Jeremiah's priestly lineage from Anathoth creates ironic tension since priests typically served in Jerusalem's temple, yet he prophesied its destruction.
Jeremiah 1
The Word of the Lord to Jeremiah
1The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.
2The LORD’s word came to him in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
3It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
Jeremiah's Call and Commission
4Now the LORD’s word came to me, saying,
5“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
6Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”
7But the LORD said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you.
8Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says the LORD.
9Then the LORD stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. Then the LORD said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.
10Behold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”
Two Visions: Almond Branch and Boiling Pot
11Moreover the LORD’s word came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.”
12Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well; for I watch over my word to perform it.”
13The LORD’s word came to me the second time, saying, “What do you see?” I said, “I see a boiling cauldron; and it is tipping away from the north.”
14Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north, evil will break out on all the inhabitants of the land.
15For behold, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north,” says the LORD. “They will come, and they will each set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all its walls all around, and against all the cities of Judah.
16I will utter my judgments against them concerning all their wickedness, in that they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands.
Divine Encouragement for the Prophet
17“You therefore put your belt on your waist, arise, and say to them all that I command you. Don’t be dismayed at them, lest I dismay you before them.
18For behold, I have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land.
19They will fight against you, but they will not prevail against you; for I am with you”, says the LORD, “to rescue you.”
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Theme
Jeremiah chapter 1 introduces the prophet's divine calling and commission during the reigns of Judah's final kings, from Josiah to the Babylonian exile. God calls Jeremiah before his birth to be a prophet to the nations, overcoming his protests about youth and inexperience by promising divine protection and authority. Through two visions—an almond branch and a boiling pot from the north—God reveals His watchfulness over His word and the coming judgment upon Judah for their idolatry, while assuring Jeremiah of supernatural strength to withstand opposition.
Context
This opening chapter establishes Jeremiah's prophetic credentials and divine mandate before the detailed oracles of judgment and restoration that follow throughout the book.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-3 Introduction and Historical Setting Identifies Jeremiah as a priest from Anathoth and dates his ministry from Josiah's reign through Jerusalem's exile.
- 4-10 Jeremiah's Divine Call and Commission God reveals His pre-birth appointment of Jeremiah as prophet to the nations, overcoming his objections and empowering him with divine words and authority.
- 11-16 Two Prophetic Visions The almond branch vision confirms God's watchfulness over His word, while the boiling pot vision warns of judgment from the north due to Judah's idolatry.
- 17-19 Divine Encouragement and Protection God commands Jeremiah to speak boldly and promises to make him like a fortified city against all opposition, ensuring his protection and victory.
The Word of the Lord to Jeremiah
1:1–1:3 narrative narration solemn
Introduction to the book of Jeremiah, identifying the prophet and the historical period of his ministry from King Josiah through the Babylonian exile.
person_contrast
Jeremiah's priestly lineage from Anathoth creates ironic tension since priests typically served in Jerusalem's temple, yet he prophesied its destruction.
Jeremiah's Call and Commission
1:4–1:10 prophecy dialogue solemn
God calls Jeremiah as a prophet to the nations, appointing him before birth and commissioning him to speak God's words with authority to uproot and plant kingdoms.
person_contrast
Jeremiah's protest "I am a child" uses the Hebrew *na'ar*, which typically describes young men of military age, suggesting his reluctance stems from inexperience rather than literal youth.
Two Visions: Almond Branch and Boiling Pot
1:11–1:16 prophecy vision warning
Through two visions of an almond branch and boiling pot, God reveals coming judgment from the north against Jerusalem and Judah for their idolatry and abandonment of God.
person_contrast
The Hebrew wordplay between "almond" (shaqed) and "watching" (shoqed) creates a divine pun that transforms Jeremiah's simple botanical observation into God's promise of vigilant judgment execution.
Divine Encouragement for the Prophet
1:17–1:19 prophecy exhortation hopeful
God strengthens Jeremiah for his prophetic mission, promising to make him like a fortified city against opposition and assuring divine protection and rescue.
person_contrast
Jeremiah, typically associated with divine judgment and national disobedience, receives unprecedented military metaphors—"fortified city," "iron pillar," "bronze walls"—transforming the weeping prophet into an impenetrable fortress.
Insights
Jeremiah's protest "I am a child" uses the Hebrew *na'ar*, which typically describes young men of military age, suggesting his reluctance stems from inexperience rather than literal youth.
The Hebrew wordplay between "almond" (shaqed) and "watching" (shoqed) creates a divine pun that transforms Jeremiah's simple botanical observation into God's promise of vigilant judgment execution.
Jeremiah, typically associated with divine judgment and national disobedience, receives unprecedented military metaphors—"fortified city," "iron pillar," "bronze walls"—transforming the weeping prophet into an impenetrable fortress.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Jeremiah 1:2 3 references
Lexicals 3
Jeremiah 25:3 Lexical
From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these twenty-three years, the LORD’…
2 Chronicles 33:25 Lexical
But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah…
2 Kings 21:24 Lexical
But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah…
Jeremiah 1:3 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 36:9 Lexical
Now in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, all the people in Jerusalem and…
Jeremiah 39:2 Lexical
In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city.
1 Chronicles 3:15 Lexical
The sons of Josiah: the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, and the fourth Shallum.
Jeremiah 37:1 Lexical
Zedekiah the son of Josiah reigned as king instead of Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon m…
Jeremiah 52:5 Lexical
So the city was besieged to the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.
Jeremiah 1:6 5 references
Lexicals 5
Judges 6:22 Lexical
Gideon saw that he was the LORD’s angel; and Gideon said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Because I have seen the LORD’s angel face to…
Jeremiah 32:17 Lexical
“Ah Lord GOD! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm. There is…
Jeremiah 4:10 Lexical
Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Surely you have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You will have peace;’ w…
Ezekiel 11:13 Lexical
When I prophesied, Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell down on my face, and cried with a loud voice, and said,…
Jeremiah 14:13 Lexical
Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, the prophets tell them, ‘You will not see the sword, neither will you have famine; b…
Jeremiah 1:10 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 31:28 Lexical
It will happen that, like as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down and to overthrow and to destroy and…
Jeremiah 18:7 Lexical
At the instant I speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it,
Jeremiah 45:4 Lexical
“You shall tell him, the LORD says: ‘Behold, that which I have built, I will break down, and that which I have planted I…
Jeremiah 42:10 Lexical
‘If you will still live in this land, then I will build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck…
Jeremiah 24:6 Lexical
For I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land. I will build them, and not pull them…
Jeremiah 1:15 5 references
Lexicals 5
Jeremiah 25:9 Lexical
behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,” says the LORD, “and I will send to Nebuchadnezzar the king…
2 Chronicles 23:20 Lexical
He took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought t…
2 Chronicles 18:9 Lexical
Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah each sat on his throne, arrayed in their robes, and they were s…
1 Kings 22:10 Lexical
Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in an…
Ezekiel 41:11 Lexical
The doors of the side rooms were toward an open area that was left, one door toward the north, and another door toward t…
Jeremiah 1:16 5 references
Lexicals 5
2 Kings 22:17 Lexical
Because they have forsaken me and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the wo…
Jeremiah 19:4 Lexical
Because they have forsaken me, and have defiled this place, and have burned incense in it to other gods that they didn’t…
Jeremiah 44:8 Lexical
in that you provoke me to anger with the works of your hands, burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt where y…
2 Chronicles 7:22 Lexical
They shall answer, ‘Because they abandoned the LORD, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt…
Jeremiah 22:9 Lexical
Then they will answer, ‘Because they abandoned the covenant of the LORD their God, worshiped other gods, and served them…
Jeremiah 1:19 1 reference
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
v. 1
v. 2
v. 3
v. 4
v. 5
v. 6
v. 7
v. 8
v. 9
v. 10
v. 11
v. 12
v. 13
v. 14
v. 15
v. 16
v. 17
v. 18
v. 19
Lemma
Morphology
Semantic Range
Theological Significance
Translation Notes
Key Passages
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter
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Timeline
Exile
586-538 BCThe forced deportation of Judah's population to Babylon after Jerusalem's destruction. This pivotal event reshaped Jewish identity and theology, leading to the compilation of much of the Hebrew Bible.
The introduction identifies Jeremiah's ministry period extending through the Babylonian exile of Judah.
The Word of the Lord to Jeremiah