Jeremiah 20:18

Jeremiah 20:18

Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?

a. ASV: Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?

b. YLT: Why is this? from the womb I have come out, To see labour and sorrow, Yea, consumed in shame are my days!

c. Classic Amplified: Why did I come out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed in shame?

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

e. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/ Writings: Why is it that I left the womb, only to see the distress and grief and have my days end in shame?

1. “Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labour and sorrow…”

a. Wherefore [Strong: 4100 mah maw or mah {mah}; or ma {maw}; or ma {mah}; also meh {meh}; a primitive particle; properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and even relatively, that which); often used with prefixes in various adverbial or conjunctive senses:--how (long, oft, (- soever)), (no-)thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why.]

b. [Strong: 2088 zeh zeh a primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that:--he, X hence, X here, it(-self), X now, X of him, the one...the other, X than the other, (X out of) the (self) same, such (a one) that, these, this (hath, man), on this side...on that side, X thus, very, which.]

c. came I forth [Strong: 3318  yâtsâʼ, yaw-tsaw'; a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.:—× after, appear, × assuredly, bear out, × begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, × scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, × still, × surely, take forth (out), at any time, × to (and fro), utter.]

d. [out of the] womb [Strong: 7358 rechem, rekh'-em; from H7355; (compare H7356) the womb:—matrix, womb.]

e. [to] see [Strong: 7200 râʼâh, raw-aw'; a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative):—advise self, appear, approve, behold, × certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, × indeed, × joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, × be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), × sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, × surely, × think, view, visions.]

f. labor [Strong: 5999 ʻâmâl, aw-mawl'; from H5998; toil, i.e. wearing effort; hence, worry, whether of body or mind:—grievance(-vousness), iniquity, labour, mischief, miserable(-sery), pain(-ful), perverseness, sorrow, toil, travail, trouble, wearisome, wickedness.]

g. [and] sorrow [Strong: 3015 yâgôwn, yaw-gohn'; from H3013; affliction:—grief, sorrow.]

2. “...that my days should be consumed with shame?

a. [that my] days [Strong: 3117 yôwm, yome; from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb):—age, always, chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), elder, × end, evening, (for) ever(-lasting, -more), × full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, old, outlived, perpetually, presently, remaineth, × required, season, × since, space, then, (process of) time, as at other times, in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), × whole ( age), (full) year(-ly), younger.]

b. [should be] consumed [Strong: 3615 kâlâh, kaw-law'; a primitive root; to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume):—accomplish, cease, consume (away), determine, destroy (utterly), be (when... were) done, (be an) end (of), expire, (cause to) fail, faint, finish, fulfil, × fully, × have, leave (off), long, bring to pass, wholly reap, make clean riddance, spend, quite take away, waste.]

c. [with] shame [Strong: 1322 bôsheth, bo'-sheth; from H954; shame (the feeling and the condition, as well as its cause); by implication (specifically) an idol:—ashamed, confusion, greatly, (put to) shame(-ful thing).]

1). Jeremiah became depressed because of the persecution and ridicule he received because he declared the word of the Lord. This is similar to what happened to Elijah after Elijah declared the word of God and God showed himself in a mighty demonstration of power. Jezebel’s response was she sent a message to Elijah that he would be dead the next day.

a). 1 Kings 19:1-4 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.

19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.

19:3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.

19:4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.