Jeremiah 1: Verse-by-Verse Commentary (with Videos)

19 verses · 5 video commentaries from 4 courses · Berean Standard Bible

¹These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.

²The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah,

³and through the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile.

⁴The word of the LORD came to me, saying:

⁵“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

⁶“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”

⁷But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak.

⁸Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.

⁹Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

¹⁰See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant.”

¹¹And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” “I see a branch of an almond tree,” I replied.

¹²“You have observed correctly,” said the LORD, “for I am watching over My word to accomplish it.”

¹³Again the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “What do you see?” “I see a boiling pot,” I replied, “and it is tilting toward us from the north.”

¹⁴Then the LORD said to me, “Disaster from the north will be poured out on all who live in the land.

¹⁵For I am about to summon all the clans and kingdoms of the north,” declares the LORD. “Their kings will come and set up their thrones at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem. They will attack all her surrounding walls and all the other cities of Judah.

¹⁶I will pronounce My judgments against them for all their wickedness, because they have forsaken Me, and they have burned incense to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands.

¹⁷Get yourself ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them, or I will terrify you before them.

¹⁸Now behold, this day I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.

¹⁹They will fight against you but will never overcome you, since I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 1 Section and Chapter Commentary

Jer 1:1-19

Prophets as God's spokespersons

In the biblical context, a prophet is a human being through whom God speaks, delivering God's word. Narrative prophets, like Elijah and Elisha, often critiqued the religious, cultural, or political order of Israel, and God empowered them to perform miracles. Classical prophets, such as Isaiah and Jeremiah, wrote books addressing contemporary social and religious issues, warning of judgment or promising deliverance.

Summarized by AI · Luke's Maverick Gospel · Lecture 3: How to Begin a Ministry · watch the clip

Jer 1:4-10

Jeremiah's Prophetic Call and Reluctance

Jeremiah's call to prophecy is presented as a divine appointment from before his birth, similar to Moses, and includes his initial reluctance to accept the role. God promises to be with him, but also warns that the task will be dangerous, comparing Jeremiah to a fortified city that will face attacks.

Summarized by AI · The Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Literature of Ancient Israel · Lecture 18: Jeremiah | Fun Ain't He · watch the clip

Jeremiah 1 Verse Notes

Jer 1:4-5

Jeremiah 1:4-5 uses metaphorical language about pre-birth knowledge

The passage in Jeremiah where God states, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,' is often cited to argue for the personhood of the unborn. However, a careful reading reveals it's a poetic expression of God's sovereignty and divine plan for Jeremiah's prophetic role, not a literal statement about pre-existence or the exact moment of human personhood. Taking it literally would imply pre-existence before the womb, which is not the author's intent.

Summarized by AI · The Bible and Abortion: When Does Life Begin in the Bible? · Lecture 1: The Bible and the Beginning of Life · watch the clip

Jeremiah 1:4-5 is metaphorical, not literal

The passage in Jeremiah 1:4-5, where God states, 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,' is often cited to argue for pre-birth personhood. However, the speaker argues this is metaphorical language, indicating Jeremiah's destiny as a prophet, rather than a literal statement about God knowing a fetus in the womb or the pre-existence of the soul.

Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · What Does the Bible Say about Abortion? · watch the clip

Jer 1:5

Paul's Calling and Revelation of Jesus

Paul asserts that his calling was predestined from birth, akin to the prophet Jeremiah, and that God revealed Jesus to him directly. This personal revelation forms the basis of his gospel message, which he claims to have received directly from Jesus, not from other apostles.

Summarized by AI · Bart D. Ehrman · YouTube · Historical Paul: What Scholars Actually Know About Paul's Life, Beliefs, and Personality · watch the clip