Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 20:11
But the LORD [is] with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: [their] everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.
11. dealt wisely ] mg. prospered. The Hebrew word includes the notion of success as the result of wise action.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
11 13. See summary at commencement of section. The prophet’s courage is renewed.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 11. But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one] Thus was he, by his strong confidence in the strong God, delivered from all his fears, and enabled to go on comfortably with his work.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The prophet recovering himself out of his fit of passion, encourageth himself in his God, whom he calls the
mighty and
terrible one, so declaring his faith in the power of God, as one able to save him, and in the promise and good-will of God toward him; therefore he saith,
The Lord is with me; such was the promise of God to this prophet, when he first undertook the prophetical office, Jer 1:8, Be not afraid of their faces; for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord. From hence he concludeth, that though he had many that pursued after his life, yet they should stumble in their ways of violence, and should not prevail; that they should either be ashamed of what they had done, or be brought to shame for what they had done; for
prosper they should not; or, they acted like fools, and did not deal prudently for themselves (so this word is translated, Isa 52:13).
Their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten; they should come to a reproach and ignominy, and their reproach should not be like his, for a time, but it should be a lasting, perpetual reproach that should not be forgotten. This was not only written for that generation, but for all generations that are yet to come, and hath been made good in the experience of all ages past. The persecutors of Gods ministers have found that God hath been with his ministers according to his promise, Mat 28:20, and that they have stumbled in their way, and not at last prevailed; that they have not acted prudently for their own good, and the good of their families; that a perpetual ignominy clave to the memory of those who have been employed in this work. There stands to this day a blot upon the memory of them who persecuted Isaiah, Jeremiah, &c., the apostles, and such faithful ministers as have been since their time.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. not prevailas they hopedto do (Jer 20:10; Jer 15:20).
prosperin their plot.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one,…. The Targum is,
“the Word of the Lord is for my help.”
“Mighty” to support, uphold, defend, and deliver him; and “terrible” to his enemies. The prophet looks back to the promise the Lord had made him, of his gracious and powerful presence, Jer 1:18; which he now takes comfort from; and it would have been well if he had kept this always in view, and had continued in the same actings of faith and temper of mind: but this lasted not long, as some following verses show;
therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and shall not prevail; though they should very hotly and furiously pursue him, yet they should stumble and fall by the way, and not be able to overtake him, and execute their designs upon him; the Lord, who was with him, and on his side, would throw some things in their way, at which they should stumble, and which should hinder them from proceeding;
they shall be greatly ashamed, for they shall not prosper; when they see their schemes are disappointed, and they do not succeed, they shall be filled with shame and confusion: or, “because they do not deal prudently” g, as the word is rendered, Isa 52:13; they do not act a wise, but a foolish part, and therefore shame will be the consequence of it;
[their] everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten; neither by themselves nor others; the memory of it will always continue, to their everlasting grief and reproach. A very learned man connects these words with the former, thus, “they shall be greatly ashamed, for they shall not prosper, with an everlasting shame never to be forgotten” h, very rightly; so another learned interpreter i.
g “quia non prudenter egerunt”, Montanus, Piscator; “prudenter agunt”, Calvin. h “Erubescent valde, quia non prosperabuntur, ignominia aeterna non obliviscenda”, De Dieu. i “Pudefient, quod non profecerint, ignominia perpetuitatis (quae) non tradetur oblivioni”, Schmidt.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Vs. 11-13: A REMEMBRANCE OF DIVINE FAITHFULLNESS
1. Though one cannot be certain that these verses chronologically follow the complaint that Jeremiah just poured out, they do demonstrate the fluctuating moods through which the prophet passed.
2. Here is a new awareness of Jehovah’s presence as a fear inspiring warrior, (vs. 11; Jer 1:8; Jer 1:19; Jer 15:20; comp. Isa 41:10).
a. Jeremiah’s persecutors will not prevail, (Jer 15:15; comp. Deu 32:35-36).
b. Having acted so unwisely, they will be put to shame; eternal dishonor will be their lot, (Jer 17:18; Jer 23:40).
3. Having re-committed his cause to the Lord of hosts (comp. Psa 62:8), Who tests the righteous and sees the desires of their hearts (Jer 11:20; Jer 17:10; Psa 7:9), he now calls for divine vengeance upon his oppressors, (vs. 12; comp. Psa 59:10).
4. Then there actually bursts forth from his lips a doxology of praise for deliverance! (vs. 13; comp. Jer 31:7; Jer 15:21; comp. Psa 34:6). He knows that God is faithful!
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Here the Prophet sets up God’s aid against all the plottings formed against him. However, then, might perfidious friends on one hand try privately to entrap him, and open enemies might on the other hand publicly oppose him, he yet doubted not but that God would be a sufficient protection to him. And we ought to act exactly in the same manner, whenever Satan rouses the wicked against us to oppose us either by secret artifices or by open cruelty; God alone must be, as they say, our brazen wall. But we must first know that he stands on our side; for the power of God can avail nothing to animate us, except we be firmly persuaded of this truth, that he is on our side. And how this confidence can be obtained, we shall presently see.
He says, that his persecutors would fall, so that they would not prevail, but be ashamed We see how many persecuted the holy man, and also with what arms they were furnished; for they possessed great power, and were also endued with guiles and intrigues. But the Prophet was satisfied with the help of God alone, and boldly concluded, that they would fall; for it could not be but that God would prove victorious. Whenever, then, we fight with the world and the devil and his slaves, this ought in the first place to come to our minds, that God stands on our side to defend our cause and to protect our safety. This being settled, we may then boldly defy both the artifices and the violence of all enemies; for it cannot be but that God will scatter, lay prostrate, overwhelm, and reduce to nothing all those who fight against him.
He further says that their reproach would be perpetual, and would never come to oblivion We have seen already that the Prophet was loaded with many reproaches; but whenever God suffers his servants to be exposed to the curses of the wicked, he in due time aids them; and therefore we ought fully to expect that he will shortly dissipate, as mists, such calumnies. As then God, according to what is said in Psa 37:6, brings forth the innocency of the godly like the dawn, which in a moment appears while the earth seems buried in darkness, so the Prophet now says that on the other hand the reproach with which God will cover all the wicked will be perpetual. (14) It now follows, —
(14) Except in the first line, the Sept. and the Vulg. differ from the text as well as from one another; both are exceedingly confused. Few expounders have kept the proper tenses of the verbs. The Prophet states not only what would happen to his enemies, but also what had already in part happened to them, —
11. But Jehovah is with me as a terrible warrior; Therefore my persecutors shall stumble, And shall not prevail: They have become exceedingly ashamed, Because they have not succeeded; A perpetual shame! It shall not be forgotten.
The last two lines are according to what Horsley suggests. “A terrible warrior” is rendered by the Sept. , “a strong combatant, μαχητὴς ἰσχύων;” by the Vulg. , “a brave warrior, bellato fortis, by the Syr. , “the strongest giant;” and by the Arab. , “the strongest help.” — Ed
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
B. Conviction Jer. 20:11-13
TRANSLATION
(11) But the LORD is with me like a fearsome warrior. Therefore my persecutors shall stumble and they shall not prevail. They shall be utterly put to shame because they shall not succeed, eternal shame which shall not be forgotten. (12) But O LORD of hosts who tests the righteous, who sees the reins and the heart, I shall see Your vengeance on them, for unto You I have revealed my case. (13) Sing unto the LORD! Praise the LORD! For He has delivered the soul of the needy from the hand of evildoers.
COMMENTS
The light seems to suddenly shine through Jeremiahs personal gloom and the prophet bursts forth in expressions of joyous trust in God. He suddenly seems to realize that God is on his side after all. Perhaps he recalls the words of promise given to him at the time of his call: They shall not overcome! For I am with you to deliver you! The Lord, a fearsome warrior, will fight the battles of His prophet. Those enemies who are plotting, whispering, and watching would not succeed. On the contrary they will stumble and fall and experience eternal and unforgettable shame (Jer. 20:11). Jeremiah simply resolves to lay his case at the feet of the Judge of all the earth knowing that He will do right. He alone is qualified to test and judge the righteous, for He alone can observe the inward thoughts and motives. Jeremiah is confident that he will be vindicated at the judgment bar of God and that his enemies will experience the vengeance[215] of the living God who is a consuming fire (Jer. 20:12). So confident is Jeremiah of deliverance from his foes that he bursts forth in a song of praise to his divine deliverer (Jer. 20:13). Faith has been victorious over doubt!
[215] The latter part of Jer. 20:12 can be translated as a simple declarative: I shall see your vengeance on them or as a cohortative: Let me see your vengeance on them.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(11) But the Lord is with me.As in Psalms 22 and other like utterances, the prophet, though perplexed. is yet not in despair (2Co. 4:8). He passes through the deep waters, but struggles out of them to the rock of refuge. The word terrible was used with a special significance. Jehovah had promised to deliver the prophet from the terrible ones (Jer. 15:21). He, the mighty God (Isa. 9:6) would now show that He was more terrible than the prophets foes, that it was better to come under their wrath than His (Isa. 8:12-13).
For they shall not prosper.Better, because they have not dealt wisely. The word is the same as in Jer. 10:21, where see Note.
Their everlasting confusion.Better, as carrying on the structure of the previous clause, with an everlasting confusion that shall never be forgotten.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11-13. The Lord is with me Very strikingly does the lament rise into a clear and strong expression of faith in God. Deeper than his despondency, and stronger than the terrors about him, is his trust in God’s unfailing strength. And at last, in Jer 20:13, this faith rises into triumph, and he speaks of his deliverance as already accomplished.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 20:11. As a mighty terrible one As a warlike hero.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jer 20:11 But the LORD [is] with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: [their] everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.
Ver. 11. But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one. ] Instar gigantis robusti, a as a strong giant, and mine only champion on whom I lean. Here the Spirit begins to get the better of the flesh, could Jeremiah but hold his own. But as the ferryman plies the oar, and eyes the shore homeward where he would be, yet there comes a gust of wind that carrieth him back again; so it fared with our prophet. See Jer 20:14-15 , &c.
a Ut formidabilis heros. – Pisc.
the Lord: Jer 1:8, Jer 1:19, Jer 15:20, Isa 41:10, Isa 41:14, Rom 8:31, 2Ti 4:17
a mighty: Psa 47:2, Psa 65:5, Psa 66:5
my: Jer 17:18, Deu 32:35, Deu 32:36, Psa 27:1, Psa 27:2, Joh 18:4-6
and they: Jer 1:19, Jer 15:20
everlasting: Jer 23:40, Psa 6:10, Psa 35:26, Psa 40:14, Isa 45:16, Dan 12:2
Reciprocal: Exo 14:3 – They are entangled Deu 10:17 – a great Psa 7:1 – save Psa 25:3 – let Psa 31:17 – wicked Psa 71:13 – Let them be Psa 99:3 – thy great Psa 109:29 – be clothed Psa 118:6 – The Lord Psa 121:2 – My help Jer 7:19 – the confusion Jer 14:3 – they were Jer 18:21 – deliver Jer 22:22 – surely Jer 46:6 – stumble Hag 1:13 – I am Luk 1:49 – he Luk 14:1 – they Luk 18:7 – avenge Joh 11:10 – General Act 4:30 – By stretching
Jer 20:11. Jeremiah’s dread of the enemy did not wreaken his faith In the Lord and he felt confident that with His support he could overcome all opposition, One word in the definition for the original of terrible is powerful,” and it is used in that sense here, The word sometimes means fearful” and it would have that meaning in this verse as it applies to the enemies of the prophet.
20:11 {g} But the LORD [is] with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: [their] everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.
(g) Here he shows how his faith strove against temptation and sought the Lord for strength.
Yet Jeremiah was confident that the Lord would remain with him and defend him like a powerful bodyguard (cf. Jer 1:18; Jer 15:20). Consequently his persecutors among the people of Judah would not succeed. They were the ones who would stumble, feel ashamed, and experience everlasting disgrace-not him (cf. Jer 20:10).
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)