Jeremiah 20:10

For I have heard the whispering of many: “Terror is on every side! Report him; let us report him!” All my trusted friends watch for my fall: “Perhaps he will be deceived so that we may prevail against him and take our vengeance upon him.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jeremiah speaks to God about his immediate surroundings while enduring persecution for delivering a divine message. He describes a moment of intense isolation where former allies monitor his potential failure.

The words — The Hebrew דִּבַּת (di.Bat) denotes a "whispering" or slanderous report, while מָג֣וֹר (ma.Gor) means "terror" or "fear." Jeremiah reports that this terror surrounds him from every direction.

The thread — This pattern of whispered slander and surrounded terror appears in Psalms 31:13 and Psalms 41:9, where the psalmist also notes betrayal by close associates. Isaiah 29:21 similarly describes those who ensnare a mediator with false charges.

Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that faithful proclamation invites coordinated opposition from both strangers and trusted friends. It requires the reader to expect isolation and plot when delivering difficult truth without offering comfort for the opposition.

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

כִּ֣יkifor שָׁמַ֜עְתִּיsha.Ma'.tiI have heard דִּבַּ֣תdi.Bat[the] whispering of רַבִּים֮ra.Bimmany [people]מָג֣וֹרma.Gorterror מִסָּבִיב֒mi./sa.Viv[is] from/ round about הַגִּ֙ידוּ֙ha.Gi.dutell וְנַגִּידֶ֔נּוּve./na.gi.De./nuand/ let us tell about/ him כֹּ֚לkolevery אֱנ֣וֹשׁ'e.No.osh<the> person of שְׁלוֹמִ֔יshe.lo.M/ipeace/ my שֹׁמְרֵ֖יsho.me.Rei[are] [the] watchers of צַלְעִ֑יtzal.'/Istumbling/ my אוּלַ֤י'u.Laiperhaps יְפֻתֶּה֙ye.fu.Tehhe will be deceived וְנ֣וּכְלָהve./Nu.khe.lahand/ we will prevailל֔וֹl/oto <the>/ himוְנִקְחָ֥הve./nik.Chahand/ we will take נִקְמָתֵ֖נוּnik.ma.Te./nuvengeance/ our מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃mi.Me./nufrom/ him

King James Version

For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

Cross-references

Psalms 41:9 Even my close friend whom I trusted, the one who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
Psalms 31:13 For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life.
Isaiah 29:21 those who indict a man with a word, who ensnare the mediator at the gate, and who with false charges deprive the innocent of justice.
Jeremiah 18:18 Then some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.”
Psalms 55:13 But it is you, a man like myself, my companion and close friend.
Psalms 64:2 Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of workers of iniquity,
Proverbs 10:18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
Jeremiah 6:25 Do not go out to the fields; do not walk the road. For the enemy has a sword; terror is on every side.
Ezekiel 22:9 Among you are slanderous men bent on bloodshed; within you are those who eat on the mountain shrines and commit acts of indecency.
Acts 24:13 Nor can they prove to you any of their charges against me.