The big picture
Jeremiah 45 opens in verse 1 with “The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 3 with “Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in…”, and closes in verse 5 with “And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil…” Repeated or prominent terms include LORD, Baruch, Jeremiah, added, book. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Jeremiah · King James Version · 5Jeremiah 45:1-5
1–5: The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah…
Jeremiah 45:1–5 opens with “The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written…” and reaches “And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jeremiah 45 develops its own movement around LORD, Baruch, Jeremiah, added, book, with particular weight carried by LORD, Baruch, Jeremiah.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at…” Naming Jeremiah and Baruch keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Jeremiah 45:1-5
King James Version1The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying,
2Thus saith the LORD , the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch;
3Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.
4Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.
5And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD : but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Jeremiah 45:1 begins with “The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth…”
Where the chapter turns
Jeremiah 45:5 forms a natural hinge: “And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD : but thy life will I give unto…”
The final note
Jeremiah 45:5 leaves the reader with “And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD : but thy life will I give unto…”
A word trail through the chapter
The words LORD, Baruch, Jeremiah, added, book, break help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What two explanations does Joseph hold together?
His brothers sold him, and God worked through the events to preserve life.
How does reconciliation become practical?
Joseph provides food, a place to live and transport for the whole household.
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.