Magor-missabib

MAGOR-MISSABIB (mā'gôr-mĭs'a-bĭb, terror on every side). The symbolic name that Jeremiah gave to Pashhur, the son of the priest Immer, who struck him (Jer.20.3).

Jeremiah in describing the coming of the Chaldean army used this phrase on a number of occasions to press home the terrible truth. In a sermon (Jer 6:25) he says “Go not forth into the field, nor walk on the road; for the enemy has a sword, terror is on every side.” Later Jeremiah named Pashur, the priest who beat him and put him in stocks, Magor-Missabib (20:3, 4). It is the phrase which expresses the theme of Jeremiah’s preaching (cf. Jer 20:10; 46:5; 49:29; Lam 2:22). The phrase appears also in Psalm 31:13.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)

A name given by Jeremiah to Pashhur ben Immer, the governor of the temple, who had caused the prophet to be beaten and set in the stocks (Jer 20:3). The same expression is used (not as a proper name) in several other passages (Ps 31:13; Jer 6:25; 20:10; 46:5; 49:29; La 2:22).