The big picture
Jeremiah 1 opens in verse 1 with “The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 10 with “See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and…”, and closes in verse 19 with “And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, Judah, word, land, Josiah. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Jeremiah · King James Version · 19Jeremiah 1:1-7
1–7: The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in…
Jeremiah 1:1–7 opens with “The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of…” and reaches “But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Young Jeremiah receiving his call with the almond branch and boiling pot visions, with particular weight carried by LORD, Josiah, Judah.
Context that brings the passage to life
“The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:” Naming Anathoth and Benjamin keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“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…” Naming Amon and Josiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Jeremiah 1:1-7
King James Version1The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:
2To 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.
3It 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.
4Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
5Before 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.
6Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD ! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
7But 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 1:8-14
8–14: Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith…
Jeremiah 1:8–14 opens with “Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD .” and reaches “Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Young Jeremiah receiving his call with the almond branch and boiling pot visions, with particular weight carried by LORD, word, mouth.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD .” The line’s distinctive content terms include afraid, deliver, faces. Its relationship to verses 9 shows what work it does in this passage.
“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…” The line’s distinctive content terms include LORD, mouth, hand. Its relationship to verses 8 and 10 shows what work it does in this passage.
Jeremiah 1:8-14
King James Version8Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD .
9Then 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.
10See, 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.
11Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.
12Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
13And 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.
14Then the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.
Jeremiah 1:15-19
15–19: For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north…
Jeremiah 1:15–19 opens with “For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD ; and they…” and reaches “And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Young Jeremiah receiving his call with the almond branch and boiling pot visions, with particular weight carried by Judah, land, LORD.
Context that brings the passage to life
“For, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD ; and they shall come, and they…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
“And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned…” The line’s distinctive content terms include burned, forsaken, gods. Its relationship to verses 15 and 17 shows what work it does in this passage.
Jeremiah 1:15-19
King James Version15For, 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.
16And 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.
17Thou 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.
18For, 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.
19And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD , to deliver thee.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Jeremiah 1:1 begins with “The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:”
Where the chapter turns
Jeremiah 1:9 forms a natural hinge: “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.”
The final note
Jeremiah 1:19 leaves the reader with “And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD , to deliver thee.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, Judah, word, land, Josiah, king help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
Who receives the image and the blessing?
Both male and female in verses 27-28. Human worth precedes achievement.
What limits human dominion?
The world belongs to its Creator and is already declared good. Compare the charge to tend and keep in 2:15.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.