Jeremiah Chapter 20 · Verse 7
O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me.
Original Language Analysis
וָֽאֶפָּ֔ת
me and I was deceived
H6601
וָֽאֶפָּ֔ת
me and I was deceived
Strong's:
H6601
Word #:
1 of 12
to open, i.e., be (causatively, make) roomy; usually figuratively (in a mental or moral sense) to be (causatively, make) simple or (in a sinister way)
יְהוָה֙
O LORD
H3068
יְהוָה֙
O LORD
Strong's:
H3068
Word #:
2 of 12
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וָֽאֶפָּ֔ת
me and I was deceived
H6601
וָֽאֶפָּ֔ת
me and I was deceived
Strong's:
H6601
Word #:
3 of 12
to open, i.e., be (causatively, make) roomy; usually figuratively (in a mental or moral sense) to be (causatively, make) simple or (in a sinister way)
חֲזַקְתַּ֖נִי
thou art stronger
H2388
חֲזַקְתַּ֖נִי
thou art stronger
Strong's:
H2388
Word #:
4 of 12
to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restra
וַתּוּכָ֑ל
than I and hast prevailed
H3201
וַתּוּכָ֑ל
than I and hast prevailed
Strong's:
H3201
Word #:
5 of 12
to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)
הָיִ֤יתִי
H1961
הָיִ֤יתִי
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
6 of 12
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
8 of 12
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַיּ֔וֹם
daily
H3117
הַיּ֔וֹם
daily
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
9 of 12
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
כֻּלֹּ֖ה
H3605
כֻּלֹּ֖ה
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
10 of 12
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
Cross References
Hosea 9:7The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred.Lamentations 3:14I was a derision to all my people; and their song all the day.Jeremiah 20:9Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.Ezekiel 3:14So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.
Historical Context
This confession occurs after Jeremiah's public humiliation by Pashhur the priest, who had him beaten and placed in stocks at the Benjamin Gate (20:1-2). Jeremiah's message that Jerusalem would fall to Babylon was viewed as treason by political leaders and blasphemy by religious authorities. Unlike earlier prophets who occasionally faced opposition, Jeremiah endured decades of sustained persecution with no vindication during his lifetime. This historical reality makes his continued faithfulness all the more remarkable.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jeremiah's honest complaint before God model healthy spiritual practice during seasons of suffering?
- What does this passage teach us about the cost of faithful ministry when God's message contradicts cultural expectations?
- In what ways might we, like Jeremiah, feel 'deceived' when following God leads to unexpected hardship rather than blessing?
Analysis & Commentary
This startling verse opens Jeremiah's most anguished confession, where the prophet accuses God of deceiving him into prophetic ministry. The Hebrew pathah (פָּתָה) can mean 'enticed,' 'persuaded,' or 'deceived'—the same word used for seduction. Jeremiah feels God overpowered him, and now he suffers mockery and derision daily for proclaiming God's word.
This raw honesty reveals the prophet's humanity and demonstrates that authentic relationship with God allows for genuine lament. Jeremiah is not sinning by expressing his pain; he is wrestling honestly with God like Job, David in the Psalms, and even Christ in Gethsemane. The prophet's complaint arises from the tension between his divine calling and its devastating personal cost—social isolation, physical persecution, and the agony of watching his beloved nation reject both him and his message.
Reformed theology recognizes that God's sovereignty and human experience of suffering can coexist without contradiction. God did not literally deceive Jeremiah, but from the prophet's limited human perspective, the overwhelming difficulty of his calling felt like divine entrapment. This passage assures suffering saints that God welcomes our honest cries and that feeling overwhelmed by His purposes does not constitute unfaithfulness. The key is that Jeremiah brings his complaint to God rather than abandoning Him.