Cursed be the day
The Hebrew word for "cursed" is "אָרוּר" (arur), which conveys a strong denunciation or expression of deep regret. In the ancient Near Eastern context, curses were serious pronouncements that invoked divine disfavor. Jeremiah's use of this word reflects his profound anguish and despair. This is not a casual lament but a deep, heartfelt cry from a prophet who feels overwhelmed by the burden of his calling. The day of one's birth is typically a time of joy and celebration, yet Jeremiah's inversion of this sentiment underscores the depth of his suffering.

I was born
The act of being born is a significant event in biblical narratives, often associated with divine purpose and destiny. In Hebrew, "יָלַד" (yalad) is the root for "born," emphasizing the beginning of life. Jeremiah's lament here is not just about his physical birth but also about the life of hardship and persecution he has faced as a prophet. His birth, which should have been a blessing, feels like a curse due to the relentless opposition he encounters.

May the day
The repetition of "day" in this verse highlights the specific moment in time that Jeremiah wishes to erase. In biblical terms, a "day" can symbolize a period of divine action or intervention. Jeremiah's wish to nullify the day of his birth suggests a desire to escape the divine mission that has brought him so much pain. This reflects a common human struggle with accepting difficult callings or circumstances that seem overwhelming.

my mother bore me
The phrase "my mother bore me" uses the Hebrew root "יָלַד" (yalad) again, emphasizing the intimate and personal nature of birth. In ancient Israel, motherhood was revered, and the act of bearing a child was seen as a blessing from God. Jeremiah's lament, therefore, is not just a personal cry but also a cultural and theological paradox. He is questioning the very blessing of life that is celebrated in his culture, highlighting the depth of his internal conflict.

never be blessed
The Hebrew word for "blessed" is "בָּרוּךְ" (baruch), which is often used to invoke divine favor and prosperity. Jeremiah's wish that the day of his birth "never be blessed" is a stark reversal of the typical Jewish blessing. This reflects his profound sense of isolation and despair, feeling as though his life has brought more curse than blessing. In a broader theological context, this lament can be seen as a precursor to the hope of redemption, as it acknowledges the brokenness of the world and the need for divine intervention.

1. Jeremiah
The prophet who is expressing deep anguish and despair in this verse. He is known for his prophecies of judgment and his personal struggles with the burden of his calling.

2. The Day of Birth
This is a metaphorical reference to the day Jeremiah was born, which he curses due to his overwhelming suffering and the rejection he faces as a prophet.

3. Jeremiah's Mother
While not directly involved in the events of this verse, she is mentioned as the one who bore Jeremiah, highlighting the personal nature of his lament.

4. Jeremiah's Prophetic Ministry
The broader context of Jeremiah's life, marked by conflict, persecution, and the heavy burden of delivering God's messages to a rebellious people.

5. The City of Jerusalem
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Jerusalem is the primary setting of Jeremiah's ministry and the focus of many of his prophecies.The Reality of Despair
Even the most faithful servants of God can experience deep despair and anguish. This is a reminder that such feelings are part of the human experience and not necessarily a sign of weak faith.

The Burden of Prophetic Ministry
Jeremiah's lament underscores the heavy burden that comes with being a messenger of God, especially when the message is one of judgment and repentance.

The Importance of Lament
Lament is a biblical way to express grief and sorrow. It is a form of prayer that acknowledges pain while still turning to God.

Hope Beyond Despair
While Jeremiah curses the day of his birth, his life and writings also point to the hope and restoration that God promises. Believers are encouraged to look beyond their current suffering to the hope found in God.

Empathy and Support
Understanding Jeremiah's despair can help believers empathize with others who are suffering and offer support and encouragement.(14) Cursed be the day wherein I was born . . .--The apparent strangeness of this relapse from the confidence of the two previous verses into a despair yet deeper than before is best explained by the supposition that it is in no sense part of the same poem or meditation, but a distinct fragment belonging to the same period, and placed in its present position by Jeremiah himself, or by the first editor of his prophecies. By some, indeed, it has been thought that we have here an accidental dislocation, and that Jeremiah 20:14-18 should stand before Jeremiah 20:7. The prophet utters a cry of anguish yet keener than that which now precedes it, and borrows the language of that cry from the book of Job (Jeremiah 3:3). The prophet turned in the depth of his suffering to the words in which the great representative of sufferers had "cursed his day." The question whether we are to blame or to palliate such utterances, how far they harmonise with Christian feeling, is one on which we need not dwell long. It is enough to note (1) that, while we cannot make for them the half-evasive apology which sees in Jeremiah's prayers against his enemies, and in the imprecatory psalms, prophecies rather than prayers, they indicate the same temper as those psalms and prayers indicate when taken in their natural sense, and so help us to understand them; and (2) that in such cases, while we give thanks that we have the blessing of a higher law and the example of a higher life, we are not called upon to apportion praise or blame. It is enough to reverence, to sympathise, to be silent.

Verses 14-18. - Jeremiah curses the day of his birth. The passage is a further development of the complaint in Jeremiah 15:10, and stands in no connection with the consolatory close of the preceding passage. There is a very striking parallel in Job 3:3-12, and the question cannot be evaded, Which is the original? It is difficult to believe that Jeremiah copied from an earlier poem. Deep emotion expresses itself in language suggested by the moment; and, even after retouching his discourses, Jeremiah would leave much of the original expression. But impressions of this sort cannot be unreservedly trusted. The argument from parallel passages is only a subsidiary one in the determination of the date of books.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Cursed be
אָר֣וּר (’ā·rūr)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 779: To execrate

the day
הַיּ֔וֹם (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

I was born!
יֻלַּ֖דְתִּי (yul·laḏ·tî)
Verb - QalPass - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage

May the day
י֛וֹם (yō·wm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

my mother
אִמִּ֖י (’im·mî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )

bore me
יְלָדַ֥תְנִי (yə·lā·ḏaṯ·nî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 3205: To bear young, to beget, medically, to act as midwife, to show lineage

never
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

be blessed.
בָרֽוּךְ׃ (ḇā·rūḵ)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 20:14 Cursed be the day in which (Jer.)