JEREMIAH 18:20

KING JAMES VERSION (KJV)

TRANSLATION, MEANING, CONTEXT

To get what Jeremiah 18:20 means based on its source text, scroll down or follow these links for the original scriptural meaning , biblical context and relative popularity.

“Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.”

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Popularity relative to other verses in Jeremiah chapter 18 using average monthly Google searches.

Jeremiah 18:20 Translation & Meaning

What does this verse really mean? Use this table to get a word-for-word translation of the original Hebrew Scripture. This shows the English words related to the source biblical texts along with brief definitions. Follow the buttons in the right-hand column for detailed definitions and verses that use the same root words. Use this reference information to gain deeper insight into the Bible and enrich your understanding. Information based on Strong's Exhaustive Concordance[1].

KJV Verse Original Hebrew Meaning/ Definition
This is a simplified translation of the original Hebrew word. Follow the buttons on the right to get more detail.
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Shall evil רָעָ֔ה Bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) evil
be recompensed הַיְשֻׁלַּ֤ם To be safe (in mind, body or estate); figuratively, to be (causatively, make) completed; by implication, to be friendly; by extension, to reciprocate (in various applications) recompensed
for תַּֽחַת The bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc for
good? טוֹבָה֙ Good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well) good
for כִּֽי (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed for
they have digged כָר֥וּ Properly, to dig; figuratively, to plot; generally, to bore or open digged
a pit שׁוּחָ֖ה A chasm pit
for my soul. לְנַפְשִׁ֑י Properly, a breathing creature, i.e., animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental) soul
Remember זְכֹ֣ר׀ Properly, to mark (so as to be recognized), i.e., to remember; by implication, to mention; to be male Remember
that I stood עָמְדִ֣י To stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) stood
before לְפָנֶ֗יךָ The face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.) before
thee to speak לְדַבֵּ֤ר Perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue speak
good טוֹבָ֔ה Good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well) good
for עֲלֵיהֶם֙ Above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications for
them, to turn away לְהָשִׁ֥יב To turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again turn away
and (No Hebrew definition. English implied.)
thy wrath חֲמָתְךָ֖ Heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever) wrath
from them. חֲמָתְךָ֖ Heat; figuratively, anger, poison (from its fever) from them

Verse Context

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  • 18  Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.

  • 19  Give heed to me, O Lord, and hearken to the voice of them that contend with me.

  • 20  Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.

  • 21  Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle.

  • 22  Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.




Sources:

The King James Bible (1611) and Strong's Concordance (1890) with Hebrew and Greek dictionaries are sourced from the BibleForgeDB database (https://github.com/bibleforge) within the BibleForge project (http://bibleforge.com). Popularity rankings are based on search volume data from the Google AdWords Keyword Planner tool.


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