Jeremiah1
King James Version · Public Domain
1The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
2To whom the word of the Lord came 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, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
4Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
5Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
6Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
7But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
8Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.
9Then the Lord put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.
10See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.
11Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
12Then said the Lord unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
13And the word of the Lord came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.
14Then the Lord said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.
15For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the Lord; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.
16And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.
17Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.
18For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.
19And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Jeremiah 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Jeremiah's call to the prophetic office. (1-10). A vision of an almond-tree and of a seething-pot, Divine protection is promised. (11-19).
vv1-10
Jeremiah's early call to the work and office of a prophet is stated. He was to be a prophet, not to the Jews only, but to the neighbouring nations. He is still a prophet to the whole world, and it would be well if they would attend to these warnings. The Lord who formed us, knows for what particular services and purposes he intended us. But unless he sanctify us by his new-creating Spirit, we shall neither be fit for his holy service on earth, nor his holy happiness in heaven. It becomes us to have low thoughts of ourselves. Those who are young, should consider that they are so, and not venture beyond their powers. But though a sense of our own weakness and insufficiency should make us go humbly about our work, it should not make us draw back when God calls us. Those who have messages to deliver from God, must not fear the face of man. The Lord, by a sign, gave Jeremiah such a gift as was necessary. God's message should be delivered in his own words. Whatever wordly wise men or politicians may think, the safety of kingdoms is decided according to the purpose and word of God.
vv11-19
God gave Jeremiah a view of the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem by the Chaldeans. The almond-tree, which is more forward in the spring than any other, represented the speedy approach of judgments. God also showed whence the intended ruin should arise. Jeremiah saw a seething-pot boiling, representing Jerusalem and Judah in great commotion. The mouth or face of the furnace or hearth, was toward the north; from whence the fire and fuel were to come. The northern powers shall unite. The cause of these judgments was the sin of Judah. The whole counsel of God must be declared. The fear of God is the best remedy against the fear of man. Better to have all men our enemies than God our enemy; those who are sure they have God with them, need not, ought not to fear, whoever is against them. Let us pray that we may be willing to give up personal interests, and that nothing may move us from our duty.
Key Words
דָּבָר: a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause
יִרְמְיָה: Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
חִלְקִיָּה: Chilhijah, the name of eight Israelites
כֹּהֵן: literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
אֲשֶׁר: who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.
עֲנָתוֹת: Anathoth, the name of two Israelites, also of a place in Pal
אֶרֶץ: the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
בִּנְיָמִין: Binjamin, youngest son of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
יוֹם: a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)
Cross References
Jeremiah 1Paul’s separation from the womb parallels Jeremiah’s prenatal setting apart and consecration.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Moses, like Jeremiah, objects to his call based on a lack of eloquent speech.
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Isaiah’s lips are touched by God in vision to initiate and empower his prophetic utterance.
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God's promise 'I am with thee to deliver thee' echoes Joshua's commission of divine presence.
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Ezekiel’s forehead is hardened against fearful faces, matching God's command not to fear their faces.
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Repeats God's promise to make Jeremiah a brazen wall, assuring that enemies will not prevail.
Anathoth, a priestly village near Jerusalem, is highlighted as vulnerable to northern invaders.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Prophets are said to execute the destruction or restoration that they are commissioned to announce.
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God watches to pluck up and break down, matching Jeremiah's commission verbs.
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Ezekiel utilizes the same imagery of a boiling pot to symbolize Jerusalem's judgment and commotion.
Solomon banished high priest Abiathar to Anathoth, casting a stigma on this priestly line.
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Identifies Anathoth in Benjamin as one of the cities designated for the Levitical priests.
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The Servant of the Lord is likewise called and named from the womb.
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John the Baptist is filled with the Holy Spirit and separated even from his mother's womb.
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God knowing his servant 'by name' indicates special selection and approval.
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