Jeremiah 20:9

KJV1611 – Modern English

Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak anymore in his name. But his word was in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with holding back, and I could not stay.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וְאָמַרְתִּ֣י לֹֽא־אֶזְכְּרֶ֗נּוּ וְלֹֽא־אֲדַבֵּ֥ר עוֹד֙ בִּשְׁמ֔וֹ וְהָיָ֤ה בְלִבִּי֙ כְּאֵ֣שׁ בֹּעֶ֔רֶת עָצֻ֖ר בְּעַצְמֹתָ֑י וְנִלְאֵ֥יתִי כַּֽלְכֵ֖ל וְלֹ֥א אוּכָֽל׃

Transliteration

And wəʾāmartî not-ʾezkərennû and not-ʾădabbēr again in šəmô, and wəhāyāh in libbî like ʾēš bōʿeret ʿāṣur in ʿaṣmōtāy, and wənilʾêtî kalḵēl and not ʾûḵāl.

Grammar Details

• *wəʾāmartî*: waw consecutive + qal perfect, 1st common singular - and I said
• *ʾezkərennû*: qal imperfect, 1st common singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - I will remember him/it
• *ʾădabbēr*: piel imperfect, 1st common singular - I will speak
• *šəmô*: noun, masculine singular construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix with preposition - in his name
• *wəhāyāh*: waw consecutive + qal perfect, 3rd masculine singular - and it became
• *libbî*: noun, masculine singular construct with 1st common singular suffix with preposition - in my heart
• *ʾēš*: noun, feminine singular - fire
• *bōʿeret*: qal participle, feminine singular - burning
• *ʿāṣur*: qal passive participle, masculine singular - contained/shut up
• *ʿaṣmōtāy*: noun, feminine plural construct with 1st common singular suffix with preposition - in my bones
• *wənilʾêtî*: waw consecutive + niphal perfect, 1st common singular - and I was weary
• *kalḵēl*: infinitive construct, pilpel - containing/holding in
• *ʾûḵāl*: qal imperfect, 1st common singular - I am able

Word Meanings

• *ʾezkərennû*: I will remember him/it/mention him
• *ʾădabbēr*: I will speak/talk/utter
• *bōʿeret*: burning/flaming/consuming
• *ʿāṣur*: contained/shut up/imprisoned
• *wənilʾêtî*: I was weary/exhausted/tired
• *kalḵēl*: containing/holding in/enduring
• *ʾûḵāl*: I am able/can/could

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  But if I say, 'I will not mention Him or speak any more in His name,' His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And if I say, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with forbearing, and I cannot [contain].

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Wherfore, I thought from hence forth, not to speake of him, ner to preach eny more in his name. But the worde off the LORDE was a very burnynge fyre in my hert and in my bones, which when I wolde haue stopped, I might not.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speake any more in his Name. But his worde was in mine heart as a burning fire shut vp in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Wherefore I thought from hencefoorth not to speake of hym, nor to preache any more in his name: but the worde of the Lorde was a very burning fire in my heart and in my bones, whiche when I woulde haue stopped, I might not.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But [his word] was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not [stay].

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  If I say, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with forbearing, and I can't [contain].

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And I said, `I do not mention Him, Nor do I speak any more in His name,' And it hath been in my heart As a burning fire shut up in my bones, And I have been weary of containing, And I am not able.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And if I say, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with forbearing, and I cannot `contain'.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And if I say, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with forbearing, and I cannot [contain] .

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And if I say, I will not keep him in mind, I will not say another word in his name; then it is in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am tired of keeping myself in, I am not able to do it.

• World English Bible (2000)

  If I say, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with forbearing, and I can't [contain].

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Sometimes I think,“I will make no mention of his message. I will not speak as his messenger any more.” But then his message becomes like a fire locked up inside of me, burning in my heart and soul. I grow weary of trying to hold it in; I cannot contain it.

Referenced Verses

• Ps 39:3 : 3 My heart burned within me, while I was musing, the fire burned: then I spoke with my tongue,
• Job 32:18-20 : 18 For I am full of words; the spirit within me compels me. 19 Behold, my belly is like wine that has no outlet; it is ready to burst like new wineskins. 20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer.
• Acts 4:20 : 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
• Jer 6:11 : 11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding it in. I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together; for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him who is full of days.
• Ezek 3:14 : 14 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.
• Acts 17:16 : 16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred within him, when he saw the city was fully given to idolatry.
• 2 Cor 5:13-15 : 13 For if we are out of our minds, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if one died for all, then all died: 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for him who died for them and rose again.
• Acts 18:5 : 5 And when Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.
• 1 Cor 9:16-17 : 16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
• Luke 9:62 : 62 And Jesus said to him, No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
• John 1:2-3 : 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that was made.
• John 4:2-3 : 2 though Jesus himself did not baptize, but his disciples, 3 he left Judea, and departed again into Galilee.
• Acts 15:37-38 : 37 Now Barnabas determined to take with them John, who was called Mark. 38 But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.
• 1 Kgs 19:3-4 : 3 And when he saw that, he arose, and ran for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 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 ancestors.