Back to Jeremiah 1

Jeremiah 1:5-7

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”

But Yahweh said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you.

World English Bible · Public Domain
Show the surrounding paragraph

Jeremiah 1:5-7 sits inside this longer paragraph.

“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”

But Yahweh said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you. Don’t be afraid because of them, for I am with you to rescue you,” says Yahweh.

Read all of Jeremiah 1 →

Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

    Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”

    But Yahweh said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you.

  • KJV King James Version

    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.

    Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

    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.

Show all 3 translations
  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    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.

    Then said I: 'Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak; for I am a child.'

    But the LORD 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.

View more translations →

Cross-references (40)

  • Psalms 139:16 (v5) Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them.
  • Isaiah 49:1 (v5) Listen, islands, to me. Listen, you peoples, from afar: Yahweh has called me from the womb; from the inside of my mother, he has mentioned…
  • Galatians 1:15-16 (v5) But when it was the good pleasure of God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through his grace to reveal his Son in me,…
  • Psalms 71:5-6 (v5) For you are my hope, Lord Yahweh, my confidence from my youth. I have relied on you from the womb. You are he who took me out of my…
  • Romans 8:29 (v5) For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Show all 40 cross-references
  • Isaiah 49:5 (v5) Now Yahweh, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, says to bring Jacob again to him, and to gather Israel to him, for I am…
  • Isaiah 44:2 (v5) This is what Yahweh who made you, and formed you from the womb, who will help you says: “Don’t be afraid, Jacob my servant; and you,…
  • 2 Timothy 2:19-21 (v5) However God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the…
  • Luke 1:41 (v5) When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
  • Luke 1:76 (v5) And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways,
  • Exodus 33:17 (v5) Yahweh said to Moses, “I will do this thing also that you have spoken; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”
  • Exodus 33:12 (v5) Moses said to Yahweh, “Behold, you tell me, ‘Bring up this people;’ and you haven’t let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have…
  • Luke 1:15 (v5) For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even…
  • Jeremiah 1:10 (v5) Behold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and…
  • Romans 1:1 (v5) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God,
  • Exodus 4:10-16 (v6) Moses said to Yahweh, “O Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech,…
  • Jeremiah 50:34 (v5) Their Redeemer is strong: Yahweh of Armies is his name. He will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, and…
  • Ephesians 4:11-12 (v5) He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints,…
  • Exodus 6:12 (v6) Moses spoke before Yahweh, saying, “Behold, the children of Israel haven’t listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, when I have…
  • Ezekiel 3:27 (v7) But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you shall tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Yahweh says.’ He who hears, let him…
  • Ephesians 1:22 (v5) He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly,
  • 1 Kings 3:7-9 (v6) Now, Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king instead of David my father. I am just a little child. I don’t know how to go out or…
  • Jeremiah 32:17 (v6) “Ah Lord Yahweh! Behold, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm. There is nothing too…
  • Mark 16:15-16 (v7) He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but…
  • Numbers 22:20 (v7) God came to Balaam at night, and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak to…
  • Exodus 4:1 (v6) Moses answered, “But, behold, they will not believe me, nor listen to my voice; for they will say, ‘Yahweh has not appeared to you.’ ”
  • Exodus 6:30 (v6) Moses said before Yahweh, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh listen to me?”
  • 2 Chronicles 18:13 (v7) Micaiah said, “As Yahweh lives, I will say what my God says.”
  • Jeremiah 14:13 (v6) Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, the prophets tell them, ‘You will not see the sword, neither will you have famine; but I will give…
  • Ezekiel 3:17-21 (v7) “Son of man, I have made you a watchman to the house of Israel. Therefore hear the word from my mouth, and warn them from me. When I tell…
  • Numbers 22:38 (v7) Balaam said to Balak, “Behold, I have come to you. Have I now any power at all to speak anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that…
  • Jeremiah 1:17-18 (v7) “You therefore put your belt on your waist, arise, and say to them all that I command you. Don’t be dismayed at them, lest I dismay you…
  • Ezekiel 2:3-5 (v7) He said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the children of Israel, to a nation of rebels who have rebelled against me. They and their…
  • Matthew 28:20 (v7) teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
  • Exodus 7:1-2 (v7) Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I have made you as God to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I…
  • 1 Kings 22:14 (v7) Micaiah said, “As Yahweh lives, what Yahweh says to me, that I will speak.”
  • Jeremiah 25:15-26 (v5) For Yahweh, the God of Israel, says to me: “Take this cup of the wine of wrath from my hand, and cause all the nations to whom I send you…
  • Jeremiah 4:10 (v6) Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Surely you have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You will have peace;’ whereas the sword…
  • Isaiah 6:5 (v6) Then I said, “Woe is me! For I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have…
  • Acts 20:27 (v7) for I didn’t shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (17 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv5–7 Here Jeremiah explains more fully what he had already…

Here Jeremiah explains more fully what he had already mentioned that he had been called from above, for otherwise he would have presumptuously obtruded himself: for no one, as the Apostle says, takes this honor to himself; but the call of God alone raises up prophets and teachers to their dignity {see Hebrews 5:4}. Hence, that Jeremiah might secure attention, he declares that he had been called to the prophetic office, and that by the clear voice of God. For this purpose, he says, that this word was given him, Before I formed thee in the womb I knew thee He introduces God as the speaker, that what he declares might be more emphatical, that it might be of more weight and more forcible: for, if he had said simply in his own person, that he had been made a prophet by God’s voice, it would not have so much moved the hearers; but when he brings forward God as the speaker, there is necessarily more weight and force in what is said.

I pass by here what might be more largely said on what is necessary in one’s call, so that he may be attended to by God’s people; for no one, by his own and private right, can claim this privilege of speaking, as I have already said, inasmuch as this is what belongs to God alone. But I have elsewhere spoken at large on the prophetic call; it is therefore enough now to point at such things as these as it were by the finger: and particular discussions must be sought elsewhere; for were I to dwell at large on every subject, my work would be endless. I will, therefore, according to my usual practice, give a brief exposition of this Prophet.

Read full note →

Jeremiah then says, that he had been called by God, for this end, that he might on this account gain a hearing from the people. God declares that he knew Jeremiah before he formed him in the womb. This is not said specially of the Prophet, as though other men are unknown to God, but it is to be understood of the prophetic office, as though he had said, “Before I formed thee in the womb, I destined thee for this work, even that thou mayest undertake the burden of a teacher among the people.” And the second part is a repetition, when he says, Before thou camest forth from the womb I sanctified thee Sanctification is the same as the knowledge of God: and thus we perceive that knowledge is not mere prescience, but that predestination, by which God chooses every single individual according to his own will, and at the same time appoints and also sanctifies him; for no one, as Paul declares, (2 Corinthians 2:16,) is according to his own nature fitted for the work. Since then this fitness is the gratuitous gift of God, it is nothing strange that God declares that he had sanctified Jeremiah, as though he had said, “I formed thee man in the womb, and at the same time appointed thee for this particular work; and as it was not in thy power to bring with thee a qualification for the prophetic office, I formed thee not only a man, but a prophet.” This is the import of the passage.

But they refine too much, who think that the Prophet was sanctified from the womb as John the Baptist was, for the words mean no such thing; but only that is testified of Jeremiah, which Paul also affirms respecting himself in the first chapter of the Epistle to the Galatians, that he was known by God before he was born. Jeremiah then was not actually sanctified in the womb, but set apart according to God’s predestination and hidden purpose; that is, God chose him then to be a Prophet. It may be asked, whether he was not chosen before the creation of the world? To this it may be readily answered, that he was indeed foreknown by God before the world was made; but Scripture accommodates itself to the measure of our capacities, when it speaks of the generation of any one: it is then the same as though God had said of Jeremiah, that he was formed man for this end that in due time he might come forth a Prophet.

And no doubt the following clause is added exegetically, A prophet for the nations I made thee His sanctification, then, as I have said, was not real, but intimated that he was appointed a Prophet before he was born.

It however seems strange that he was given a Prophet to the nations God designed him to be the minister of his Church; for he neither went to the Ninevites, as Jonah did, (Jonah 3:3,) nor traveled into other countries, but spent his labors only among the tribe of Judah; why then is it said that he was given as a Prophet to the nations? To this I answer, that though God appointed him especially for his Church, yet his teaching belonged to other nations, as we shall presently see, and very evidently, as we proceed; for he prophesied concerning the Babylonians, the Egyptians, and the Moabites; in short, he included all the nations who were nigh and known to the Jews. This was indeed as it were accidental: but though he was given as a Prophet especially to his own people, yet his authority extended to heathen nations. No doubt nations are mentioned, including many, in order that the power and dignity of his teaching might appear more evident. It follows-

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv5–6 The scripture useth this manner of speech, to declare…
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv5–7 Jer 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv5–7 Before I formed thee in the belly, i.e. womb,…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv6–7 Then said I, Ah, Lord God!.... The word "Ah",…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv5, 7 I sanctified - I ordained thee for this public…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv5–7 Verse 5. Before I formed thee] I had destined…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv6–7 Jer 1:6. Then said I, Ah, Lord God, &c.…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv5–7 Rather, “Before I formed thee in the belly.” I…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv5–6 Knew, with affection, and designed thee for this office…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv5–7 knew--approved of thee as My chosen instrument (Exo 33:12,…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv5–7 5. Before I formed thee — Jeremiah was assigned…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv5–7 5. I knew thee] meaning not mere acquaintance, but…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv5–7 (5) I knew thee.—With the force which the word…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv5–7 Knew thee; i.e. took notice of thee; virtually equivalent…
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v7 Do not be afraid of them
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv6–7 1:6 Jeremiah was young (probably a teenager).
Share