Jeremiah 20:1

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 20:1 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Now Pashhur, the son of Immer the priest, who was chief officer in the house of Jehovah, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Now Pashhur, the son of Immer the priest, who was chief officer in the house of Jehovah, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things.
Jeremiah 20:1 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 20

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Now Pashhur, the son of Immer the priest, who was chief officer in the house of Jehovah, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Now Pashur the son of Immer the priest, etc.] Not the immediate son of Immer, but one that descended from him after many generations; for Immer was a priest in David’s time, to whom the sixteenth course of the priests fell by lot, (<132414>1 Chronicles 24:14); who [was] also chief governor in the house of the Lord; the temple; not the high priest, since he was of the course of Immer; perhaps he was the head of the course to which he belonged, the chief of the priests of that course. The Targum calls him the “sagan” of the priests. There was such an officer, who was called the “sagan” or deputy to the high priest, who upon certain occasions acted for him; and some think that this man was in…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“JEREMIAH'S INCARCERATION BY PASHUR, THE PRINCIPAL OFFICER OF THE TEMPLE, FOR PROPHESYING WITHIN ITS PRECINCTS; HIS RENEWED PREDICTIONS AGAINST THE CITY, &c., ON HIS LIBERATION. (Jer. 20:1-18) son--descendant. of Immer--one of the original "governors of the sanctuary and of the house of God," twenty-four in all, that is, sixteen of the sons of Eleazar and eight of the sons of Ithamar (Ch1 24:14). This Pashur is distinct from Pashur, son of Melchiah (Jer 21:1). The "captains" (Luk 22:4) seem to have been over the twenty-four guards of the temple, and had only the right of apprehending any who were guilty of delinquency within it; but the Sanhedrim had the judicial power over such delinquents…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Pashur, the father probably of the Gedaliah mentioned in Jeremiah 38:1, was the head of the 16th course (shift) of priests (marginal reference); the other Pashur Jeremiah 21:1 belonged to the fifth course, the sons of Melchiah. Both these houses returned in great strength from the exile. See Ezra 2:37-38. Chief governor - Or, “deputy governor.” The Nagid or governer of the temple was the high priest 1 Chronicles 9:11, and Pashur was his Pakid, i. e., deputy (see Jeremiah 1:10 note). Zephaniah held this office Jeremiah 29:26, and his relation to the high priest is exactly defined 2 Kings 25:18; Jeremiah 52:24. The Nagid at this time was Seraiah the high priest, the grandson of Hilkiah, or…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Immer - The course of Immer was the sixteenth course of the priests, Ch1 24:14. Pashur was his son, that is descended from him. Jeremiah 20:3”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“20:1-6 The persecution suffered by Jeremiah moved from words to action. Jeremiah was whipped and placed in stocks overnight on the charge that he had blasphemed the Temple. When he was released, Jeremiah gave his jailer a message of personal condemnation from the Lord. 20:1-2 Pashhur, the head of the police who kept order in the Temple area, ranked second to the high priest in authority. Evidently, he had heard Jeremiah proclaim the Lord’s decree about the destruction of Jerusalem, including the Temple. He regarded it as such blasphemy that he thought Jeremiah should be punished.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Immer: Ch1 24:14; Ezr 2:37, Ezr 2:38; Neh 7:40, Neh 7:41 chief: Kg2 25:18; Ch2 35:8; Act 4:1, Act 5:24 Jeremiah 20:2”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification