And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:

JEREMIAH 26:20KJV
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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.

Where else these words appear

“Kirjathjearim” Hebrew H7157 · used in 19 verses

  • Joshua 9:17 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
  • Judges 18:12 And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.
  • 1 Chronicles 2:53 And the families of Kirjathjearim; the Ithrites, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; of them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites.

“Urijah” Hebrew H223 · used in 33 verses

  • 2 Samuel 11:3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
  • 2 Samuel 11:16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.
  • 2 Kings 16:11 And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus.

“Shemaiah” Hebrew H8098 · used in 39 verses

  • 1 Kings 12:22 But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
  • 2 Chronicles 11:2 But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
  • Nehemiah 6:10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to slay thee; yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.

“prophesied” Hebrew H5012 · used in 102 verses

  • Numbers 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
  • Jeremiah 20:1 Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, who was also chief governor in the house of the LORD, heard that Jeremiah prophesied these things.
  • Ezekiel 13:16 To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.