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Read the Bible

Brenton's Septuagint

Jeremiah 20:18

Why is it that I came forth of the womb to see troubles and distresses, and my days are spent in shame?

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Birthday;   Jeremiah;   Life;   Murmuring;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Suffering;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Abortion;   Prayer;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Jeremiah;   Prayer;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jeremiah;   Job;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Shame;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Why did I come out of the wombto see only struggle and sorrow,to end my life in shame?
Hebrew Names Version
Why came I forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
King James Version
Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
English Standard Version
Why did I come out from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?
New American Standard Bible
Why did I ever come out of the womb To look at trouble and sorrow, So that my days have been spent in shame?
New Century Version
Why did I have to come out of my mother's body? All I have known is trouble and sorrow, and my life will end in shame.
Amplified Bible
Why did I come out of the womb To see trouble and sorrow, So that my days have been filled with shame?
World English Bible
Why came I forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
Geneva Bible (1587)
How is it, that I came forth of the wombe, to see labour and sorowe, that my dayes shoulde be consumed with shame?
Legacy Standard Bible
Why did I ever come forth from the wombTo look on trouble and sorrow,So that my days have been spent in shame?
Berean Standard Bible
Why did I come out of the womb to see only trouble and sorrow, and to end my days in shame?
Contemporary English Version
Why did I have to be born? Was it just to suffer and die in shame?
Complete Jewish Bible
Why did I have to emerge from the womb, just to see toil and sorrow, and end my days in shame?
Darby Translation
Wherefore came I forth from the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed in shame?
Easy-to-Read Version
Why did I have to come out of her body? All I have seen is trouble and sorrow, and my life will end in shame.
George Lamsa Translation
Why did I come forth out of the womb to see toil and sorrow? My days are spent in shame.
Good News Translation
Why was I born? Was it only to have trouble and sorrow, to end my life in disgrace?
Lexham English Bible
Why did I come out from the womb, to see toil, and sorrow, and to end my days in shame?
Literal Translation
Why did I come forth from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and my days consumed in shame?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wherfore came I forth off my mothers wombe? To haue experience of laboure and sorowe? and to lede my life with shame?
American Standard Version
Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
Bible in Basic English
Why did I come from my mother's body to see pain and sorrow, so that my days might be wasted with shame?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed in shame?
King James Version (1611)
Wherefore came I forth out of the wombe to see labour and sorrow, that my daies should be consumed with shame?
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wherefore came I foorth of my mothers wombe? to haue experience of labour and sorowe, and to leade my lyfe with shame?
English Revised Version
Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whi yede Y out of the wombe, that Y schulde se trauel and sorewe, and that mi daies schulen be waastid in schenschipe?
Update Bible Version
Why did I come forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
Webster's Bible Translation
Why was I brought into the world to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?
New English Translation
Why did I ever come forth from my mother's womb? All I experience is trouble and grief, and I spend my days in shame.
New King James Version
Why did I come forth from the womb to see labor and sorrow, That my days should be consumed with shame?
New Living Translation
Why was I ever born? My entire life has been filled with trouble, sorrow, and shame.
New Life Bible
Why was I ever born to see trouble and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?
New Revised Standard
Why did I come forth from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Wherefore was it - That from the womb, I came forth, to see labour and pain; and That in shame should my days be consumed!
Douay-Rheims Bible
Why came I out of the womb, to see labour and sorrow, and that my days should be spent in confusion?
Revised Standard Version
Why did I come forth from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?
Young's Literal Translation
Why [is] this? from the womb I have come out, To see labour and sorrow, Yea, consumed in shame are my days!
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Why did I ever come forth from the womb To look on trouble and sorrow, So that my days have been spent in shame?

Contextual Overview

14 Cursed be the day wherein I was born: the day wherein my mother brought me forth, let it not be blessed. 15 Cursed be the man who brought the glad tidings to my father, saying, A male child is born to thee. 16 Let that man rejoice as the cities which the Lord overthrew in wrath, and repented not: let him hear crying in the morning, and loud lamentation at noon; 17 because he slew me not in the womb, and my mother became not my tomb, and her womb always great with me. 18 Why is it that I came forth of the womb to see troubles and distresses, and my days are spent in shame?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

came: Job 3:20, Job 14:1, Job 14:13, Lamentations 3:1

to see: Jeremiah 8:18, Genesis 3:16-19, Psalms 90:10, Lamentations 1:12, John 16:20, Hebrews 10:36

with: Psalms 69:19, Isaiah 1:6, Isaiah 51:7, Acts 5:41, 1 Corinthians 4:9-13, 2 Timothy 1:12, Hebrews 11:36, Hebrews 12:2, Hebrews 13:13, 1 Peter 4:14-16

Reciprocal: Leviticus 3:14 - the fat that covereth Numbers 11:15 - let me not Ecclesiastes 4:3 - better Isaiah 15:4 - his

Cross-References

Genesis 12:17
And God afflicted Pharao with great and severe afflictions, and his house, because of Sara, Abram’s wife.
Genesis 16:2
And Sara said to Abram, Behold, the Lord has restrained me from bearing, go therefore in to my maid, that I may get children for myself through her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sara.
Genesis 20:7
But now return the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live; but if thou restore her not, know that thou shalt die and all thine.
Genesis 30:2
And Jacob was angry with Rachel, and said to her, Am I in the place of God, who has deprived thee of the fruit of the womb?
1 Samuel 1:6
For the Lord gave her no child in her affliction, and according to the despondency of her affliction; and she was dispirited on this account, that the Lord shut up her womb so as not to give her a child.
1 Samuel 5:10
And they send away the ark of God to Ascalon; and it came to pass when the ark of God went into Ascalon, that the men of Ascalon cried out, saying, Why have ye brought back the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow,.... "Labour" in performing his work and office as a prophet; and "sorrow" in suffering reproach, contempt, and persecution for it; which to avoid, he wishes he had never been born: a sign of a very fretful and impatient spirit, and of a carnal frame. Jarchi thinks this refers to the destruction of the temple;

that my days should be consumed with shame? through the bad usage of him, the reproach that was cast upon him, and the contempt he was had in for prophesying in the name of the Lord. All this shows that there is sin in the best of men, and what they are when left to themselves; how weak, foolish, and sinful they appear. And Jeremiah recording these his sins and failings, is an argument of the uprightness and sincerity of the man, and of the truth of Scripture.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

In the rest of the chapter we have an outbreak of deep emotion, of which the first part ends in a cry of hope Jeremiah 20:13, followed nevertheless by curses upon the day of his birth. Was this the result of feelings wounded by the indignities of a public scourging and a night spent in the stocks? Or was it not the mental agony of knowing that his ministry had (as it seemed) failed? He stands indeed before the multitudes with unbending strength, warning prince and people with unwavering constancy of the national ruin that would follow necessarily upon their sins. Before God he stood crushed by the thought that he had labored in vain, and spent his strength for nothing.

It is important to notice that with this outpouring of sorrow Jeremiah’s ministry virtually closed. Though he appeared again at Jerusalem toward the end of Jehoiakim’s reign, yet it was no longer to say that by repentance the national ruin might be averted. During the fourth year of Jehoiakim, the die was cast, and all the prophet henceforward could do, was to alleviate a punishment that was inevitable.

Jeremiah 20:7

Thou hast deceived me ... - What Jeremiah refers to is the joy with which he had accepted the prophetic office Jeremiah 15:16, occasioned perhaps by taking the promises in Jeremiah 1:18 too literally as a pledge that he would succeed.

Thou art stronger than I - Rather, “Thou hast taken hold of me.” God had taken Jeremiah in so firm a grasp that he could not escape from the necessity of prophesying. He would have resisted, but the hand of God prevailed.

I am in derision daily - literally, “I am become a laughing-stock all the day, i. e., peripetually.

Jeremiah 20:8

Translate,” For as often as I speak, I must complain; I call out, Violence and spoil.”

From the time Jeremiah began to prophesy, he had had reason for nothing but lamentation. Daily with louder voice and more desperate energy he must call out “violence and spoil;” as a perpetual protest against the manner in which the laws of justice were violated by powerful men among the people.

Jeremiah 20:9

Seeing that his mission was useless, Jeremiah determined to withdraw from it.

I could not stay - Rather, “I prevailed not,” did not succeed. See Jeremiah 20:7.

Jeremiah 20:10

The defaming - Rather, “the talking.” The word refers to people whispering in twos and threes apart; in this case plotting against Jeremiah. Compare Mark 14:58.

Report ... - Rather, “Do you report, and we will report him: i. e., they encourage one another to give information against Jeremiah.

My familiars - literally, “the men of my peace” Psalms 41:9. In the East the usual salutation is “Peace be to thee:” and the answer, “And to thee peace.” Thus, the phrase rather means acquaintances, than familiar friends.

Enticed - literally, “persuaded, misled,” the same word as “deceived Jeremiah 20:7.” Compare Mark 12:13-17.

Jeremiah 20:11

A mighty terrible one - Rather, “a terrible warrior.” The mighty One Isaiah 9:6 who is on his side is a terror to them. This change of feeling was the effect of faith, enabling him to be content with calmly doing his duty, and leaving the result to God.

For ... - Rather, “because they have not acted wisely (Jeremiah 10:21 note), with an everlasting disgrace that shall never be forgotten.”

Jeremiah 20:12

This verse is repeated almost verbatim from Jeremiah 11:20.

Jeremiah 20:13

Sing - Jeremiah’s outward circumstances remained the same, but he found peace in leaving his cause in faith to God.

Jeremiah 20:14

This sudden outbreak of impatience after the happy faith of Jeremiah 20:13 has led to much discussion. Possibly there was more of sorrow in the words than of impatience; sorrow that the earnest labor of a life had been in vain. Yet the form of the expression is fierce and indignant; and the impatience of Jeremiah is that part of his character which is most open to blame. He does not reach that elevation which is set before us by Him who is the perfect pattern of all righteousness. Our Lord was a prophet whose mission to the men of His generation equally failed, and His sorrow was even more deep; but it never broke forth in imprecations. See Luke 19:41-42.

Jeremiah 20:16

The cry - is the sound of the lamentation Jeremiah 20:8; “the shouting” is the alarm of war.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Jeremiah 20:18. Wherefore came I forth — It would have been well had I never been born, as I have neither comfort in my life, nor comfort in my work.


 
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