Jeremiah 20:3 in the King James Version of the Bible reads, "And it came to pass on the morrow, that Pashur brought forth Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then said Jeremiah unto him, The Lord hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magormissabib."

This verse is part of a larger passage in the book of Jeremiah, which is a prophetic book in the Old Testament. The book of Jeremiah is attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, who lived in the kingdom of Judah during a tumultuous period in its history. The nation was facing a crisis of faith and a looming threat from the Babylonian Empire. In the face of these challenges, Jeremiah was called by God to deliver a message of warning and judgment to the people of Judah.

In the context of Jeremiah 20:3, Pashur is a priest who was responsible for overseeing the temple in Jerusalem. He is mentioned in the preceding verses as having heard Jeremiah prophesying about the destruction of Jerusalem and the punishment that God would bring upon the people for their sins. This message was unwelcome and unpopular, and Pashur responded by having Jeremiah imprisoned in stocks.

When Pashur released Jeremiah from the stocks the next day, Jeremiah delivered a message to him from the Lord, saying, "The Lord hath not called thy name Pashur, but Magormissabib." This statement is a symbolic renaming of Pashur, and it carries a significant message of judgment and condemnation.

The name "Magormissabib" is a symbolic name given to Pashur by Jeremiah, and it means "terror on every side" or "fear all around." This new name reflects the message of warning and judgment that Jeremiah had been delivering to the people of Judah. It serves as a reminder that the impending judgment and destruction that Jeremiah had been prophesying was not just a distant threat, but a present reality that would soon surround them on all sides.

This renaming of Pashur carries a deep symbolic significance in the context of the overall message of the book of Jeremiah. It represents the unyielding judgment and condemnation that God was bringing upon the people of Judah for their disobedience and unfaithfulness. It serves as a powerful and vivid warning of the consequences of turning away from God and rejecting his laws and commandments.

In addition to the symbolic renaming of Pashur, this passage also demonstrates the personal cost and sacrifice that Jeremiah endured in fulfilling his role as a prophet. He faced opposition, persecution, and imprisonment for delivering the unpopular message of judgment to the people of Judah. This underscores the theme of the suffering and the persecution of the prophets in the face of delivering God's messages to the people.

Overall, Jeremiah 20:3 and the surrounding verses convey a powerful message of warning, judgment, and the personal cost of delivering God's word. It serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of disobedience and unfaithfulness, as well as the personal sacrifices that prophets may endure in carrying out their divine calling. The symbolism and context of this verse resonate throughout the message of the book of Jeremiah, speaking to the timeless and universal themes of God's justice, mercy, and the human response to his word.