Jeremiah 20:14 records the prophet Jeremiah uttering the lament “Cursed be the day I was born!” This exclamation of anguish has puzzled many readers over the centuries. Why would Jeremiah, a prophet of God, curse his own birth? A closer look at the context provides some important clues.
Jeremiah served as God’s prophet during the final tragic years of the kingdom of Judah before the Babylonian exile. He was called by God as a youth (Jeremiah 1:4-10) and faithfully proclaimed God’s messages to the people of Judah for decades. But Jeremiah’s ministry was marked by rejection and persecution. The people refused to heed his warnings about the coming judgment, accusing him instead of treason (Jeremiah 37:11-16). Jeremiah was beaten and imprisoned for speaking the word of the Lord (Jeremiah 20:1-2). It was in response to this suffering that Jeremiah cried out in Jeremiah 20:14.
Chapter 20 opens with the prophet being put in stocks by the priest Pashhur for prophesying the coming destruction of Jerusalem. After being released, Jeremiah delivers a sobering oracle of judgment against Pashhur (Jeremiah 20:3-6). Overcome with distress, Jeremiah proceeds to lament:
“O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, ‘Violence and destruction!’ For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. If I say, ‘I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,’ there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. For I hear many whispering. Terror is on every side! ‘Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’ say all my close friends, watching for my fall. ‘Perhaps he will be deceived; then we can overcome him and take our revenge on him.’ But the Lord is with me as a dread warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble; they will not overcome me. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonor will never be forgotten. O Lord of hosts, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause. Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers. Cursed be the day on which I was born! The day when my mother bore me, let it not be blessed! Cursed be the man who brought news to my father, ‘A son is born to you,’ making him very glad. Let that man be like the cities that the Lord overthrew without pity; let him hear a cry in the morning and an alarm at noon, because he did not kill me in the womb, so that my mother would have been my grave, and her womb forever great. Why did I come out from the womb to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?” (Jeremiah 20:7-18, ESV)
This passage provides the context behind Jeremiah’s exclamation in verse 14. The key points are:
- Jeremiah feels deceived and overpowered by God’s call on his life (v. 7)
- He laments that his faithful prophecies have brought him only derision and persecution (v. 8)
- He is weary of holding in the word of God burning within him (v. 9)
- His friends and countrymen are conspiring against him, waiting for him to fail (vv. 10-11)
- He trusts that God will vindicate him and judge his enemies (vv. 11-13)
- In his deep anguish, he curses the day of his birth (v. 14)
- He wishes he had died in the womb rather than experience such suffering (vv. 14-18)
Several important observations can be made from this context:
- Jeremiah is venting his deep pain and frustration. He has faithfully proclaimed a very unpopular message from God, and is enduring terrible suffering as a result. His outburst comes in the midst of intense persecution.
- He feels overwhelmed and simply cannot contain his anguish any longer. Jeremiah is expressing raw human emotion – he is not delivering a carefully contemplative theological treatise.
- He is being open and honest with God about his inner turmoil. Jeremiah brings his complaint directly to the Lord.
- He acknowledges God’s sovereignty over his situation. Jeremiah twice affirms that God is testing and disciplining him righteously (vv. 11-12).
- He continues to trust in God’s justice and deliverance, despite his inner turmoil (vv. 11-13). Right after his outburst, he breaks into praise (v. 13).
So in summary, Jeremiah 20:14 is an expression of the prophet’s deep agony in the midst of prolonged suffering for fulfilling God’s call. It is a very human response – Jeremiah is lamenting, not philosophizing. In the midst of his anguish, he continues to acknowledge God’s sovereignty, righteousness, and care. And he ultimately still praises God even through his tears.
Jeremiah’s outburst underscores several vital themes:
- Godly ministry often brings opposition and hardship from the world. Jeremiah’s faithfulness led to suffering, not prosperity and acclaim. Jesus told his disciples to expect persecution (John 15:18-20).
- It is not a sin to be honest with God about our struggles and pain. The Psalms are full of laments. Jesus was deeply troubled in Gethsemane (Mark 14:33).
- Trusting God’s goodness does not mean suppressing all negative emotions. Christians do not need to pretend to be happy when they are hurting. God understands our weaknesses (Psalm 103:14).
- Persevering through suffering requires taking our pain to God. Only His presence can sustain and comfort us in deep trials (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
- God remains sovereign even when we do not understand our situations. We can pour out our confusion and anguish to Him.
- God will ultimately vindicate and reward those who faithfully serve Him, even amid opposition. Their suffering is never meaningless (Matthew 5:11-12).
So in summary, Jeremiah 20:14 illustrates that godly servants can experience intense inner pain and turmoil in carrying out their calling, but God remains faithful through it all. By God’s strength, Jeremiah persevered through great suffering to fulfill his prophetic ministry. His example can encourage all believers who face hardship in serving the Lord.
Other key passages that provide insight into Jeremiah’s sentiments in Jeremiah 20:14 include:
- Jeremiah 15:10-21 – Jeremiah laments being mocked and isolated, but God reassures him
- Lamentations 3:1-33 – The prophet grieves over the fall of Jerusalem but affirms God’s goodness
- Job 3 – Job curses the day of his birth during his intense suffering
- Psalm 88 – A desperate cry to God in the midst of despair
- Habakkuk 1:1-17 – The prophet cries out over the injustice and wickedness he sees
- John 11:32-35 – Jesus weeps at Lazarus’ tomb despite knowing He would raise him
- 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 – Paul describes the many sufferings he endures as an apostle
- James 1:2-4 – Trials test faith and produce maturity in Christ
- 1 Peter 1:6-7 – Suffering refines genuine faith
- Revelation 21:4 – God will one day wipe away every tear and remove all suffering for His people
In passages like these, we see that godly Biblical figures openly lamented hardship, just as Jeremiah did. Their examples help normalize bringing raw feelings honestly before God. Suffering remains difficult to endure, but God uses it to purify faith and build Christlike character. He promises to reward those who serve Him faithfully through life’s trials. And one day, He will abolish suffering forever for His saints. As we walk through fiery trials, we can take heart that God ultimately uses pain for good in the lives of His children who trust in Him (Romans 8:28).