Jeremiah 20:3 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 20:3 mean?

Jeremiah 20:3 describes how, the day after Jeremiah had been put in the stocks, Pashur released him, and Jeremiah told Pashur that the LORD had given him a new name: Magormissabib. This new name, given by Jeremiah, signals a message from God about Pashur’s future.

In this verse, Jeremiah is speaking directly to Pashur, a temple official who had punished him for prophesying. The scene takes place right after Jeremiah’s release from public humiliation. By renaming Pashur as "Magormissabib," which means something like "terror on every side," Jeremiah is declaring that Pashur will face fear and trouble all around him, as a sign of God’s judgment.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 20:3

• פשחור (Pashur, transliterated "Pashur"): This is the original name of the temple official who opposed Jeremiah. The name itself does not carry a negative meaning, but Jeremiah’s renaming of him is significant.
• מגור מסביב (Magormissabib, transliterated "Magor-missabib"): This phrase means "terror on every side." Jeremiah uses it as a prophetic name, showing that Pashur will be surrounded by fear and disaster, not safety or honor.
• מוציא (forth, transliterated "yatsa’"): This word means "to bring out" or "to release." It highlights that Pashur had the authority to release Jeremiah from the stocks, but not from God’s message.

Why Jeremiah 20:3 matters

• Jeremiah 20:3 shows that even after being punished, Jeremiah remains bold and faithful to his calling, delivering God’s message directly to his persecutor.
• The renaming of Pashur to Magormissabib is a turning point, marking Pashur not as a respected leader but as someone who will experience fear and judgment, which sets up the following verses.
• This verse connects to the larger theme in Jeremiah of God’s prophets facing opposition, yet still speaking truth, and it signals that those who oppose God’s message cannot escape accountability.