Jeremiah 26:20
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The most striking, and easily missed, point is that this verse isn't just introducing another prophet; it's highlighting how dangerous Jeremiah's message was. The fact that another prophet, Uriah, delivered the exact same prophecy and was executed for it underscores the extreme peril Jeremiah himself was in. This detail serves as a stark warning, showing the lethal consequences for those who dared to speak God's truth to a rebellious king and nation.
There was another man who prophesied in the name of the LORD, Uriah the son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land in words like those of Jeremiah.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse introduces a new historical example within the trial of Jeremiah, highlighting another prophet named Uriah who delivered a similar message of doom against Jerusalem. Unlike the earlier mention of Micah from King Hezekiah's time, Uriah's prophecy occurred during the reign of King Jehoiakim, the very ruler judging Jeremiah. The narrative that follows details how King Jehoiakim, enraged by Uriah's words, ruthlessly hunted him down, even pursuing him to Egypt and executing him.
Jeremiah’s message of judgment felt dangerous. But he wasn’t the only one brave enough to speak it. What can we learn from the man who shared his fate, but not his survival?
The book of Jeremiah records the story of Uriah, a prophet who delivered a message strikingly similar to Jeremiah's own. He, too, prophesied against Jerusalem and the land, speaking "according to all the words of Jeremiah." This shared message highlights that the prophetic voice wasn't solitary; it was a chorus of divine warning. However, their outcomes diverged dramatically. While Jeremiah faced opposition and ultimately, thanks to a timely intervention, was spared, Uriah met a brutal end. This contrast isn't just a historical footnote; it underscores the volatile political and religious climate of Jerusalem, where speaking truth could lead to martyrdom.
When truth is unwelcome, powerful people react. How did King Jehoiakim's fury play out, and why did Uriah flee?
King Jehoiakim’s reaction to Uriah’s prophecy was swift and deadly. Upon hearing Uriah’s words, which mirrored Jeremiah’s own pronouncements of judgment, the king “sought to put him to death.” This wasn't a minor disagreement; it was a capital offense in the eyes of the monarch. Faced with this immediate threat, Uriah’s response was fear, leading him to flee to Egypt. This flight highlights a crucial aspect of prophetic ministry: the very real personal danger involved. It wasn't merely about delivering a message; it was about risking one's life. Egypt, a common refuge for those fleeing political persecution from Judah, offered a temporary, but ultimately unsuccessful, sanctuary.
Ask a follow-up
Uriah’s story takes a dark turn. What does his ultimate fate reveal about the king’s cruelty and the prophet's legacy?
The narrative doesn't end with Uriah's flight; it climaxes in tragedy. King Jehoiakim, relentless in his pursuit, sent agents to Egypt to forcibly bring Uriah back. The prophet was then executed and, in a final act of profound disrespect, his body was denied a proper burial, cast "into the graves of the common people." This dishonorable treatment was a deliberate attempt to erase his legacy and intimidate others. It reveals a king willing to go to extreme lengths to silence dissent, even pursuing a fugitive into a foreign land. The inclusion of Uriah's story, despite its grimness, serves a purpose within Jeremiah’s account. It starkly illustrates the immense danger Jeremiah himself faced and underscores the courage of those, like Ahikam mentioned later, who stood against such tyranny.
The story of Uriah, executed for prophesying against Jerusalem during King Jehoiakim's reign, serves as a stark reminder of the intense danger faced by God's messengers and the brutal opposition they could encounter, even as it highlights the courage of those who stood against injustice.
c. 715-686 BC
King Hezekiah's Reign
King Hezekiah ruled Judah during a time of Assyrian threat. He showed favor to prophets and took God's word seriously, even allowing a prophet like Micah to speak against Jerusalem without severe punishment.
c. 609 BC
Beginning of Jehoiakim's Reign
Jehoiakim becomes king of Judah, initially a vassal of Egypt. His reign would be marked by defiance against God and his prophets.
c. 609-605 BC
Uriah Prophesies and Flees
The prophet Uriah, like Jeremiah, proclaims God's judgment against Jerusalem and Judah. When King Jehoiakim hears Uriah's message, he seeks to kill him, prompting Uriah to flee to Egypt.
c. 605 BC
Uriah Returned from Egypt and Executed
King Jehoiakim sends envoys to Egypt to retrieve Uriah, who is then executed by the king and his body disgracefully buried among the common people.
c. 605 BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Temple Sermon
Jeremiah delivers a powerful sermon in the Temple, warning of destruction and judgment if the people do not repent. This sermon causes a great uproar among the priests and prophets, who arrest Jeremiah.
c. 605 BC
Ahikam Protects Jeremiah
Jeremiah is brought to trial before the princes and the people. The elders of the land defend Jeremiah, referencing the earlier prophet Micah and the recent, tragic case of Uriah.
This passage highlights how prophets, even when facing extreme danger from rulers like Jezebel, were called to speak God's truth, mirroring Uriah's prophetic calling and perilous situation.
Matthew 2:13-15The flight of Uriah to Egypt parallels the Holy Family's flight to Egypt, illustrating how Egypt served as a place of refuge for those fleeing persecution, even prophetic figures.
Hebrews 11:37This verse, in its description of prophets being 'stoned, sawn in two, put to the sword,' speaks to the severe persecution faced by faithful messengers of God, a reality Uriah tragically experienced.
Acts 5:27-29The apostles' response to their accusers, 'We must obey God rather than men,' echoes the underlying principle that drove prophets like Uriah and Jeremiah to speak God's word despite the risks.
barnesJeremiah 26:20: "And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:"
This narrative of Urijah's fate was no part of the speech of the elders, who would not be likely to contrast the behavior of the reigning king so unfavorably with that of Hezekiah. Moreover, it would have been a precedent, not for acquitting Jeremiah, but for putting him to…
gillJeremiah 26:20: "And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:"
And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the Lord,.... These are not the words of the same persons continued; because the following instance is against them; but of some other persons in the sanhedrim, who were on the side of the priests and prophets; who in e…
The most striking, and easily missed, point is that this verse isn't just introducing another prophet; it's highlighting how dangerous Jeremiah's message was. The fact that another prophet, Uriah, delivered the exact same prophecy and was executed for it underscores the extreme peril Jeremiah himself was in. This detail serves as a stark warning, showing the lethal consequences for those who dared to speak God's truth to a rebellious king and nation.
This verse introduces a new historical example within the trial of Jeremiah, highlighting another prophet named Uriah who delivered a similar message of doom against Jerusalem. Unlike the earlier mention of Micah from King Hezekiah's time, Uriah's prophecy occurred during the reign of King Jehoiakim, the very ruler judging Jeremiah. The narrative that follows details how King Jehoiakim, enraged by Uriah's words, ruthlessly hunted him down, even pursuing him to Egypt and executing him.
This verse introduces a new historical example within the trial of Jeremiah, highlighting another prophet named Uriah who delivered a similar message of doom against Jerusalem. Unlike the earlier mention of Micah from King Hezekiah's time, Uriah's prophecy occurred during the reign of King Jehoiakim, the very ruler judging Jeremiah. The narrative that follows details how King Jehoiakim, enraged by Uriah's words, ruthlessly hunted him down, even pursuing him to Egypt and executing him.
"There was another man who prophesied in the name of the LORD, Uriah the son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land in words like those of Jeremiah." — The most striking, and easily missed, point is that this verse isn't just introducing another prophet; it's highlighting how dangerous Jeremiah's message was. The fact that another prophet, Uriah, de…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
