Jeremiah Quote by Abraham Heschel
““The role of the prophet was ambiguous in the eyes of some of his contemporaries. The indignation that flowed from him, the anger he displayed, even when extrinsic to his mind, became so intimate a part of his soul that those exposed to it could easily mistake it as his own antipathy rather than as sympathy with divine anger, and could assume that he had his own ax to grind, that he was giving vent to personal hostility. It seems that Jeremiah was accused of feeling delight in anticipating the disaster which he had announced in the name of the Lord. He who loved his people, whose life was dedicated to saving his people, was regarded as an enemy. Over and above the agony of sensing the imminent disaster, his soul was bruised by calumny. What protection was there against such backbiting? No one could look into his heart, but everybody was hurt by his words. Only the Lord knew the truth.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Prophets, Abraham Heschel, 1962
Jeremiah’s prophetic anger was misread as personal hostility, while his suffering stemmed from divine empathy and false accusations.
In simple terms: People mistook divine anger for personal spite.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the deeper source behind outward anger.
Themes
prophecy
misinterpretation
empathy
suffering
Mood
reflective
somber
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
interpretive
critical
When to use this quote
- religious leadership
- public speaking
- conflict resolution
- personal grief
- media criticism
Key Concepts
theology
psychology
communication
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we distinguish personal bias from divine or higher purpose?
- What safeguards can protect truth‑tellers from slander?
A Different Perspective
The quote assumes all observers share the same cultural context, which may not hold true.
![“Going all the way back to Jeremiah Wright and Tavis Smiley and Van Jones and even Shirley Sherrod and maybe even Maxine Waters and Charles Rangel. We're going to see what his [Barack Obama] response is.” quote by Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/07f/cornel-west-708_barack_going-all-the-way-back-to-jeremiah-wrigh_239109.jpg)
