Jeremiah 18:20

Authorized King James Version

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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.

Original Language Analysis

הַיְשֻׁלַּ֤ם be recompensed H7999
הַיְשֻׁלַּ֤ם be recompensed
Strong's: H7999
Word #: 1 of 18
to be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate
תַּֽחַת H8478
תַּֽחַת
Strong's: H8478
Word #: 2 of 18
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
טוֹבָ֔ה for good H2896
טוֹבָ֔ה for good
Strong's: H2896
Word #: 3 of 18
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
רָעָ֔ה Shall evil H7451
רָעָ֔ה Shall evil
Strong's: H7451
Word #: 4 of 18
bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
כִּֽי H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 5 of 18
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
כָר֥וּ for they have digged H3738
כָר֥וּ for they have digged
Strong's: H3738
Word #: 6 of 18
properly, to dig; figuratively, to plot; generally, to bore or open
שׁוּחָ֖ה a pit H7745
שׁוּחָ֖ה a pit
Strong's: H7745
Word #: 7 of 18
a chasm
לְנַפְשִׁ֑י for my soul H5315
לְנַפְשִׁ֑י for my soul
Strong's: H5315
Word #: 8 of 18
properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or ment
זְכֹ֣ר׀ Remember H2142
זְכֹ֣ר׀ Remember
Strong's: H2142
Word #: 9 of 18
properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male
עָמְדִ֣י that I stood H5975
עָמְדִ֣י that I stood
Strong's: H5975
Word #: 10 of 18
to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
לְפָנֶ֗יךָ before H6440
לְפָנֶ֗יךָ before
Strong's: H6440
Word #: 11 of 18
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
לְדַבֵּ֤ר thee to speak H1696
לְדַבֵּ֤ר thee to speak
Strong's: H1696
Word #: 12 of 18
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
עֲלֵיהֶם֙ H5921
עֲלֵיהֶם֙
Strong's: H5921
Word #: 13 of 18
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
טוֹבָ֔ה for good H2896
טוֹבָ֔ה for good
Strong's: H2896
Word #: 14 of 18
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good
לְהָשִׁ֥יב for them and to turn away H7725
לְהָשִׁ֥יב for them and to turn away
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 15 of 18
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 16 of 18
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
חֲמָתְךָ֖ thy wrath H2534
חֲמָתְךָ֖ thy wrath
Strong's: H2534
Word #: 17 of 18
heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever)
מֵהֶֽם׃ H1992
מֵהֶֽם׃
Strong's: H1992
Word #: 18 of 18
they (only used when emphatic)

Analysis & Commentary

Jeremiah protests the injustice: "Shall evil be recompensed for good?" The rhetorical question expects a negative answer—it's morally outrageous that good deeds receive evil payment. "For they have digged a pit for my soul"—the imagery depicts hunters setting traps for prey. Despite Jeremiah's faithful ministry, his audience plots his destruction.

"Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them"—powerful intercessory language. Jeremiah reminds God (and himself) that he faithfully interceded for his persecutors, seeking to avert divine judgment through their repentance. Like Moses (Ex 32:11-14, 30-32) and Samuel (1 Sam 7:5-9, 12:23), Jeremiah fulfilled the prophetic role of standing between God and people, pleading for mercy.

This verse anticipates Christ, the ultimate Intercessor who prayed for His executioners (Luke 23:34) and continually intercedes for His people (Heb 7:25, Rom 8:34). While Jeremiah's intercession proved insufficient to save Judah, Christ's intercession perfectly accomplishes salvation for all who come to God through Him. The pattern: God's servants suffer unjustly while serving others' spiritual good, pointing to the Suffering Servant who bore sins of many (Isa 53:12).

Historical Context

Prophetic intercession was a standard role—Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Daniel, and others stood between God and people, pleading for mercy during judgment. Priestly and prophetic offices both included intercessory functions. Jeremiah's intercession for Judah appears throughout his prophecy (Jer 14:7-9, 11-22, 15:1, 18:20), though God eventually forbade further intercession because judgment was sealed (Jer 7:16, 11:14, 14:11).

Questions for Reflection

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