Jeremiah 18:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have digged a pit for my soul. Remember that I stood before thee to speak good for them, and to turn away thy wrath from them.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Faithful service can be received with suspicion, contempt, or harm. Jeremiah does not hide that wound from God. His prayer names the reversal plainly: he had stood before the Lord to seek good for these people, while they prepared a pit for his life. The verse gives words for bringing injustice to God without pretending that betrayal is small.
Jeremiah 18:20 brings Jeremiah's betrayed intercession before God. Those for whom he sought mercy plan his death, and he appeals to the Lord as the righteous witness of both his service and their violence.
The Context of Jeremiah 18:20
After Jeremiah announces Judah's coming judgment and calls the people to return, opponents plot against him in verse 18. They assume that religious and social institutions will continue without listening to his prophetic word, and they intend to strike him with speech. Jeremiah responds in verses 19 through 23 with a prayer of appeal. Verse 20 stands at the center of that appeal. He asks whether evil should be repaid for good, describes their hidden pit, and reminds the Lord that he had interceded for them. The following verses intensify his plea as he entrusts their conspiracy and the coming judgment to God.
What Does Jeremiah 18:20 Mean?
Jeremiah's question, "Shall evil be recompensed for good?" identifies a moral reversal. His opponents answer his ministry with harm even though he has sought their good. The phrase "they have digged a pit for my soul" presents their plot as concealed and deadly. In the chapter's immediate setting, verse 18 says they plan to attack Jeremiah and disregard his words; verses 22 and 23 speak more openly of a pit, snares, and counsel to slay him. Jeremiah carries this danger to God. "Remember" is prayerful language that asks the Lord to attend to a reality already known to him: Jeremiah's faithful intercession and the people's violent response.
The words "I stood before thee" describe Jeremiah's vocation as more than public speech. He had come before the Lord on behalf of the very people who opposed him. To "speak good for them" means he pleaded for their welfare. He also sought "to turn away thy wrath from them," recognizing that Judah's sin had brought them under God's righteous anger. Earlier in the book, Jeremiah had been forbidden at times to intercede for the people because of their hardened rebellion, yet this verse shows his sincere desire for their good. His lament grows from personal injury and from the burden of a prophet whose warnings and prayers have been rejected together.
The verse creates a sober canonical connection with the suffering of righteous servants. Jeremiah's opponents dig a pit while he has sought their good; the Psalms repeatedly use the image of a pit for enemies who secretly pursue the innocent. Jesus likewise met hostility from people among whom he taught, healed, and called to repentance. Luke records his prayer for those who crucified him, an especially clear picture of seeking good amid grievous evil. Jeremiah 18:20 does not erase the differences between Jeremiah's plea and Christ's unique work. It helps us recognize the costly pattern of faithful intercession in a world where mercy may be rejected.
Bible Verses Related to Jeremiah 18:20
“Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.”
- Jeremiah 18:18
“For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.”
- Psalm 35:7
“Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee.”
- Jeremiah 7:16
“Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.”
- Luke 23:34
Where Jeremiah 18:20 Echoes in Scripture
Luke 23:34 offers a strong later echo of Jeremiah's intercessory posture. From the cross, Jesus prays for those acting against him. Jeremiah had stood before the Lord seeking good and seeking to turn away wrath from people who then plotted against him. The two passages reveal the costly faithfulness of prayer for hostile people. Jeremiah's lament remains a real cry for justice, while Christ's prayer shows mercy spoken in the very midst of suffering.
How to Apply Jeremiah 18:20 Today
When service is met with betrayal, Jeremiah gives us permission to tell God the whole truth. We may name the good we tried to do, the harm that has been done, and the fear caused by hidden hostility. This verse also invites care in the way we pray for difficult people. Intercession seeks their true good and leaves judgment with the Lord, who knows every counsel and every wound. In ordinary conflicts, we can refuse revenge, speak truthfully about danger, seek wise protection, and continue to desire repentance and healing where that is possible.
Reflection & Prayer
Is there someone for whom we have grown unwilling to pray because their response has wounded us? Bring both the hurt and the person before God without concealing either. Suggested prayer: "Lord, thou knowest the good sought and the evil endured. Guard us from revenge, give us truthful speech, and teach us to seek mercy while entrusting judgment to thee."