Jeremiah 1, A Prophet to the Nations

God's voice comes to a priest during the reign of Josiah around 626 BC.

Jeremiah 1:1-3, A priest speaks out for forty years

The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. The word of the LORD came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile. 

Jeremiah's prophetic ministry will continue for forty years, through the capture of Jerusalem by Babylon in 586 BC. Jeremiah is a son of a priest and thus destined, himself, for the priesthood.

The name Jeremiah ( יִרְמְיָה) was "not unusual" in ancient Israel (Feinberg) and probably means "YHWH exalts", if one translates the last few syllables as rum ( רוּם).

Jeremiah 1:4-7, A young man is a prophet to the nations

The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, 

before you were born I set you apart; 

I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." 

"Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." 

But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, `I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. 

The passage switches to first person. Jeremiah describes being called to be a prophet, chosen by YHWH from the womb. He is to speak not just to Judah but to all the nations. He is identified as young: the Hebrew word na'ar (נַעַר), translated "child" by the NIV, probably means "youth." Feinberg suggests that Jeremiah was probably about twenty when called to be a prophet. Jeremiah is assured that with this calling will come God's protection and purpose.

Jeremiah 1:9-10, Mouth touched

Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." 

As Isaiah received a burning coal (Isaiah 6:6-7), in a similar way, Jeremiah's mouth is touched by YHWH.

Jeremiah 1:11-12, An almond tree

The word of the LORD came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?" 

"I see the branch of an almond tree," I replied. 

The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled." 

There is a play on the Hebrew word shaqed (שָׁקֵד) for "almond" here, as it is very close to the word shaqad (שָׁקַד), "watching", which follows. The image of the shaqed represents God's shaqad. This message will be important to Jeremiah, as his ministry will require confidence and assurance of God's guidance, in the midst of pain.

Jeremiah 1:13-16, A boiling pot

The word of the LORD came to me again: "What do you see?" 

"I see a boiling pot, tilting away from the north," I answered. 

The LORD said to me, "From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms," declares the LORD. 

"Their kings will come and set up their thrones 

in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem; 

they will come against all her surrounding walls 

and against all the towns of Judah. 

I will pronounce my judgments on my people 

because of their wickedness in forsaking me,

 in burning incense to other gods 

and in worshiping what their hands have made. 

The boiling pot, tilting from the north towards the south, represents invasion from the north. This is a result of God's judgment. The Babylonian empire, although to the far east, will invade from the north.

Jeremiah 1:17-19, Stand up

"Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land--against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 

They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. 

Jeremiah is then told to stand up and get ready. He will have to address the kings and all the leaders of Judah. This will be a difficult and painful task.

First published January 21, 2025; updated November 5, 2025