed,' or 'allured.' Jeremiah felt God drew him into the prophetic calling. He likely hesitated, perhaps even resisted, but God's call was compelling. This wasn't a malicious deception, but a powerful, irresistible persuasion that led Jeremiah to embrace a mission he might have otherwise avoided. Think of it like God saying, 'Come on, I know you can do this, and I'll be with you!' leading to a profound commitment.
Jeremiah feels overpowered by God. What does this 'grip' mean for a prophet facing ridicule?
When Jeremiah says, 'you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed,' he's acknowledging God's supreme power. It's not just about physical strength, but God's sovereign will and compelling presence. God has taken hold of Jeremiah's life and ministry, making it impossible for him to escape or turn back. This divine grip means that even when Jeremiah feels crushed by mockery and suffering, he knows he's held by an unstoppable force. It's a mix of feeling weak and knowing God is overwhelmingly strong on his behalf.
Jeremiah is 'a laughingstock all day long.' How does the prophet process this relentless scorn?
This verse captures the painful reality of Jeremiah's ministry. He faithfully delivered God's message, but instead of honor, he received ridicule and shame. The 'laughingstock' he describes is not just occasional teasing, but constant, daily mockery. This highlights the immense personal cost of obedience. Jeremiah feels betrayed not because God lied, but because the promised protection or ease didn't materialize as he might have hoped. His suffering underscores that following God's call can lead to immense unpopularity and hardship, making him a symbol of scorn for his faithfulness.
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Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush. It signifies the self-existent, faithful, and eternal God who redeems His people.
pātâ · Hebrew Verb
The Hebrew word used here can imply being enticed or persuaded. In this context, it expresses the prophet's profound struggle with the overwhelming and irresistible nature of God's calling, which seemed to contradict the ease he expected in his ministry.
This cry from Jeremiah isn't just theological angst; it's the raw emotion of a prophet, beaten and imprisoned, feeling abandoned by the God who called him. The historical context of his prophetic ministry, especially the immediate humiliation by Pashur, reveals the immense personal cost of delivering God's unpopular message.
c. 627 BC
Jeremiah's Call to Prophesy
The LORD calls a young Jeremiah to be a prophet, promising protection and strength. Jeremiah expresses hesitation due to his youth, but God assures him he will prevail.
c. 609 BC— this verse
Jeremiah Imprisoned by Pashur
Jeremiah is beaten and placed in stocks by Pashur, the son of Immer, a priest and overseer in the temple. This physical abuse and public humiliation are the immediate backdrop for his lament.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invades Judah and deports many prominent citizens, including Daniel, to Babylon. This event marks the beginning of Judah's decline and eventual destruction.
c. 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Nebuchadnezzar's forces destroy Jerusalem and its magnificent temple, ending the Davidic kingdom and scattering the Jewish people. This is the ultimate fulfillment of Jeremiah's dire warnings.
This passage details God's initial call to Jeremiah, highlighting the prophet's hesitation and God's powerful assurance and commissioning, which parallels Jeremiah's later feeling of being 'persuaded' or 'enticed' into a difficult prophetic role.
1 Kings 22:21-23This passage describes a lying spirit being sent by God to entice Ahab into battle, showing a precedent for God allowing or using persuasive forces that can lead individuals into difficult or even ruinous situations, which resonates with Jeremiah's sense of being 'deceived' or 'enticed'.
Isaiah 8:11The 'strong hand' of the Lord taking hold of the prophet here reflects Jeremiah's feeling that God was stronger than him and had 'prevailed' in compelling him to his prophetic task, even against his own inclinations.
1 Corinthians 9:16Paul expresses a similar sense of divine compulsion in his ministry, stating 'necessity is laid upon me,' which echoes Jeremiah's lament that God's will and power 'prevailed' over him, forcing him into a role that brought suffering.
Job 13:13-16Job's passionate plea to God, even while facing immense suffering and questioning, shows a prophet grappling with divine inscrutability and seeking to stand firm in his integrity, similar to Jeremiah's raw honesty before God amidst mockery.
clarkeJeremiah 20:7: "O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me."
O Lord, thou hast deceived me - Thou hast promised me protection; and, lo! I am now delivered into the hands of my enemies. These words were probably spoken when Pashur smote him, and put him in prison. I think our translation of this passage is very exceptionable. My old Bible reads, Thou laddist me aside Lord; and I was lad aside. The…
pulpitJeremiah 20:7: "O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me."
Verses 7-13. - A lyric passage, expressing the conflict in the prophet's mind owing to the mockery and the slander which his preaching has brought upon him, and at the same time his confidence of victory through the protection of Jehovah; a suitable sequel to the narrative which goes before, even if not originally written to occupy this…
Jeremiah isn't accusing God of malicious deceit; he's expressing how God "enticed" or "persuaded" him into the prophetic role. This wasn't about trickery, but about an irresistible divine call that Jeremiah felt compelled to obey, even when it led to suffering and mockery.
Just before this, the prophet Jeremiah had been publicly beaten and thrown into the stocks by a priest named Pashur, who then had him released the next day. This intense suffering and humiliation leads Jeremiah to cry out to God, feeling utterly overwhelmed and mocked by everyone. He laments that God "enticed" him into the prophetic calling, a call he initially resisted, but now feels trapped by, especially as his warnings seem to fall on deaf ears and bring only ridicule.
Just before this, the prophet Jeremiah had been publicly beaten and thrown into the stocks by a priest named Pashur, who then had him released the next day. This intense suffering and humiliation leads Jeremiah to cry out to God, feeling utterly overwhelmed and mocked by everyone. He laments that God "enticed" him into the prophetic calling, a call he initially resisted, but now feels trapped by, especially as his warnings seem to fall on deaf ears and bring only ridicule.
"O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me." — Jeremiah isn't accusing God of malicious deceit; he's expressing how God "enticed" or "persuaded" him into the prophetic role. This wasn't about trickery, but about an irresistible divine call that J…
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Last reviewed October 2026