Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Jeremiah 20:8
For since I spoke, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.
8. Violence and spoil ] directed generally against himself. Cp. Jer 5:26-28, Jer 9:4.
a reproach unto me, and a derision ] Words applied to his own case by the great Florentine, Savonarola, “I have had nothing but tribulations, derision, and reproach.” Clark’s Savonarola, p. 169.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 8. I cried violence and spoil] This was the burden of the message thou didst give me.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
For since I spake, I cried out: if the particle be translated since, as we translate it, the meaning is, Since I first began to be a prophet, I have faithfully discharged my prophetical office, and that with some warmth and zeal.
I cried violence and spoil: some understand it of the violence which he himself experienced: others understand it of those acts of injustice and violence which were found amongst the people; he cried out against them: others understand it as a denunciation of judgment; he prophesied that violence and spoil was coming upon them.
Because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily; because of that scorn and derision with which they treated him. But others think that it were better translated surely than because, as it is in many texts, Isa 60:9; 63:16, &c. It is not much material which way we translate it, for it appeareth, from 2Ch 36:16, that this peoples mocking of Gods messengers, despising his words, and misusing his prophets, was one great cause of the wrath of God coming upon them; and it is certain that Jeremiah was made such a scorn and derision to them.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. Rather, “WheneverI speak, I cry out. Concerning violence and spoil, I (amcompelled to) cry out,” that is, complain [MAURER].English Version in the last clause is more graphic, “Icried violence and spoil” (Jer6:7)! I could not speak in a calm tone; their desperatewickedness compelled me to “cry out.”
becauserather,”therefore,” the apodosis of the previous sentence; becausein discharging my prophetic functions, I not merely spake, butcried; and cried, violence . . . ; therefore the wordof the Lord was made a reproach to me (Jer20:7).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For since I spake, I cried out,…. Or, “when I speak, I cry” a; whensoever I speak in the name of the Lord, and deliver message from him to the people, I lift up my voice and cry aloud, that all may hear and understand; and as showing zeal, fervour, and diligence: or, “I cry” with grief and trouble at the usage I meet with, and the contempt that is cast upon the word; or because of what I am obliged to declare to them, as follows. The Targum takes in both sense, of the word thus,
“for at the time that I prophesy, I lift up my voice, weeping, and crying.”
I cried violence and spoil: or, “proclaimed” it b, for a different word is here used; that is, he publicly declared the rapine and oppression they were guilty of, inveighed against it, and reproved them for it; and foretold the violence of the enemy, and the spoil that he should make of them, when he should come upon them, even the king of Babylon; as well as cried out and complained of the injurious treatment he himself met with from them;
because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision daily; which is a reason either why he cried with grief and sorrow; or why he cried violence and spoil, ruin and destruction: or, “though the word of the Lord was” c, c yet he went on publishing and proclaiming it: or, “surely the word of the Lord was made a reproach” d, c either because of the matter of it, it not being believed, or the manner in which it was delivered; or because it was not immediately fulfilled.
a “quum loquor exclamavi, i.e. loquor exclamans”, Gataker. b “clamo”, Pagninus, Junius Tremellius “proclamo”, Piscator. c “quamvis”. d “Verum, verbum Domini”, so some in Vatablus; “utique”, De Dieu, Gataker.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The Prophet says here that he found no fruit from his labors, but on the contrary, he saw that all his efforts and endeavors had an opposite effect; for they exasperated all the Jews, inflamed their rage, and drove them into a greater licentiousness in sinning. Hence he says, that he purposed to give up the office assigned to him, but that by a secret impulse he was constrained to persevere, and that thus he was not at liberty to desist from the course which he had begun.
But the verse is variously explained; From the time I spoke, I cried violence aloud and proclaimed devastation Thus some take the words, as though Jeremiah said, that since he began to teach he uttered complaints; for he saw that he was violently assailed and was exposed to all kinds of wrongs: but this view appears to me too frigid. Others come nearer to the truth who consider him as saying, that he had not ceased to cry against outrages and plunders, when he saw that all kinds of wickedness prevailed among the people; as though he had said, “I could not mildly and peaceably teach them, for their disposition and temper prevented me, but their wickedness compelled me to treat them with severity, as all God’s servants ought wisely to consider what the state of the Church requires.” If indeed we should in tranquil times cry aloud, it would be mad affectation; and this is what is done by many, who without thought and without any reason always make a great cry; but when we see Satan reigning, we ought not then to withhold nor to act as in a truce; but as it is an open war it is necessary to cry aloud. They who take this view, then, understand that Jeremiah cried aloud, because he saw that the people were refractory, and also saw that things were so bad that they could not be restored to a right state without the greatest sharpness and vehemence.
But I rather think that the Prophet had another kind of trial, — that he brought down a greater vengeance of God by his cries, as though he had said, “To what purpose should I furnish God with weapons by my preaching? since I do nothing but increase his wrath, which will at length fulminate and consume the whole land together with the people.” He then says, that he cried violence and devastation aloud, for impiety itself is a sort of hostile violence by which God is provoked. The meaning is, that the Prophet saw no other fruit to his labor, but that men were rendered more insolent, and from being thieves became robbers, and from being disdainful became ruffians, so that they increasingly kindled God’s wrath, and more fully abandoned themselves. This was indeed a most severe and dangerous trial; it is therefore no wonder that the Prophet says, that it came to his mind to turn aside from his office as a teacher.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) I cried out, I cried.The two Hebrew words are not, as in the English, alike, the first being the cry of complaint, the second of protest: When I speak (the tense implies from the beginning of his work till now), I complain; I call out (against) violence and spoil. They had formed the burden of his discourses, he had borne his witness against them, and yet the word of Jehovah so proclaimed by him had exposed him simply to derision. He had been the champion of the peoples rights, and yet they mocked and scorned him.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Since I spake, I cried out Rather, when I speak, I cry out, as if in pain or protest. The first “cried out” means to make an outcry as in danger or pain; the second cried means to call out proclaim. Such was the subversion of justice on every side the violence and spoil that he could not speak calmly, but only cry out.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jer 20:8. For since I spake For as often as I speak, whether I cry out against injustice, or proclaim devastation, the word of JEHOVAH is turned against me into matter of reproach and derision continually. Houbigant renders it, For since I spoke, and cried against iniquity, and denounced desolation, the word of the Lord, &c.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jer 20:8 For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily.
Ver. 8. For since I spake, I cried out, ] i.e., Ever since I took upon me the office of a prophet, I executed it vigorously, I cried with full mouth. Jer 4:5 Isa 58:1
I cried violence and spoil,
Because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision daily.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
I cried: Jer 4:19-22, Jer 5:1, Jer 5:6, Jer 5:15-17, Jer 6:6, Jer 6:7, Jer 7:9, Jer 13:13, Jer 13:14, Jer 15:1-4, Jer 15:13, Jer 15:14, Jer 17:27, Jer 18:16, Jer 18:17, Jer 19:7-11, Jer 28:8
the word: Jer 20:7, Jer 6:10, 2Ch 36:16, Lam 3:61-63, Luk 11:45, Heb 11:26, Heb 13:13, 1Pe 4:14
Reciprocal: Neh 2:19 – they Job 19:7 – I cry Psa 44:10 – spoil Jer 5:13 – the prophets Jer 15:10 – a man Jer 15:15 – know Jer 15:17 – for Jer 17:15 – General Jer 23:33 – What Jer 26:8 – the priests Eze 8:17 – for Luk 16:14 – derided Joh 7:7 – because
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jer 20:8. That derision took the form of violence and spoil, such as his confinement in the stocks of which we have read in the beginning of the chapter.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Jer 20:8-9. For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil Or, rather, as Houbigant renders it, For since I spake, and cried against iniquity, and denounced desolation, the word of the Lord, &c. Blaneys translation is nearly to the same sense: For as often as I speak, whether I cry out against injustice or proclaim devastation, the word of Jehovah is turned against me into matter of reproach and derision continually. The prophet means that, upon account of declaring what God had revealed to him, he was reckoned an enemy to his country, and a false prophet. Then I said Namely, within myself, for he did not speak this to any one; I will not make mention of him Or, of it, namely, the word of God, or the message God had appointed him to deliver; nor speak any more in his name I resolved no more to declare what God had revealed to me concerning the calamities which he was about to bring on Judah and Jerusalem. But his word was in my heart as a burning fire It glowed inwardly, and must have vent: I found myself so pressed in spirit, felt such a burning ardour within my breast, such an immediate and powerful impulse of the prophetic spirit constraining me to speak, that I could no more be easy without executing Gods commands, than if a burning fire had been shut up in my bones. The conviction of his own mind that he ought to speak, his zeal for the glory of God, his indignation at the sins of the people, and his compassion for their souls, would not suffer him to rest, or allow him to forbear declaring Gods message.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
20:8 For since I spoke, I cried out, I cried violence and {e} spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach to me, and a derision, daily.
(e) He shows that he did his office in that he reproved the people of their vices and threatened them with God’s judgments: but because he was derided and persecuted for this, he was discouraged, and would have stopped preaching, except that God’s spirit forced him to it.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Jeremiah felt that he was always shouting messages of impending disaster, and these announcements had resulted in people criticizing and ridiculing him constantly.