Jeremiah 18:20

Jeremiah 18:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.
• New International Version (NIV)Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for me. Remember that I stood before you and spoke in their behalf to turn your wrath away from them.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for my life. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
• New Living Translation (NLT)Should they repay evil for good? They have dug a pit to kill me, though I pleaded for them and tried to protect them from your anger.

Context of Jeremiah 18:20

18Then they said, “Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come and let us attack him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.” 19Give heed to me, O Lord, And listen to the voice of those who contend with me! Shall evil be repaid for good? For they have dug a pit for my life. Remember that I stood before You To speak good for them, To turn away Your wrath from them. 21Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, And pour out their blood By the force of the sword; Let their wives become widows And bereaved of their children. Let their men be put to death, Their young men be slain By the sword in battle. 22Let a cry be heard from their houses, When You bring a troop suddenly upon them; For they have dug a pit to take me, And hidden snares for my feet.

Jeremiah 18:20 word by word

הַיְשֻׁלַּ֤ם תַּֽחַת־טוֹבָה֙ רָעָ֔ה כִּֽי־כָר֥וּ שׁוּחָ֖ה לְנַפְשִׁ֑י זְכֹ֣ר׀ עָמְדִ֣י לְפָנֶ֗יךָ לְדַבֵּ֤ר עֲלֵיהֶם֙ טוֹבָ֔ה לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֶת־חֲמָתְךָ֖ מֵהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Shall evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
• be recompensedשָׁלֵםshâlam · to completeH7999
• for goodטוֹבָהţôb · welfareH2896
• for they have diggedכָּרָהkârâh · to pierceH3738
• a pitשׁוּחָהshûchâh · pitH7745
• for my soulנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
• Rememberזָכַרzâkar · to rememberH2142
• that I stoodעָמַד‛âmad · to stand: standH5975
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• thee to speakדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• to turn awayשׁוּבshûb · to return: turn backH7725
• thy wrathחֵמָהchêmâh chêmâ' · rageH2534

Cross-references for Jeremiah 18:20

• 1 Samuel 24:17Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil.
• Psalms 35:12They reward me evil for good, To the sorrow of my soul.
• Psalms 38:20Those also who render evil for good, They are my adversaries, because I follow what is good.
• Psalms 109:4In return for my love they are my accusers, But I give myself to prayer.
• Proverbs 17:13Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.
• John 10:32Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?”
• John 15:25But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’
• Jeremiah 18:22Let a cry be heard from their houses, When You bring a troop suddenly upon them; For they have dug a pit to take me, And hidden snares for my feet.
• Job 6:27Yes, you overwhelm the fatherless, And you undermine your friend.
• Psalms 7:15He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made.
• Psalms 35:7For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit, Which they have dug without cause for my life.
• Psalms 57:6They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah
• Psalms 119:95The wicked wait for me to destroy me, But I will consider Your testimonies.
• Proverbs 26:27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, And he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
• Ecclesiastes 10:8He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.
• Jeremiah 7:16“Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you.

Commentaries on Jeremiah 18:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20They have digged a pit for my soul - For my life; this they wish to take away. Stood before thee to speak good for them - I was their continual intercessor.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Jeremiah had been laboring earnestly to avert the ruin of his country, but the Jews treated him as farmers do some noxious animal which wastes their fields, and for which they dig pitfalls.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-23Verses 18-23 When the prophet called to repentance, instead of obeying the call, the people devised devices against him. Thus do sinners deal with the great Intercessor, crucifying him afresh, and speaking against him on earth, while his blood is speaking for them in heaven. But the prophet had done his duty to them; and the same will be our rejoicing in a day of evil.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-20Jeremiah told the Lord about the unfairness of his enemies' actions against him.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. In the particulars here specified, Jeremiah was a type of Jesus Christ (Psa 109:4, 5; Joh 15:25). my soul--my life; me (Psa 35:7). I stood before thee ... to turn away thy wrath--so Moses (Psa 106:23; compare Eze 22:30). So Jesus Christ, the antitype of previous partial intercessors (Is 59:16).Read the comment

Topics related to Jeremiah 18:20

• Ingratitude
• Intercession
• Jeremiah
• Persecution
• Prayer
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Smite
• Wag
• Providence

Commentaries on Jeremiah 18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings