Jeremiah - Chapter 1

Jeremiah 1.1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin: Jeremiah 1.2 To 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. Jeremiah 1.3 It 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. Jeremiah 1.4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah 1.5 Before 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. Jeremiah 1.6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. Jeremiah 1.7 But 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. Jeremiah 1.8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 1.9 Then 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. Jeremiah 1.10 See, 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. Jeremiah 1.11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Jeremiah 1.12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. Jeremiah 1.13 And 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. Jeremiah 1.14 Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. Jeremiah 1.15 For, 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. Jeremiah 1.16 And 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. Jeremiah 1.17 Thou 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. Jeremiah 1.18 For, 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. Jeremiah 1.19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.

Jeremiah : Chapter 1

The Call of the Prophet Jeremiah

Jeremiah chapter 1 evokes the divine calling of the prophet, illustrating how God entrusts Jeremiah with his sacred mission. This foundational text highlights Jeremiah's divine vocation, called from the womb, as well as his initial resistance to this call, followed by divine confirmation. This chapter introduces central themes such as divine sovereignty, the prophetic word, and imminent judgment. Thus, Jeremiah 1 sets the tone for the entire book, preparing the reader for the sometimes difficult messages that will follow.

Investigating the Prophetic Call

We invite you to explore with us five biblical passages that shed light on the meaning of this crucial prophetic call:

Isaiah 49:1

"Hear me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born, the Lord called me; from the womb, he has named my name. » This verse resonates with Jeremiah's prenatal call in Jeremiah 1:5, revealing a similar pattern of prophetic calling.

Exodus 4:10

“But Moses said to the Lord, ‘O Lord, I have never found it easy to speak, neither in the past nor now that you have spoken to your servant. My mouth and tongue are heavy.’” » Moses' hesitation mirrors Jeremiah's initial reluctance in Jeremiah 1:6, demonstrating a common pattern in the prophetic call.

Ezekiel 2:6

"And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or of their words. Do not be afraid, though thorns surround you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by their presence, though they are a rebellious nation. » This call to Ezekiel resonates with God's exhortation to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:8, emphasizing the courage necessary for prophetic ministry.

Acts 26:16

"Now therefore arise, and stand up. I have appeared to you to make you a servant and a witness of what you have seen of me and of what I will show you. » Paul's call presents elements of Jeremiah's call in Jeremiah 1:5, illustrating the continuity in how God entrusts his servants.

Revelation 10:9-10

"So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, 'Take it and eat it. It will be bitter in your stomach, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.'" » This experience of John echoes the touch of God on the lips of Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:9, symbolizing the transmission of the divine message.