Jeremiah (2 Chronicles 35:25; 2 Chronicles 36:12; Jeremiah 1:1–19; Jeremiah 11:18–23; Jeremiah 13:1–11; Jeremiah 15:10–21; Jeremiah 20:1–18; Jeremiah 26:1–24; Jeremiah 28:1–17; Jeremiah 32:1–17; Jeremiah 36:1–32; Jeremiah 37:11–38:28; Jeremiah 39:11–40:6; Jeremiah 42:1–43:7; Jeremiah 44:15–30; Jeremiah 51:59–64; Daniel 9:2; Matthew 2:17; Matthew 16:14; Matthew 27:9)

A Prophet unto the Nations, of the Priests in Anathoth

Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests in Anathoth, appointed a prophet unto the nations; he was smitten and put in the stocks, seized and brought before the princes, saw his roll burned, was let down into a dungeon of mire, was bound in chains, and was taken into Egypt by the remnant he had told not to go.

The book that bears his name opens: “The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin” (Jeremiah 1:1). The word of the LORD came to him “in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign” (Jeremiah 1:2) and on “unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month” (Jeremiah 1:3). When the LORD said “I have appointed thee a prophet unto the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5), he answered, “Ah, Lord Jehovah! behold, I know not how to speak; for I am a child” (Jeremiah 1:6). Chronicles adds that “Jeremiah lamented for Josiah” (2 Chronicles 35:25). The book is not arranged strictly in time, so this study sets each episode where the text's own date markers and narrative put it, and otherwise keeps the book's order.

What the text records of the man is mostly opposition and his own cries under it. He hid a girdle at the Euphrates and was forbidden a wife (Jeremiah 13:1-7; 16:2). Pashhur the priest “smote Jeremiah the prophet, and put him in the stocks” (Jeremiah 20:2); the priests and the prophets and all the people “laid hold on him, saying, Thou shalt surely die” (Jeremiah 26:8); Jehoiakim cut the roll he had dictated and burned it (Jeremiah 36:23); Hananiah “took the bar from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and brake it” (Jeremiah 28:10). Between these stand his own words to the LORD: “Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife” (Jeremiah 15:10), “thou hast persuaded me, and I was persuaded” (Jeremiah 20:7), “Cursed be the day wherein I was born” (Jeremiah 20:14). To his complaint in chapter 15 the LORD answered, “If thou return, then will I bring thee again, that thou mayest stand before me” (Jeremiah 15:19). Yet he also says, “Jehovah is with me as a mighty one and a terrible” (Jeremiah 20:11), and while shut up in the court of the guard during the siege he bought a field at Anathoth (Jeremiah 32:9).

When the city fell, the officers of the king of Babylon took him out of the court of the guard and committed him to Gedaliah (Jeremiah 39:14); the next chapter tells of his being loosed from chains at Ramah, after which “went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land” (Jeremiah 40:6). After Gedaliah was slain, the remnant asked him to pray, heard the word “Go ye not into Egypt” (Jeremiah 42:19) and said “Thou speakest falsely” (Jeremiah 43:2); “Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah” (Jeremiah 43:6) were taken with them, and “they came into the land of Egypt” (Jeremiah 43:7). The last place the book puts him is Egypt; chapter 51 ends the words concerning Babylon with “Thus far are the words of Jeremiah” (Jeremiah 51:64). Scripture does not record his death or burial.

Other books name him too. Chronicles and Ezra speak of “the word of Jehovah by the mouth of Jeremiah” (2 Chronicles 36:21), and Daniel “understood by the books the number of the years whereof the word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah the prophet” (Daniel 9:2). In Matthew, when Jesus asks who men say the Son of man is, the disciples report “others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets” (Matthew 16:14), and twice the Gospel says that something was “spoken through Jeremiah the prophet” (Matthew 2:17).

Strengths

• Spoke what he was commanded
• Obeyed the word in sign and deed
• Stood before the LORD to speak good for them
• Thy words were unto me a joy
• Could not hold in the word
• Kept nothing back
• Prayed in the siege

Weaknesses

• Said “I am a child”
• Asked if the LORD would be “as a deceitful brook”

Themes

• Prophet's call
• Sign-acts
• Conflict with priests and kings
• Laments
• Imprisonment
• Taken into Egypt
• Baruch the scribe

Called to be a prophet to the nations (Jeremiah 1:1–19)

The word of the LORD comes to the son of Hilkiah in the thirteenth year of Josiah; he says he is a child, the LORD touches his mouth, shows him an almond rod and a boiling caldron, and makes him a fortified city.

Called to be a prophet to the nations

He is “Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin” (Jeremiah 1:1), and the word came to him “in the thirteenth year” (Jeremiah 1:2) of Josiah (Jeremiah 1:2). “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee; I have appointed thee a prophet unto the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5).

“Then said I, Ah, Lord Jehovah! behold, I know not how to speak; for I am a child. But Jehovah said unto me, Say not, I am a child; for to whomsoever I shall send thee thou shalt go, and whatsoever I shall command thee thou shalt speak” (Jeremiah 1:6-7). “Then Jehovah put forth his hand, and touched my mouth; and Jehovah said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth” (Jeremiah 1:9).

Two sights follow. “I see a rod of an almond-tree. Then said Jehovah unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I watch over my word to perform it” (Jeremiah 1:11-12). Then, “I see a boiling caldron; and the face thereof is from the north” (Jeremiah 1:13).

“For, behold, I have made thee this day a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and brazen 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. And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee, saith Jehovah, to deliver thee” (Jeremiah 1:18-19).

The men of Anathoth, and the first lament (Jeremiah 11:18–23; Jeremiah 15:10–21)

The LORD shows him that the men of Anathoth seek his life; later he cries that he is a man of strife and asks whether the LORD will be to him as a deceitful brook, and is answered, “If thou return,” (Jeremiah 15:19) with a promise to make him a fortified brazen wall.

The linen girdle, and a life without wife, mourning or feast (Jeremiah 13:1–11; Jeremiah 16:1–9)

At the LORD's word he buys a linen girdle, hides it by the Euphrates and finds it marred; he is also forbidden to take a wife in this place or to enter the house of mourning or of feasting.

The potter's house, the broken bottle, and Pashhur's stocks (Jeremiah 18:1–23; Jeremiah 19:1–20:6)

After watching a potter remake a marred vessel, he learns that men devise devices against him and asks the LORD to deal with them; he breaks a potter's bottle before the elders, and Pashhur the priest smites him and puts him in the stocks, and Jeremiah tells him the LORD has called his name Magor-missabib.

Thou hast persuaded me (Jeremiah 20:7–18)

He tells the LORD he has become a laughing-stock, that the word is a burning fire in his bones he cannot contain, that the LORD is with him as a mighty one, and then curses the day he was born.

Thou hast persuaded me

“O Jehovah, thou hast persuaded me, and I was persuaded; thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am become a laughing-stock all the day, every one mocketh me. For as often as I speak, I cry out; I cry, Violence and destruction! because the word of Jehovah is made a reproach unto me, and a derision, all the day” (Jeremiah 20:7-8).

“And if I say, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name, then there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with forbearing, and I cannot contain” (Jeremiah 20:9). He has heard the defaming of many, and “all my familiar friends, they that watch for my fall” (Jeremiah 20:10) wait to prevail against him.

“But Jehovah is with me as a mighty one and a terrible: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail” (Jeremiah 20:11). “Sing unto Jehovah, praise ye Jehovah; for he hath delivered the soul of the needy from the hand of evil-doers” (Jeremiah 20:13).

In the same breath: “Cursed be the day wherein I was born: let not the day wherein my mother bare me be blessed” (Jeremiah 20:14). “Wherefore came I forth out of the womb to see labor and sorrow, that my days should be consumed with shame?” (Jeremiah 20:18). The text sets the praise and the curse side by side and gives no answer to the last question.

Seized at the house of the LORD (Jeremiah 26:1–24)

In the beginning of Jehoiakim's reign he speaks in the court of the LORD's house; the priests, prophets and people lay hold on him, the princes hear the case and acquit him, and Ahikam's hand keeps him from the people.

Seized at the house of the LORD

“In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, came this word from Jehovah” (Jeremiah 26:1): “Stand in the court of Jehovah's house … diminish not a word” (Jeremiah 26:2). He says the LORD will make this house like Shiloh (Jeremiah 26:6). “And it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that Jehovah had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold on him, saying, Thou shalt surely die” (Jeremiah 26:8).

The princes come up from the king's house and sit in the entry of the new gate. “This man is worthy of death” (Jeremiah 26:11) the priests and prophets say (Jeremiah 26:11). Jeremiah answers: “Jehovah sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard … But as for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as is good and right in your eyes” (Jeremiah 26:12-14).

“Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets: This man is not worthy of death; for he hath spoken to us in the name of Jehovah our God” (Jeremiah 26:16). Certain elders recall that Micah the Morashtite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah and was not put to death (Jeremiah 26:17-19). Of Uriah, who prophesied “according to all the words of Jeremiah” (Jeremiah 26:20) the text says Jehoiakim sought to put him to death, that Uriah fled to Egypt, and that he was fetched back and slain with the sword (Jeremiah 26:20-23).

“But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death” (Jeremiah 26:24).

The Rechabites and the wine (Jeremiah 35:1–19)

In the days of Jehoiakim he brings the house of the Rechabites into a chamber of the LORD's house and sets wine before them; they refuse because Jonadab their father commanded it, and the LORD holds up their obedience against Judah.

The roll dictated, and burned (Jeremiah 36:1–32; Jeremiah 45:1–5)

In Jehoiakim's fourth year he dictates his words to Baruch, who reads them at the house of the LORD on a fast day; the king cuts the roll and burns it, the LORD hides the two men, and a second roll is written with many like words added.

The roll dictated, and burned

“In the fourth year of Jehoiakim” (Jeremiah 36:1) the word came: “Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations” (Jeremiah 36:2). “Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of Jehovah” (Jeremiah 36:4) upon a roll, and Jeremiah said, “I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of Jehovah: therefore go thou, and read in the roll” (Jeremiah 36:5-6). In the fifth year, in the ninth month, Baruch read it in the ears of all the people (Jeremiah 36:9-10).

The princes heard it, “turned in fear one toward another” (Jeremiah 36:16) and told Baruch, “Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye are” (Jeremiah 36:19). The king sent Jehudi for the roll: “when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, that the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the roll was consumed” (Jeremiah 36:23). “And they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants” (Jeremiah 36:24). The king commanded that Baruch and Jeremiah be taken, “but Jehovah hid them” (Jeremiah 36:26).

“Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words” (Jeremiah 36:28). “Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire; and there were added besides unto them many like words” (Jeremiah 36:32).

In the same fourth year, as Baruch wrote, Jeremiah gave him a word about his own sorrow: “seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not … but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest” (Jeremiah 45:5).

The bars of wood and the bars of iron (Jeremiah 27:1–22; Jeremiah 28:1–17)

He puts bonds and bars on his neck and sends word to the neighboring kings and to Zedekiah to serve Babylon; Hananiah breaks the bar and says two years, Jeremiah answers that the LORD has not sent him, and Hananiah dies that year in the seventh month.

Words sent to Babylon (Jeremiah 29:1–9; Jeremiah 29:24–32; Jeremiah 51:59–64)

He sends a letter to the captives in Babylon telling them to build houses and seek the peace of the city, answers Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and gives Seraiah a book against Babylon to read and sink in the Euphrates.

In prison and in the dungeon of mire (Jeremiah 37:11–21; Jeremiah 38:1–28)

Arrested at the gate of Benjamin as a deserter, he is beaten and put in the house of Jonathan the scribe; the princes later cast him into a dungeon where there was no water but mire, and Ebed-melech the Ethiopian has him drawn up; Zedekiah questions him secretly twice.

In prison and in the dungeon of mire

When the Chaldean army broke up from Jerusalem for fear of Pharaoh's army, Jeremiah set out for the land of Benjamin. In the gate, Irijah “laid hold on Jeremiah the prophet, saying, Thou art falling away to the Chaldeans.” (Jeremiah 37:13) He answered, “It is false” (Jeremiah 37:14). “And the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe; for they had made that the prison” (Jeremiah 37:15). Zedekiah “asked him secretly in his house, and said, Is there any word from Jehovah? And Jeremiah said, There is. He said also, Thou shalt be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon” (Jeremiah 37:17).

Later the princes said to the king, “Let this man, we pray thee, be put to death” (Jeremiah 38:4). Zedekiah answered, “Behold, he is in your hand; for the king is not he that can do anything against you.” (Jeremiah 38:5) “Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchijah the king's son, that was in the court of the guard: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire; and Jeremiah sank in the mire” (Jeremiah 38:6).

“Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, a eunuch, who was in the king's house” (Jeremiah 38:7) spoke to the king, and the king said, “Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die” (Jeremiah 38:10). Ebed-melech let down rags and worn-out garments by cords; “so they drew up Jeremiah with the cords” (Jeremiah 38:13).

In a second secret meeting Zedekiah swore not to put him to death, and Jeremiah told him, “Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of Jehovah, in that which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well with thee, and thy soul shall live” (Jeremiah 38:20). “So Jeremiah abode in the court of the guard until the day that Jerusalem was taken” (Jeremiah 38:28).

Buys a field in Anathoth during the siege (Jeremiah 32:1–17; Jeremiah 32:43–44)

Shut up in the court of the guard in Zedekiah's tenth year, he buys his cousin Hanamel's field for seventeen shekels, gives the deed to Baruch, and prays.

Buys a field in Anathoth during the siege

“The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar. Now at that time the king of Babylon's army was besieging Jerusalem; and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard” (Jeremiah 32:1-2), where Zedekiah had shut him up for what he prophesied (Jeremiah 32:3).

“So Hanamel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the guard according to the word of Jehovah, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth … Then I knew that this was the word of Jehovah. And I bought the field that was in Anathoth of Hanamel mine uncle's son, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver” (Jeremiah 32:8-9).

He signed, sealed and called witnesses, and “delivered the deed of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah” (Jeremiah 32:12). The charge to Baruch: “put them in an earthen vessel; that they may continue many days. For thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall yet again be bought in this land” (Jeremiah 32:14-15).

Then he prayed: “Ah Lord Jehovah! behold, thou hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power and by thine outstretched arm; there is nothing too hard for thee” (Jeremiah 32:17). The LORD's answer: “Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe the deeds, and seal them, and call witnesses” (Jeremiah 32:44). The text does not say what became of the field.

Jerusalem falls; Gedaliah at Mizpah (Jeremiah 39:1–18; Jeremiah 40:1–6; Jeremiah 41:1–3)

After the city is taken, Nebuchadrezzar gives charge to look well to Jeremiah; one account says he was taken out of the court of the guard and committed to Gedaliah, another that Nebuzaradan loosed him from chains at Ramah; he dwells with Gedaliah at Mizpah until Ishmael slays Gedaliah.

The remnant goes down to Egypt (Jeremiah 42:1–22; Jeremiah 43:1–13; Jeremiah 44:15–30)

The remnant asks him to pray for them and promises to obey, then rejects the LORD's word not to go to Egypt, accuses him and Baruch, and takes both to Tahpanhes, where he hides stones and later speaks to the Jews of Egypt; the book records no return and no death.

The remnant goes down to Egypt

After Gedaliah was slain, Johanan and the people came near and said, “pray for us unto Jehovah thy God, even for all this remnant” (Jeremiah 42:2). He answered, “I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto Jehovah your God according to your words … I will keep nothing back from you.” (Jeremiah 42:4) They said, “we will obey the voice of Jehovah our God” (Jeremiah 42:6).

“After ten days” (Jeremiah 42:7) the word came (Jeremiah 42:7): if they abode in the land, “then will I build you, and not pull you down” (Jeremiah 42:10). “Jehovah hath spoken concerning you, O remnant of Judah, Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have testified unto you this day. For ye have dealt deceitfully against your own souls” (Jeremiah 42:19-20).

“Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: Jehovah our God hath not sent thee … but Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us” (Jeremiah 43:2-3). They took the remnant, “and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah. And they came into the land of Egypt; for they obeyed not the voice of Jehovah: and they came unto Tahpanhes” (Jeremiah 43:6-7).

At Tahpanhes he was told, “Take great stones in thy hand, and hide them in mortar in the brickwork” (Jeremiah 43:9) at the entry of Pharaoh's house, in the sight of the men of Judah (Jeremiah 43:9). To the Jews who dwelt in Egypt he spoke of the queen of heaven, and they replied, “As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of Jehovah, we will not hearken unto thee” (Jeremiah 44:16). His reply ends: “Behold, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies” (Jeremiah 44:30).

Egypt is the last place the book puts him. It does not say whether he returned, and Scripture does not record his death.

The LORD (Jeremiah 1:5–10; Jeremiah 1:19; Jeremiah 20:11)

Appointed him a prophet unto the nations, put his words in his mouth, and promised, “I am with thee to deliver thee” (Jeremiah 1:8).

Baruch the son of Neriah (Jeremiah 32:12; Jeremiah 36:4; Jeremiah 43:2–6)

Wrote the roll at his mouth, received the deed of the field, was accused by Johanan of setting him on, and was taken with him into Egypt.

Hanamel (Jeremiah 32:7–9)

His uncle's son, who came to him in the court of the guard and said, “Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth” (Jeremiah 32:8).

Ahikam the son of Shaphan (Jeremiah 26:24)

“The hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death” (Jeremiah 26:24).

Gedaliah the son of Ahikam (Jeremiah 39:14; Jeremiah 40:5–6; Jeremiah 41:1–2)

The man to whom the Babylonians committed him; Jeremiah went to him at Mizpah and dwelt with him until Ishmael slew him.

Ebed-melech the Ethiopian (Jeremiah 38:7–13; Jeremiah 39:15–18)

A eunuch in the king's house who spoke to the king and drew Jeremiah up out of the dungeon; the LORD promised to deliver him because he put his trust in him.

Zedekiah king of Judah (Jeremiah 32:2–3; Jeremiah 37:17; Jeremiah 38:14–16; 2 Chronicles 36:11–12)

Shut him up in the court of the guard, yet sent for him secretly to ask for a word from the LORD; of him 2 Chronicles says he humbled not himself before Jeremiah.

Jehoiakim king of Judah (Jeremiah 36:23–26)

Cut the roll with a penknife and burned it, and commanded that Baruch and Jeremiah be taken; the LORD hid them.

Pashhur the son of Immer (Jeremiah 20:1–6)

The priest and chief officer in the house of the LORD who smote him and put him in the stocks, and whose name, Jeremiah told him, the LORD had called Magor-missabib.

Hananiah the son of Azzur (Jeremiah 28:1–17)

The prophet of Gibeon who broke the bar from his neck and was told “Jehovah hath not sent thee” (Jeremiah 28:15), and who died the same year.

The men of Anathoth (Jeremiah 11:18–23)

Sought his life, saying “Thou shalt not prophesy in the name of Jehovah” (Jeremiah 11:21); the LORD announced punishment on them, and the text does not record it carried out.

Johanan the son of Kareah (Jeremiah 43:2–7)

With the proud men said “Thou speakest falsely” (Jeremiah 43:2), disobeyed the word to stay in the land, and led the remnant into Egypt.

Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon (Jeremiah 39:11–12; Jeremiah 43:10)

Called the LORD's servant; he gave charge to his captain, “Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm” (Jeremiah 39:12).

Daniel (Daniel 9:2)

Never shown with him; Daniel understood by the books the number of the years of the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet.

Major sections

• Jeremiah 1
• Jeremiah 11–20
• Jeremiah 26–29
• Jeremiah 32–45
• Jeremiah 51:59–64

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