Matthew Poole and continuators on Jeremiah 20:7

7 ¶ O LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived : thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed : I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me .

The following part of the Chapter to the end of it, containeth a complaint or prayer of the Prophet unto God, made (as some think) during his imprisonment by Pashur, but the certain time is not known. Our Translators here might have translated the word [non-Latin text not transcribed] more favourably than thou hast deceived me. It might have been thou hast perswaded me, Or thou hast allured, or enticed me, as it is translated, Iud. 14.15. 1 King. 22.21, 22. Exod. 22.16. Prov. 1.10. & 16.29. Psal. 78.36. The word signifies no more than by words to remove a man from his own opinion. That is doubtless the sense here, Lord, I was not fond of this employment as a Prophet, by thy words I was removed from my own opinion of my self, which might be spoken by the Prophet without any reflection upon God, it onely signifieth his undertaking the office of a Prophet at Gods command, not out of any ambition of his own.

But thou prevailedst against me. Ieremy at first excused himself to God, as we read, chap. 1.6. He said, Ah Lord God, behold I am a child, and cannot speak; but the Lord prevailed upon him, replying, ver. 7. Say not, I am a child, for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak, ver. 9. The Lord put forth his hand, and touched his mouth, and said, Behold I have put my words in thy mouth. This is all that is here meant by deceiving, viz. Gods over-ruling of him contrary to his own inclinations.

He complaineth that now he was in this office, every one mock'd him and derided him, and that for the faithful discharge of that office, to which God had called him.

Marginal references: Or, enticed.