Jeremiah 26:20 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 26:20 mean?

Jeremiah 26:20 introduces another prophet named Urijah, who, like Jeremiah, spoke messages from God against Jerusalem and the land of Judah. The verse points out that Urijah’s prophecies matched Jeremiah’s warnings, showing that Jeremiah was not alone in his message.

This verse is part of a narrative where Jeremiah is on trial for his life because of his prophecies. The mention of Urijah, the son of Shemaiah from Kirjathjearim, shows that there were others who also spoke boldly in the name of the LORD (H3068), and faced similar dangers. The verse sets up a comparison between Jeremiah and Urijah, highlighting the risks prophets took when delivering unpopular messages.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 26:20

• "Prophesied" (נָבָא, nava’, H5012) means to speak as a prophet or deliver a message believed to be from God. The repetition of this word in the verse emphasizes that Urijah’s role and actions were the same as Jeremiah’s.
• "In the name" (בְּשֵׁם, b’shem, H8034) refers to speaking with the authority or on behalf of the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH, H3068). This stresses that Urijah’s message was not his own opinion, but claimed divine origin.
• "Against this city" (עַל־הָעִיר, al-ha’ir, H5892) and "against this land" (עַל־הָאָרֶץ, al-ha’aretz, H776) make clear that the prophecies were warnings of judgment, not general encouragement or advice.

Why Jeremiah 26:20 matters

• This verse clarifies that Jeremiah was not the only prophet warning Jerusalem, countering any idea that his message was unique or isolated.
• By naming Urijah and his hometown, the verse grounds the story in real people and places, making the historical setting more concrete.
• The mention of Urijah sets up the following verses, where his fate is contrasted with Jeremiah’s, highlighting the dangers faced by those who spoke difficult truths.