Jeremiah 15:10 Study Bible: "Woe is me, my mother, that you have borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth. I have not lent, neither have men lent to me; yet everyone of them curses me."

Bible > Jeremiah > Chapter 15 > Verse 10

◄ Jeremiah 15:10 ►

Woe to me, my mother, that you have borne me, a man of strife and conflict in all the land. I have neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses me.

Study Bible

Woe to me
The Hebrew word for "woe" is "אוֹי" (oy), a term expressing deep lamentation and distress. In the context of Jeremiah's life, this exclamation reveals the prophet's profound personal anguish and sorrow. Jeremiah is often referred to as the "weeping prophet," and this phrase encapsulates his emotional turmoil. His lament is not just personal but also reflects the spiritual and moral decay of the nation of Israel, which he is called to address.

my mother, that you have borne me
Jeremiah's reference to his mother highlights the depth of his despair. In ancient Near Eastern culture, one's birth and lineage were significant, often seen as a blessing. Here, however, Jeremiah laments his very existence, feeling burdened by the role he must play as a prophet. This phrase underscores the isolation and rejection he experiences, as even his birth seems to him a source of sorrow rather than joy.

a man of strife and contention
The Hebrew words "אִישׁ רִיב וּמָדוֹן" (ish riv u'madon) translate to "a man of strife and contention." Jeremiah's ministry was marked by conflict, as he was called to deliver messages of judgment and repentance to a rebellious people. This phrase reflects the constant opposition he faced, not because of personal failings, but due to the divine messages he was compelled to deliver. It highlights the cost of prophetic ministry and the loneliness that often accompanies standing for truth.

to all the land
This phrase indicates the widespread nature of Jeremiah's conflict. His message was not limited to a small group but was directed at the entire nation of Judah. The phrase "all the land" emphasizes the comprehensive scope of his prophetic mission and the universal rejection he faced. It serves as a reminder of the pervasive sin and resistance to God's word that characterized the society of his time.

I have neither lent nor borrowed
In ancient Israel, lending and borrowing were common practices that could lead to disputes and enmity. By stating that he has neither lent nor borrowed, Jeremiah emphasizes that his conflicts are not due to personal financial dealings or disputes. This phrase underscores the unjust nature of the hostility he faces, as it arises solely from his role as God's messenger, not from any personal wrongdoing.

yet everyone curses me
The Hebrew word for "curses" is "קִלְלוּנִי" (qileluni), which conveys a strong sense of being reviled or denounced. Despite his innocence in personal matters, Jeremiah is the target of widespread animosity. This phrase highlights the prophet's isolation and the heavy burden of his calling. It serves as a poignant reminder of the cost of faithfulness to God's mission, as well as the prophet's unwavering commitment to his divine mandate despite the personal cost.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jeremiah
The prophet who is lamenting his birth and the strife he faces. Known for his messages of warning and judgment to Judah.

2. Jeremiah's Mother
Mentioned here as part of Jeremiah's lament, symbolizing the beginning of his life and the burdens he carries.

3. The Land
Refers to Judah, the nation to which Jeremiah prophesied and where he faced opposition.

4. Strife and Contention
Represents the conflict and opposition Jeremiah experiences from the people of Judah.

5. Curses
The negative reactions and hostility Jeremiah receives from those around him, despite his innocence in financial dealings.

Teaching Points

The Cost of Faithfulness
Jeremiah's lament highlights the personal cost of being faithful to God's calling. Believers should be prepared for opposition when standing for truth.

Innocence Amidst Accusation
Despite not engaging in wrongdoing, Jeremiah faces curses. This teaches us that innocence does not exempt us from false accusations or hostility.

Endurance in Ministry
Jeremiah's perseverance amidst strife encourages believers to remain steadfast in their ministry, even when it leads to personal suffering.

God's Sovereignty in Suffering
Jeremiah's lament can remind us that God is sovereign over our circumstances, and our struggles can serve a greater purpose in His plan.

Empathy for the Persecuted
Understanding Jeremiah's plight can foster empathy for those who face persecution today, encouraging us to support and pray for them.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does Jeremiah's lament in 15:10 reflect the emotional struggles of those called to difficult ministries today?

2. In what ways can we find encouragement from Jeremiah's experience when we face opposition for standing up for our faith?

3. How does the theme of being cursed without cause, as seen in Jeremiah 15:10, relate to the experiences of other biblical figures like Job and Jesus?

4. What practical steps can we take to support and encourage those who are facing persecution or opposition for their faith?

5. How can understanding the original Hebrew context of "strife" and "contention" deepen our appreciation of Jeremiah's challenges and our own struggles in ministry?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Job 3:1-3
Similar to Jeremiah, Job laments his birth due to the suffering he endures, highlighting the theme of righteous individuals facing undeserved hardship.

Matthew 5:11-12
Jesus speaks about being blessed when persecuted for righteousness, connecting to Jeremiah's experience of being cursed despite his innocence.

1 Kings 18:17-18
Elijah is accused of being a troublemaker in Israel, paralleling Jeremiah's experience of being a man of strife and contention.

Psalm 69:4
David speaks of being hated without cause, similar to Jeremiah's experience of being cursed without having wronged others.

2 Timothy 3:12
Paul warns that all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will face persecution, echoing the trials faced by Jeremiah.

Sermons

Men of Progress, Men of Strife	W. Whale.	Jeremiah 15:10
The Man Who Felt He Had Been Born to Strife and Contention	D. Young	Jeremiah 15:10
The Offense of Faithful Preaching	A.F. Muir	Jeremiah 15:10

People

Hezekiah, Jeremiah, Manasseh, Samuel

Places

Jerusalem, Zion

Topics

Argument, Birth, Bore, Borne, Borrowed, Cause, Contends, Contention, Creditors, Curse, Curses, Cursing, Debt, Fighting, Hast, Lent, Money, Reviling, Sorrow, Strife, Strives, Usury, Wo, Woe, Yet

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Jeremiah 15:10

     5067   suicide
     5334   health
     5353   interest
     5901   loneliness
     5938   sadness
     5945   self-pity
     6233   rejection, experience
     8726   doubters

Library

The Northern Iron and the Steel
That being the literal meaning, we shall draw from our text a general principle. It is a proverbial expression, no doubt, and applicable to many other matters besides that of the prophet and the Jews; it is clearly meant to show, that in order to achieve a purpose, there must be a sufficient force. The weaker cannot overcome the stronger. In a general clash the firmest will win. There must be sufficient firmness in the instrument or the work cannot be done. You cannot cut granite with a pen-knife, …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

Hidden Manna
He was eminently the man that had seen affliction, and yet in the midst of a wilderness of woe he discovered fountains of joy. Like that Blessed One, who was "the man of sorrows" and the acquaintance of grief, he sometimes rejoiced in spirit and blessed the name of the Lord. It will be both interesting and profitable to note the root of the joy which grew up in Jeremiah's heart, like a lone palm tree in the desert. Here was its substance. It was an intense delight to him to have been chosen to the …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

Ten Reasons Demonstrating the Commandment of the Sabbath to be Moral.
1. Because all the reasons of this commandment are moral and perpetual; and God has bound us to the obedience of this commandment with more forcible reasons than to any of the rest--First, because he foresaw that irreligious men would either more carelessly neglect, or more boldly break this commandment than any other; secondly, because that in the practice of this commandment the keeping of all the other consists; which makes God so often complain that all his worship is neglected or overthrown, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Sins of Communities Noted and Punished.
"Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation." This is predicated of the judgments of God on those who had shed the blood of his saints. The Savior declares that all the righteous blood which had been shed on the earth from that of Abel down to the gospel day, should come on that generation! But is not this unreasonable and contrary to the Scriptures? "Far be wickedness from God and iniquity from the Almighty. For the work of man shall be render unto him, and cause every …
Andrew Lee et al—Sermons on Various Important Subjects

General Notes by the American Editor
1. The whole subject of the Apocalypse is so treated, [2318] in the Speaker's Commentary, as to elucidate many questions suggested by the primitive commentators of this series, and to furnish the latest judgments of critics on the subject. It is so immense a matter, however, as to render annotations on patristic specialties impossible in a work like this. Every reader must feel how apposite is the sententious saying of Augustine: "Apocalypsis Joannis tot sacramenta quot verba." 2. The seven spirits, …
Victorinus—Commentary on the Apocolypse of the Blessed John

How those who Fear Scourges and those who Contemn them are to be Admonished.
(Admonition 14.) Differently to be admonished are those who fear scourges, and on that account live innocently, and those who have grown so hard in wickedness as not to be corrected even by scourges. For those who fear scourges are to be told by no means to desire temporal goods as being of great account, seeing that bad men also have them, and by no means to shun present evils as intolerable, seeing they are not ignorant how for the most part good men also are touched by them. They are to be admonished …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

What the Scriptures Principally Teach: the Ruin and Recovery of Man. Faith and Love Towards Christ.
2 Tim. i. 13.--"Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." Here is the sum of religion. Here you have a compend of the doctrine of the Scriptures. All divine truths may be reduced to these two heads,--faith and love; what we ought to believe, and what we ought to do. This is all the Scriptures teach, and this is all we have to learn. What have we to know, but what God hath revealed of himself to us? And what have we to do, but what …
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

The Word
The third way to escape the wrath and curse of God, and obtain the benefit of redemption by Christ, is the diligent use of ordinances, in particular, the word, sacraments, and prayer.' I begin with the best of these ordinances. The word . . . which effectually worketh in you that believe.' 1 Thess 2:13. What is meant by the word's working effectually? The word of God is said to work effectually when it has the good effect upon us for which it was appointed by God; when it works powerful illumination …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments

An Analysis of Augustin's Writings against the Donatists.
The object of this chapter is to present a rudimentary outline and summary of all that Augustin penned or spoke against those traditional North African Christians whom he was pleased to regard as schismatics. It will be arranged, so far as may be, in chronological order, following the dates suggested by the Benedictine edition. The necessary brevity precludes anything but a very meagre treatment of so considerable a theme. The writer takes no responsibility for the ecclesiological tenets of the …
St. Augustine—writings in connection with the donatist controversy.

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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