And let that man be as the cities which the LORD overthrew, and repented not: and let him hear the cry in the morning, and the shouting at noontide;

JEREMIAH 20:16KJV
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Jeremiah 20:16 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 20:16 mean?

Jeremiah 20:16 is a curse spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, wishing that the man who announced his birth would suffer the same fate as cities destroyed by the LORD, hearing only cries of distress and alarm instead of peace. Jeremiah is expressing deep anguish, longing that the bringer of his birth news would experience relentless disaster and terror.

Jeremiah is speaking out of personal pain and despair, feeling overwhelmed by the suffering he faces as a prophet. The verse uses strong imagery from Israel’s history—cities overthrown by the LORD (H3068)—to communicate the severity of the curse. Jeremiah wishes that this man would hear constant cries (H2201) and shouts (H8643), symbolizing a life filled with turmoil from morning (H1242) to noontide (H6256, H6672), with no relief.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 20:16

  • LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH, H3068): This is the personal name of Israel’s God, emphasizing that the destruction Jeremiah refers to is not random but comes directly from God’s judgment.
  • Overthrew (הָפַךְ, hāphakh, H2015): This word often describes the complete and sudden destruction of cities like Sodom and Gomorrah, highlighting the total ruin Jeremiah wishes upon the man.
  • Cry (זְעָקָה, ze‘aqāh, H2201) and Shouting (תְּרוּעָה, teru‘āh, H8643): These words point to the sounds of distress and alarm during attack or disaster, showing Jeremiah’s wish for unending fear and chaos for this person.
  • Morning (בֹּקֶר, boqer, H1242) and Noontide (צָהֳרַיִם, tsohorayim, H6672): Mentioning both times of day stresses that the suffering would be constant, with no break from trouble.

Why Jeremiah 20:16 matters

  • Jeremiah’s words show the depth of his emotional and spiritual struggle, making his pain relatable and real rather than distant or abstract.
  • The verse connects Jeremiah’s personal suffering to the larger story of God’s judgment in Israel’s history, using familiar images to intensify his lament.
  • Understanding the original Hebrew words clarifies that Jeremiah is not just wishing harm, but invoking the most complete form of disaster known to his hearers, showing how desperate and isolated he feels.

Where else these words appear

“cry” Hebrew H2201 · used in 18 verses

  • Genesis 18:20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
  • Job 16:18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place.
  • Jeremiah 18:22 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.

“noontide” Hebrew H6672 · used in 24 verses

  • Genesis 6:16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
  • 1 Kings 18:29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
  • Song of Solomon 1:7 Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: for why should I be as one that turneth aside by the flocks of thy companions?

“shouting” Hebrew H8643 · used in 33 verses

  • Leviticus 23:24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
  • 1 Samuel 4:6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.
  • Psalms 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

“overthrew” Hebrew H2015 · used in 92 verses

  • Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
  • 1 Kings 22:34 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
  • Psalms 105:29 He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.