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Jeremiah 20:9

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If I say, “I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,” His message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones, and I become weary of holding it in, and I cannot prevail.

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Commentaries

Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.

Matthew Henry Bible Commentaryv. 9

Such plain dealing as Jeremiah used in the foregoing chapter, one might easily foresee, if it did not convince and humble men, would provoke and exasperate them; and so it did; for here we find, I. Jeremiah persecuted by Pashur for preaching that sermon (Jer 20:1, Jer 20:2). II. Pashur threatened for so doing, and the word which Jeremiah had preached confirmed (Jer 20:3-6). III. Jeremiah complaining to God concerning it, and the other instances of hard measure that he had since he began to be a prophet, and the grievous temptations he had struggled with (Jer 20:7-10), encouraging himself in God, lodging his appeal with him, not doubting but that he shall yet praise him, by which it appears that he had much grace (Jer 20:11-13) and yet peevishly cursing the day of his birth (Jer 20:14-18), by which it appears that he had sad remainders of corruption in him too, and was a man subject to like passions as we are.

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Original language

The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).

Strong's Concordancev. 9

אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) זָכַר (zâkar, H2142) — properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e. to remember; by implication, to mention;… דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… לֵב (lêb, H3820) — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the… בָּעַר (bâʻar, H1197) — to kindle, i.e. consume (by fire or by eating); to be(-come) brutish אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively) עָצָר (ʻâtsâr, H6113) — to inclose; by analogy, to hold back; also to maintain, rule, assemble עֶצֶם (ʻetsem, H6106) — a bone (as strong); by extension, the body; figuratively, the substance, i.e. (as pron.)… לָאָה (lâʼâh, H3811) — to tire; (figuratively) to be (or make) disgusted כּוּל (kûwl, H3557) — properly, to keep in; hence, to measure; figuratively, to maintain (in various senses) יָכֹל (yâkôl, H3201) — to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might)

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Cross-references

Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.

Psalms 39:3rank 38

My heart grew hot within me; as I mused, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue:

Acts 4:20rank 20

For we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Ezekiel 3:14rank 13

So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness and in the anger of my spirit, with the strong hand of the LORD upon me.

Acts 17:16rank 13

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.

Jeremiah 6:11rank 9

But I am full of the LORD’s wrath; I am tired of holding it back. “Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the young men gathered together. For both husband and wife will be captured, the old and the very old alike.

Luke 9:62rank 3

Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Acts 18:5rank 1

And when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself fully to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

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