King James Version
What Does Jeremiah 20:16 Mean?
“And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide ;”
Context
14
Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed.
15
Cursed be the man who brought tidings to my father, saying, A man child is born unto thee; making him very glad.
16
And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide ;
17
Because he slew me not from the womb; or that my mother might have been my grave, and her womb to be always great with me.
18
Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(16) **The cities which the Lord overthrew.**—The verb is the same as that used in Genesis 19:29, and the reference is clearly to the “cities of the plain,” whose destruction is there described. The reference to them in Deuteronomy 32:32; Isaiah 1:9-10, shows that they had already become familiar to men as the great representative instances both of evil and its punishment.
**The cry . . . the shouting.**—The former word describes the wail of lamentation, the latter the shout of an invading army.
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Jeremiah 20:16 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Jeremiah 20:16
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge