Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.

JEREMIAH 15:10KJV
Know the Bible

Jeremiah 15:10 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 15:10 mean?

Jeremiah 15:10 shows the prophet Jeremiah lamenting his own birth, feeling overwhelmed by conflict and rejection from everyone around him, even though he has done nothing to deserve it. Jeremiah says he has not taken advantage of others through lending at interest, yet people still curse him.

Jeremiah is speaking to God, expressing deep personal sorrow and frustration over the hostility he faces as God’s messenger. The verse highlights Jeremiah’s isolation and the heavy burden of being a prophet during a time when his warnings are unwelcome. Jeremiah’s words reveal his sense of being unfairly targeted and misunderstood by his community.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 15:10

  • "Woe" (אוֹי, 'oy'): This is a strong cry of distress or grief, showing how deeply troubled Jeremiah feels about his situation.
  • "Strife" (רִיב, riv) and "contention" (מָדוֹן, madon): These words point to ongoing conflict and argument. Jeremiah feels his entire life is marked by disputes, not because of his actions, but because of his calling.
  • "Usury" (נֶשֶׁךְ, neshekh): This refers to lending money at interest, which was often seen as taking advantage of others. Jeremiah insists he has not done this, stressing his innocence in the face of people’s anger.
  • "Curse" (קָלַל, qalal): This word means to treat with contempt or to speak evil of someone. Jeremiah feels that, despite his innocence, everyone looks down on him or wishes him harm.

Why Jeremiah 15:10 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that Jeremiah was disliked because of personal wrongdoing; instead, his suffering comes from faithfully delivering God’s message.
  • The verse emphasizes the loneliness and cost of being a prophet, especially when the message is unpopular.
  • Jeremiah’s honest lament connects to the wider passage, showing the emotional toll of his ministry and helping readers understand the human side of prophetic work.

Where else these words appear

“usury” Hebrew H5383 · used in 12 verses

  • Exodus 22:25 If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
  • Deuteronomy 24:11 Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee.
  • Nehemiah 5:11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.

“contention” Hebrew H4066 · used in 18 verses

  • Psalms 80:6 Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.
  • Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
  • Proverbs 26:20 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.

“Woe” Hebrew H188 · used in 23 verses

  • Numbers 21:29 Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: he hath given his sons that escaped, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites.
  • Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
  • Jeremiah 45:3 Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.

“strife” Hebrew H7379 · used in 61 verses

  • Genesis 13:7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
  • Job 31:13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
  • Proverbs 26:21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.