Jeremiah 20:10

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

I hear many whispering, 'Terror on every side! Report him! Let’s report him!' All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, 'Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him.'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כִּ֣י שָׁמַ֜עְתִּי דִּבַּ֣ת רַבִּים֮ מָג֣וֹר מִסָּבִיב֒ הַגִּ֙ידוּ֙ וְנַגִּידֶ֔נּוּ כֹּ֚ל אֱנ֣וֹשׁ שְׁלוֹמִ֔י שֹׁמְרֵ֖י צַלְעִ֑י אוּלַ֤י יְפֻתֶּה֙ וְנ֣וּכְלָה ל֔וֹ וְנִקְחָ֥ה נִקְמָתֵ֖נוּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃

Transliteration

For šāmaʿtî dibbat rabbîm, māgôr missābîb, haggîdû and wənaggîdennû, all ʾĕnôš šəlômî šōmərê ṣalʿî; perhaps yəputteh and wənûḵəlāh to him, and wəniqqəḥāh niqmātēnû from him.

Grammar Details

• *kî*: conjunction - for/because
• *šāmaʿtî*: qal perfect, 1st common singular - I have heard
• *dibbat*: noun, feminine singular construct - evil report of/slander of
• *rabbîm*: adjective, masculine plural - many
• *māgôr*: noun, masculine singular - terror
• *missābîb*: preposition + adverb - from around/all around
• *haggîdû*: hiphil imperative, masculine plural - declare/report
• *wənaggîdennû*: waw + hiphil imperfect, 1st common plural with 3rd masculine singular suffix - and we will report him
• *ʾĕnôš*: noun, masculine singular construct - man of
• *šəlômî*: noun, masculine singular construct with 1st common singular suffix - my peace
• *šōmərê*: qal participle, masculine plural construct - watchers of
• *ṣalʿî*: noun, feminine singular construct with 1st common singular suffix - my limping/stumbling
• *ʾûlay*: adverb - perhaps
• *yəputteh*: pual imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - he will be enticed
• *wənûḵəlāh*: waw + qal imperfect, 1st common plural - and we will prevail
• *wəniqqəḥāh*: waw + qal imperfect, 1st common plural cohortative - and let us take
• *niqmātēnû*: noun, feminine singular construct with 1st common plural suffix - our vengeance
• *mimmennû*: preposition with 3rd masculine singular suffix - from him

Word Meanings

• *dibbat*: evil report/slander/whispering
• *māgôr missābîb*: terror on every side/fear all around
• *ʾĕnôš šəlômî*: men of my peace/my friends/those at peace with me
• *šōmərê ṣalʿî*: watchers of my limping/those who watch for my fall/those observing my weakness
• *yəputteh*: he will be enticed/persuaded/deceived
• *wənûḵəlāh*: we will prevail/overcome/succeed against
• *niqmātēnû*: our vengeance/revenge/retribution

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, they say, and we will report it. All my familiar friends watched for my faltering, saying, Perhaps he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  For I have heard the defaming of many, terror on every side. Denounce, and we will denounce him, [say] all my familiar friends, they that watch for my fall; peradventure he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  For why, I herde so many derisios and blasphemies, yee euen of myne owne companyons, and off soch as were conuersaunte with me: which wente aboute, to make me afrayed sayenge: vpon him, let vs go vpon him, to feare him, and make him holde his tonge: yt we maye ouercome him, and be avenged off him.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  For I had heard the railing of many, and feare on euery side. Declare, said they, and wee wil declare it: all my familiars watched for mine halting, saying, It may be that he is deceiued: so we shall preuaile against him, and we shal execute our vengeance vpon him.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Ueryly I hearde the euyll reportes of many, terrour was on euery side of me: complayne vpon hym say they, and we wyll tell his tale: Yea all myne owne companions, and suche as were conuersaunt with me, lay in wayte for my halting, saying: peraduenture he wylbe deceaued, and so shall we preuayle against hym, and be auenged of hym.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, [say they], and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, [saying], Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  For I have heard the defaming of many, terror on every side. Denounce, and we will denounce him, [say] all my familiar friends, those who watch for my fall; peradventure he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  For I have heard the evil report of many, Fear `is' round about: `Declare, and we declare it,' All mine allies are watching `for' my halting, `Perhaps he is enticed, and we prevail over him, And we take our vengeance out of him.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For I have heard the defaming of many, terror on every side. Denounce, and we will denounce him, `say' all my familiar friends, they that watch for my fall; peradventure he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For I have heard the defaming of many, terror on every side. Denounce, and we will denounce him, [say] all my familiar friends, they that watch for my fall; peradventure he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  For numbers of them say evil secretly in my hearing (there is fear on every side): they say, Come, let us give witness against him; all my nearest friends, who are watching for my fall, say, It may be that he will be taken by deceit, and we will get the better of him and give him punishment.

• World English Bible (2000)

  For I have heard the defaming of many, terror on every side. Denounce, and we will denounce him, [say] all my familiar friends, those who watch for my fall; perhaps he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  I hear many whispering words of intrigue against me. Those who would cause me terror are everywhere! They are saying,“Come on, let’s publicly denounce him!” All my so-called friends are just watching for something that would lead to my downfall. They say,“Perhaps he can be enticed into slipping up, so we can prevail over him and get our revenge on him.

Referenced Verses

• Ps 31:13 : 13 I am forgotten like someone dead and gone; I have become like a broken vessel.
• Ps 41:9 : 9 They say, 'A vile disease has overtaken him, and he will never rise again from where he lies.'
• Isa 29:21 : 21 Those who cause humanity to sin with a word, who set traps for the one who rebukes in the gate, and who twist justice by making the righteous nothing, will be judged.
• 1 Kgs 19:2 : 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, 'May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I don’t make your life like the life of one of them.'
• Jer 18:18 : 18 Then they said, 'Come, let's devise plans against Jeremiah, for instruction won't vanish from the priest, counsel from the wise, or a word from the prophet. Come, let's attack him with our words, and let's not pay attention to anything he says.'
• Ezek 22:9 : 9 The men in you who slander for the purpose of shedding blood eat at the high places; they commit lewdness in your midst.
• Neh 6:6-9 : 6 In it was written: "It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel. That is why you are building the wall, and you want to be their king, according to these reports. 7 You have even appointed prophets to proclaim on your behalf in Jerusalem, saying, 'There is a king in Judah!' Now this report will get back to the king. So come, let us consult together." 8 I sent a reply to him, saying, "No such things as you are saying have occurred. You are inventing them in your own mind." 9 For they were all trying to intimidate us, saying, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." But now, strengthen my hands! 10 I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, "Let us meet in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the temple doors, for they are coming to kill you—by night they are coming to kill you." 11 But I said, "Should a man like me run away? How can someone like me enter the temple and live? I will not go!" 12 I realized that God had not sent him, but he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by acting this way. Then they could give me a bad name and discredit me.
• Job 19:19 : 19 All my close friends abhor me, and those I loved have turned against me.
• Ps 64:2-4 : 2 Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; protect my life from the fear of the enemy. 3 Hide me from the secret counsel of evildoers, from the tumult of those who practice wickedness. 4 They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like bitter arrows.
• Prov 10:18 : 18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
• Ps 55:13-14 : 13 For it is not an enemy who insults me—then I could bear it; it is not one who hates me who has exalted himself against me—then I could hide from him. 14 But it is you, a man like me, my companion and my close friend.
• Jer 6:25 : 25 Do not go out into the fields or walk on the roads, for the enemy has a sword; there is terror on every side.
• Luke 11:53-54 : 53 While He was saying these things to them, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him fiercely and to question Him closely about many things, 54 lying in wait to catch Him in something He might say, to accuse Him.
• Luke 12:52-53 : 52 From now on there will be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. 53 They will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.
• Luke 20:20 : 20 They watched him closely and sent spies who pretended to be sincere, so that they might trap him in something he said and hand him over to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor.
• Acts 5:33 : 33 When they heard this, they were infuriated and wanted to kill them.
• Acts 6:11-15 : 11 Then they secretly instigated men to say, 'We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and against God.' 12 They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes. They came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. 13 They presented false witnesses who said, 'This man never stops speaking blasphemous words against this holy place and the law.' 14 For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us. 15 All who were sitting in the council looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
• Acts 7:54 : 54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him.
• Acts 23:12-15 : 12 When daylight came, some of the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves under a curse, declaring that they would neither eat nor drink until they had killed Paul. 13 There were more than forty who had taken this oath together. 14 They went to the chief priests and elders and said, 'We have bound ourselves under a solemn curse not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.' 15 Now then, you and the council should notify the commander to bring Paul down to you, as though you are going to investigate his case more thoroughly. We are ready to kill him before he gets here.
• Acts 24:1-9 : 1 After five days, the high priest Ananias went down with some elders and a lawyer named Tertullus, and they presented their case against Paul to the governor. 2 When Paul was summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, 'Because of you, we have enjoyed much peace and reforms have been carried out for this nation through your foresight.' 3 In every way and everywhere, most excellent Felix, we accept this with all gratitude. 4 But so as not to take more of your time, I beg you to listen to us briefly in your kindness. 5 We have found this man to be a troublemaker, stirring up riots among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. 6 He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him and wanted to judge him according to our law. 7 But Lysias, the commander, came and intervened with great force, taking him out of our hands. 8 By examining him yourself, you will be able to learn the truth about all the charges we are bringing against him. 9 The Jews joined in the accusation, asserting that these things were true.
• Acts 24:13 : 13 Nor can they prove to you the charges they are now bringing against me.
• Ps 57:4 : 4 He will send help from heaven and save me; He reproaches those who pursue me. Selah. God will send His steadfast love and His faithfulness.
• 1 Kgs 21:20 : 20 Ahab said to Elijah, 'So, have you found me, my enemy?' 'I have found you,' he answered, 'because you have devoted yourself to doing evil in the eyes of the LORD.'
• 1 Kgs 22:8 : 8 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, 'There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, only bad. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.' Jehoshaphat replied, 'The king should not say such a thing.'
• 1 Kgs 22:27 : 27 And say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this man in prison and feed him only bread and water of affliction until I return safely.’
• Matt 26:59-60 : 59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus so that they might put Him to death. 60 But they could not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two witnesses came forward.
• Mark 6:19-28 : 19 So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she was unable to do so. 20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard John speak, he was greatly perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. 21 Finally, the opportune time came. On his birthday, Herod gave a banquet for his high officials, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, 'Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.' 23 And he promised her with an oath, 'Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.' 24 She went out and asked her mother, 'What should I ask for?' Her mother answered, 'The head of John the Baptist.' 25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with her request. 'I want you to give me, right now, the head of John the Baptist on a platter,' she said. 26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28 brought back his head on a platter, and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother.