Jeremiah 18:22

Let a cry be heard from their houses when You suddenly bring raiders against them, for they have dug a pit to capture me and have hidden snares for my feet.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jeremiah pronounces a prayer of judgment against his adversaries, addressing God directly while describing his own targeted vulnerability. The petition follows a series of curses for famine, sword, and disease in the preceding verse and precedes a reminder of God’s full awareness of their plots.

The words — The Hebrew זְעָקָה (ze'akah) means a cry of distress, paired with תִּשְׁמַע (tishma), may it be heard, to frame the requested judgment. The adverb פִּתְאֹם (pit'om) translates as suddenly, marking the unexpected arrival of the raiders.

The thread — Psalms 140:5 describes proud men hiding a snare and spreading cord along a path to trap the speaker. Jeremiah 25:34 commands shepherds and flock leaders to wail and roll in dust as their days of slaughter arrive.

Why it lands — The text states that God will reverse the hidden traps onto their makers by sending sudden raiders to the enemies' houses. It asks the reader to accept that concealed violence provokes direct divine intervention without softening the reality of the plotted harm.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

תִּשָּׁמַ֤עti.sha.Ma'may it be heard זְעָקָה֙ze.'a.Kaha cry of distress מִבָּ֣תֵּיהֶ֔םmi./Ba.tei./Hemfrom/ houses/ their כִּֽי־ki-if תָבִ֧יאta.Vi'you will bring עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם'a.lei./Hemon/ them גְּד֖וּדge.Duda marauding band פִּתְאֹ֑םpit.'Omsuddenly כִּֽי־ki-for כָר֤וּkha.Ruthey have dug שׁוּחָה֙shi.chaha pit לְלָכְדֵ֔נִיle./la.khe.De./nito/ capture/ me וּפַחִ֖יםu./fa.Chimand/ snares טָמְנ֥וּta.me.Nuthey have hidden לְרַגְלָֽי׃le./rag.La/ifor/ feet/ my

King James Version

Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 6:26 O daughter of my people, dress yourselves in sackcloth and roll in ashes. Mourn with bitter wailing, as you would for an only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.
Psalms 140:5 The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me. Selah
Jeremiah 25:34 Wail, you shepherds, and cry out; roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock. For the days of your slaughter have come; you will fall and be shattered like fine pottery.
Zephaniah 1:10 On that day,” declares the LORD, “a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second District, and a loud crashing from the hills.
Psalms 56:5 All day long they twist my words; all their thoughts are on my demise.
Isaiah 10:30 Cry aloud, O Daughter of Gallim! Listen, O Laishah! O wretched Anathoth!
Zephaniah 1:16 a day of horn blast and battle cry against the fortified cities, and against the high corner towers.
Psalms 38:12 Those who seek my life lay snares; those who wish me harm speak destruction, plotting deceit all day long.
Psalms 64:4 ambushing the innocent in seclusion, shooting suddenly, without fear.
Isaiah 22:1 This is the burden against the Valley of Vision: What ails you now, that you have all gone up to the rooftops,