John Gill Commentary Jeremiah 20:8

"For as often as I speak, I cry out; I cry, Violence and destruction! because the word of Jehovah is made a reproach unto me, and a derision, all the day." — Jeremiah 20:8 (ASV)

For since I spoke, I cried out
Or, "when I speak, I cry" {a}; whensoever I speak in the name of the Lord, and deliver message from him to the people, I lift up my voice and cry aloud, that all may hear and understand; and as showing zeal, fervour, and diligence: or, "I cry" with grief and trouble at the usage I meet with, and the contempt that is cast upon the word; or because of what I am obliged to declare to them, as follows.

The Targum takes in both senses of the word thus, "for at the time that I prophesy, I lift up my voice, weeping, and crying."

I cried violence and spoil ^F2, or, "proclaimed" it, for a different word is here used; that is, he publicly declared the rapine and oppression they were guilty of, inveighed against it, and reproved them for it; and foretold the violence of the enemy, and the spoil that he should make of them, when he should come upon them, even the king of Babylon; as well as cried out and complained of the injurious treatment he himself met with from them;

because the word of the Lord was made a reproach to me, and a derision daily ^F3; which is a reason either why he cried with grief and sorrow; or why he cried violence and spoil, ruin and destruction: or, "though the word of the Lord was" ^F3, &c; yet he went on publishing and proclaiming it: or, "surely the word of the Lord was made a reproach" ^F4, &c; either because of the matter of it, it not being believed, or the manner in which it was delivered; or because it was not immediately fulfilled.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F2: (arqa) "clamo", Pagninus, Junius & Tremellius; "proclamo", Piscator.
• F3: (rbd hyh yk) "quamvis".
• F4: "Verum, verbum Domini", so some in Vatablus; "utique", De Dieu, Gataker.