And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies.

JEREMIAH 20:6KJV
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Jeremiah 20:6 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 20:6 mean?

Jeremiah 20:6 warns Pashur, a priest, that he and everyone living in his house will be taken as captives to Babylon, where Pashur will die and be buried, along with his friends to whom he falsely prophesied. The verse declares that Pashur’s lies will not protect him or those close to him from exile and death.

Jeremiah is speaking directly to Pashur after Pashur had punished him for prophesying disaster. Jeremiah announces that Pashur’s leadership and false messages will not save him; instead, he and his household will share the fate of exile. This verse is part of a confrontation where Jeremiah exposes the consequences of misleading the people with false hope.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 20:6

  • פַּשְׁחוּר (Pashur): This is the personal name of the priest being addressed, making the warning very direct and personal.
  • יֵשֵׁב (dwell): Refers to those who live in Pashur’s house, emphasizing that the consequences extend to his entire household, not just himself.
  • שֶׁקֶר (lies; transliteration: sheqer): The word for “lies” highlights that the false prophecies Pashur gave were not just mistakes but deliberate untruths, which is why the judgment is so severe.

Why Jeremiah 20:6 matters

  • Jeremiah 20:6 clarifies that spiritual leaders are held accountable for misleading others, especially when their words contradict God’s message.
  • The verse shows that consequences for falsehood can affect not only the individual but also their family and close associates.
  • This warning fits into the larger theme of Jeremiah, where false security and denial of coming judgment are exposed as dangerous and ultimately fatal.