King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 20:3 Mean?

Jeremiah 20:3 in the King James Version says “And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, Th...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 20 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magormissabib. Magormissabib: that is, Fear round about”

Jeremiah 20:3 · KJV

Fear & Courage

Context

1

Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.

2

Then Pashur smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks that were in the high gate of Benjamin, which was by the house of the LORD.

3

And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The LORD hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magormissabib. Magormissabib: that is, Fear round about

4

For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it: and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword.

5

Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.

Read Jeremiah 20 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
When released from stocks the next morning, Jeremiah immediately prophesies judgment on Pashur. The name change from Pashur to 'Magor-missabib' (מָגוֹר מִסָּבִיב, literally 'terror on every side' or 'fear all around') functions as prophetic indictment and prediction. In Hebrew culture, names carried significance—changing someone's name declared their true identity or fate. This new name prophesied that Pashur would become a source of terror to himself and others—his actions would bring consequences making him fear. The phrase 'The LORD hath not called thy name' emphasizes God's sovereignty even over identity. Pashur may have held religious office, but God defines reality. This prophetic word-act demonstrates that God's word cannot be silenced through violence. Beating the prophet doesn't change the message; it only seals the persecutor's doom. The immediate pronouncement after release showed Jeremiah's courage and confidence in God's word—he didn't flee or remain silent to avoid further punishment. This models how God's messengers must speak His word regardless of consequences.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Name changes in Scripture often marked significant transitions or divine judgment: Abram to Abraham (Genesis 17:5), Jacob to Israel (Genesis 32:28), or Babylonian renaming of Daniel and friends (Daniel 1:7). Here the name change is judicial—declaring Pashur's destiny. The phrase 'Magor-missabib' appears elsewhere in Jeremiah (6:25, 20:10, 46:5, 49:29) describing the terror of coming judgment. History vindicated Jeremiah's prophecy: Babylon conquered Jerusalem in 586 BC, destroyed the temple, and exiled the leadership. As a prominent priest, Pashur would have witnessed Jerusalem's destruction, the temple's burning, and the exile he had dismissed as impossible. The terror he created for Jeremiah became his own fate. This pattern repeats in Scripture: persecutors often experience the suffering they inflicted (Haman hanged on his own gallows, Esther 7:10; Babylon destroyed by violence it used, Revelation 18:6). Divine justice ensures that rejection and persecution of God's word brings judgment.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does Jeremiah's immediate prophetic response after torture teach about the resilience and authority of God's word despite human attempts to silence it?
  2. How does Pashur's fate ("terror on every side") illustrate the principle that persecution of God's servants brings judgment on persecutors?
  3. In what ways does the name change from Pashur to Magor-missabib demonstrate that God, not human authority, defines ultimate reality and destiny?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 20 words
וַֽיְהִי֙1 of 20
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת2 of 20

“And it came to pass on the morrow”

H4283

the morrow or (adverbially) tomorrow

וַיֹּצֵ֥א3 of 20

“brought forth”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

פַשְׁחוּר֙4 of 20

“Pashur”

H6583

pashchur, the name of four israelites

אֶֽת5 of 20
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ6 of 20

“Jeremiah”

H3414

jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites

מִן7 of 20
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

הַמַּהְפָּ֑כֶת8 of 20

“out of the stocks”

H4115

a wrench, i.e., the stocks

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר9 of 20

“Then said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֵלָ֜יו10 of 20
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ11 of 20

“Jeremiah”

H3414

jirmejah, the name of eight or nine israelites

לֹ֤א12 of 20
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

פַשְׁחוּר֙13 of 20

“Pashur”

H6583

pashchur, the name of four israelites

קָרָ֤א14 of 20

“hath not called”

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

יְהוָה֙15 of 20

“unto him The LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

שְׁמֶ֔ךָ16 of 20

“thy name”

H8034

an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character

כִּ֖י17 of 20
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

אִם18 of 20
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

מָג֥וֹר19 of 20
H0
מִסָּבִֽיב׃20 of 20

“but Magormissabib”

H4036

magor-mis-sabib, a symbolic name of pashur

Study Guide

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 20:3 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 20:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 20:10Psalms 31:13Lamentations 2:22Jeremiah 46:5Isaiah 8:3Jeremiah 6:25

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