Jeremiah 20:15 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 20:15 mean?

Jeremiah 20:15 describes Jeremiah cursing the person who brought his father the news of his birth, saying, “A man child is born unto thee,” and made his father very glad. Jeremiah is expressing deep anguish, wishing that even the announcement of his birth had never brought happiness.

Jeremiah is speaking in a moment of intense personal pain, lamenting his own existence after facing rejection and persecution for his prophetic message. The verse shows Jeremiah’s emotional struggle, as he looks back to the very beginning of his life and wishes that the joy surrounding his birth had never happened, reflecting the depth of his despair.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 20:15

• “Cursed” (אָרוּר, ’arur): This word is a strong term for invoking misfortune or judgment. Jeremiah uses it to express the depth of his sorrow, not against a specific enemy, but even against the messenger of his own birth.
• “Tidings” (בָּשַׂר, basar): This word means to bring news, often good news. Here, it highlights the irony that the good news of Jeremiah’s birth is now something he wishes had never happened.
• “Very glad” (שָׂמַח, samach): This word means to rejoice or be glad. Jeremiah’s mention of his father’s joy underscores how far he feels from that happiness now.

Why Jeremiah 20:15 matters

• Jeremiah’s words show the depth of his emotional suffering, helping readers understand the real cost and loneliness that sometimes comes with faithfully speaking hard truths.
• The verse connects to the wider passage where Jeremiah laments his calling and life, making his struggle relatable for anyone who has felt overwhelmed by hardship.
• By cursing even the messenger of his birth, Jeremiah’s lament goes beyond self-pity to a poetic expression of total despair, which is rare and striking in the Bible.