Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.
JEREMIAH 17:18KJVWhat does Jeremiah 17:18 mean?
Jeremiah 17:18 is a prayer where Jeremiah asks God to let his persecutors be put to shame and dismayed, but to spare him from that same disgrace and fear; he also asks God to bring judgment and a severe punishment on those who oppose him. Jeremiah is seeking protection for himself and justice against those who are causing him harm.
Jeremiah, a prophet facing strong opposition and threats from his own people, is speaking directly to God. He is honest about his desire for God to act against those who are persecuting him, using strong language to describe the judgment he hopes they will face. This verse shows Jeremiah’s trust in God’s justice and his vulnerability as someone suffering for delivering God’s message.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 17:18
- "Confounded" (בּוּשׁ, bosh): This word means to be put to shame or disgraced. Jeremiah asks that his enemies, not himself, experience this public humiliation.
- "Persecute" (רָדַף, radaph): This word means to pursue or harass. Jeremiah is specifically talking about those who are actively seeking to harm him.
- "Dismayed" (חָתַת, chatat): This word carries the sense of being shattered or terrified. Jeremiah wants his enemies to be overwhelmed and frightened, but asks God to keep him from that same fear.
- "Double destruction" (מִשְׁנֶה שֶׁבֶר, mishneh shever): This phrase means a punishment that is doubled or especially severe. Jeremiah is not just asking for ordinary justice, but for a particularly strong response from God against those who oppose him.
Why Jeremiah 17:18 matters
- Jeremiah 17:18 clears up that Jeremiah is not seeking personal revenge, but is appealing to God as the ultimate judge to handle those who are unjustly attacking him.
- The verse highlights the emotional strain and isolation Jeremiah feels as a prophet, making his plea for protection and justice more personal and relatable.
- This prayer connects to the wider passage, where Jeremiah is wrestling with the cost of faithfully speaking God’s word in a hostile environment, showing both his dependence on God and his honest expression of fear and hope.