The following day Pashhur releases Jeremiah, maybe believing that he has learned his lesson. But Jeremiah responds, not out of anger or spite, but as the Lord’s prophet. He applies the message of judgment he declared the day before to Pashhur.1 The Lord does not call your name Pashhur, but Terror On Every Side.
The change in name probably makes use of similar sounds in different words. Pashhur’s name sounds like two Aramaic words that mean something like being fruitful all around.
The Lord changes his name to a name that means terror/destruction on every side.
2 A change of name in biblical narrative represents a change of the person’s status or purpose. This change is made even more significant when the Lord declares it, because he will ensure that the changes come about.3
1 Thus says the LORD, “Go, buy a potter’s earthenware flask, and take some of the elders of the people and some of the elders of the priests,