Jeremiah
The Weeping Prophet
Also known as: Jirmeja, Jeremiah, Yirmeyahu, Jeremias
Jeremiah is called 'the weeping prophet' because he mourned over Jerusalem's sin and coming destruction. He prophesied for more than 40 years and warned against the Babylonian invasion. Despite persecution and suffering, he remained faithful and prophesied about the new covenant that God would establish.
Family
Key events
Called as a Youth
God called Jeremiah to be a prophet from his mother's womb and promised to be with him despite opposition.
4The word of the LORD came to me:
וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃
5"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
בְּטֶ֨רֶם *אצורך **אֶצָּרְךָ֤ בַבֶּ֙טֶן֙ יְדַעְתִּ֔יךָ וּבְטֶ֛רֶם תֵּצֵ֥א מֵרֶ֖חֶם הִקְדַּשְׁתִּ֑יךָ נָבִ֥יא לַגּוֹיִ֖ם נְתַתִּֽיךָ׃
6Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! I do not know how to speak—I am only a boy."
וָאֹמַ֗ר אֲהָהּ֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהֹוִ֔ה הִנֵּ֥ה לֹא־יָדַ֖עְתִּי דַּבֵּ֑ר כִּי־נַ֖עַר אָנֹֽכִי׃ פ
7But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a boy.' You will go wherever I send you, and you will speak whatever I command you.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י אַל־תֹּאמַ֖ר נַ֣עַר אָנֹ֑כִי כִּ֠י עַֽל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֽ͏ֶשְׁלָחֲךָ֙ תֵּלֵ֔ךְ וְאֵ֛ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲצַוְּךָ֖ תְּדַבֵּֽר׃
8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD."
אַל־תִּירָ֖א מִפְּנֵיהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־אִתְּךָ֥ אֲנִ֛י לְהַצִּלֶ֖ךָ נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
9Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "See, I have put my words in your mouth.
וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יְהוָה֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ וַיַּגַּ֖ע עַל־פִּ֑י וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֵלַ֔י הִנֵּ֛ה נָתַ֥תִּי דְבָרַ֖י בְּפִֽיךָ׃
10See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms: to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.
רְאֵ֞ה הִפְקַדְתִּ֣יךָ ׀ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה עַל־הַגּוֹיִם֙ וְעַל־הַמַּמְלָכ֔וֹת לִנְת֥וֹשׁ וְלִנְת֖וֹץ וּלְהַאֲבִ֣יד וְלַהֲר֑וֹס לִבְנ֖וֹת וְלִנְטֽוֹעַ׃ פ
Warning to Judah
Jeremiah warned the people that they had forsaken the Lord, the source of living water, for broken cisterns.
11Has any nation ever exchanged its gods, though they are no gods at all? Yet my people have exchanged their Glory for what has no worth.
הַהֵימִ֥יר גּוֹי֙ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְהֵ֖מָּה לֹ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְעַמִּ֛י הֵמִ֥יר כְּבוֹד֖וֹ בְּל֥וֹא יוֹעִֽיל׃
12Be appalled at this, you heavens; shudder and be utterly desolate, declares the LORD.
שֹׁ֥מּוּ שָׁמַ֖יִם עַל־זֹ֑את וְשַׂעֲר֛וּ חָרְב֥וּ מְאֹ֖ד נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
13For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and dug for themselves cisterns—cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.
כִּֽי־שְׁתַּ֥יִם רָע֖וֹת עָשָׂ֣ה עַמִּ֑י אֹתִ֨י עָזְב֜וּ מְק֣וֹר ׀ מַ֣יִם חַיִּ֗ים לַחְצֹ֤ב לָהֶם֙ בֹּאר֔וֹת בֹּארֹת֙ נִשְׁבָּרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹא־יָכִ֖לוּ הַמָּֽיִם׃
In the Well
Jeremiah was thrown into a muddy well because of his prophecies but was rescued by the Ethiopian Ebed-Melech.
6So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malchiah the king's son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank into the mud.
וַיִּקְח֣וּ אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ וַיַּשְׁלִ֨כוּ אֹת֜וֹ אֶל־הַבּ֣וֹר ׀ מַלְכִּיָּ֣הוּ בֶן־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר֙ בַּחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה וַיְשַׁלְּח֥וּ אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ בַּחֲבָלִ֑ים וּבַבּ֤וֹר אֵֽין־מַ֙יִם֙ כִּ֣י אִם־טִ֔יט וַיִּטְבַּ֥ע יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ בַּטִּֽיט׃ ס
7But Ebed-melech the Cushite, a court official in the king's palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate,
וַיִּשְׁמַ֡ע עֶֽבֶד־מֶ֨לֶךְ הַכּוּשִׁ֜י אִ֣ישׁ סָרִ֗יס וְהוּא֙ בְּבֵ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּֽי־נָתְנ֥וּ אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ אֶל־הַבּ֑וֹר וְהַמֶּ֥לֶךְ יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּשַׁ֥עַר בִּנְיָמִֽן׃
10Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Cushite, "Take thirty men with you from here and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies."
וַיְצַוֶּ֣ה הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֛ת עֶֽבֶד־מֶ֥לֶךְ הַכּוּשִׁ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר קַ֣ח בְּיָדְךָ֤ מִזֶּה֙ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים אֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְֽהַעֲלִ֜יתָ אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָ֧הוּ הַנָּבִ֛יא מִן־הַבּ֖וֹר בְּטֶ֥רֶם יָמֽוּת׃
11So Ebed-melech took the men with him and went to a room beneath the treasury in the palace. From there he took worn-out rags and cast-off clothing and let them down with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern.
וַיִּקַּ֣ח ׀ עֶֽבֶד־מֶ֨לֶךְ אֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים בְּיָד֗וֹ וַיָּבֹ֤א בֵית־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־תַּ֣חַת הָאוֹצָ֔ר וַיִּקַּ֤ח מִשָּׁם֙ בְּלוֹיֵ֣ *הסחבות **סְחָב֔וֹת וּבְלוֹיֵ֖ מְלָחִ֑ים וַיְשַׁלְּ[t]חֵ֧ם אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֛הוּ אֶל־הַבּ֖וֹר בַּחֲבָלִֽים׃
12Ebed-melech the Cushite called down to Jeremiah, "Put these rags and cast-off clothing under your armpits, to pad the ropes." Jeremiah did so,
וַיֹּ֡אמֶר עֶבֶד־מֶ֨לֶךְ הַכּוּשִׁ֜י אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ שִׂ֣ים נָ֠א בְּלוֹאֵ֨י הַסְּחָב֤וֹת וְהַמְּלָחִים֙ תַּ֚חַת אַצִּל֣וֹת יָדֶ֔יךָ מִתַּ֖חַת לַחֲבָלִ֑ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ כֵּֽן׃
13and they pulled him up by the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.
וַיִּמְשְׁכ֤וּ אֶֽת־יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ בַּֽחֲבָלִ֔ים וַיַּעֲל֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ מִן־הַבּ֑וֹר וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ בַּחֲצָ֖ר הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃ ס
The New Covenant
Jeremiah prophesied about a new covenant where God would write his law on hearts and forgive the people's sins.
31The days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
הִנֵּ֛ה יָמִ֥ים בָּאִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וְכָרַתִּ֗י אֶת־בֵּ֧ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל וְאֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהוּדָ֖ה בְּרִ֥ית חֲדָשָֽׁה׃
32It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt—my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD.
לֹ֣א כַבְּרִ֗ית אֲשֶׁ֤ר כָּרַ֙תִּי֙ אֶת־אֲבוֹתָ֔ם בְּיוֹם֙ הֶחֱזִיקִ֣י בְיָדָ֔ם לְהוֹצִיאָ֖ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֜מָּה הֵפֵ֣רוּ אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֗י וְאָנֹכִ֛י בָּעַ֥לְתִּי בָ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָֽה׃
33But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
כִּ֣י זֹ֣את הַבְּרִ֡ית אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶכְרֹת֩ אֶת־בֵּ֨ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אַחֲרֵ֨י הַיָּמִ֤ים הָהֵם֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה נָתַ֤תִּי אֶת־תּֽוֹרָתִי֙ בְּקִרְבָּ֔ם וְעַל־לִבָּ֖ם אֶכְתֲּבֶ֑נָּה וְהָיִ֤יתִי לָהֶם֙ לֵֽאלֹהִ֔ים וְהֵ֖מָּה יִֽהְיוּ־לִ֥י לְעָֽם׃
34No longer will anyone teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, "Know the LORD," for they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their guilt and remember their sin no more.
וְלֹ֧א יְלַמְּד֣וּ ע֗וֹד אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־רֵעֵ֜הוּ וְאִ֤ישׁ אֶת־אָחִיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר דְּע֖וּ אֶת־יְהוָ֑ה כִּֽי־כוּלָּם֩ יֵדְע֨וּ אוֹתִ֜י לְמִקְטַנָּ֤ם וְעַד־גְּדוֹלָם֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֤י אֶסְלַח֙ לַֽעֲוֺנָ֔ם וּלְחַטָּאתָ֖ם לֹ֥א אֶזְכָּר־עֽוֹד׃ ס
Hope for the Future
Despite the destruction, Jeremiah promised that God had plans of peace for the people, with a future and hope.
11For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD—plans for peace and not for harm, to give you a future and a hope.
כִּי֩ אָנֹכִ֨י יָדַ֜עְתִּי אֶת־הַמַּחֲשָׁבֹ֗ת אֲשֶׁ֧ר אָנֹכִ֛י חֹשֵׁ֥ב עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה מַחְשְׁב֤וֹת שָׁלוֹם֙ וְלֹ֣א לְרָעָ֔ה לָתֵ֥ת לָכֶ֖ם אַחֲרִ֥ית וְתִקְוָֽה׃
12Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
וּקְרָאתֶ֤ם אֹתִי֙ וַֽהֲלַכְתֶּ֔ם וְהִתְפַּלַּלְתֶּ֖ם אֵלָ֑י וְשָׁמַעְתִּ֖י אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃
13You will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.
וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּ֥ם אֹתִ֖י וּמְצָאתֶ֑ם כִּ֥י תִדְרְשֻׁ֖נִי בְּכָל־לְבַבְכֶֽם׃
14I will let myself be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes. I will gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
וְנִמְצֵ֣אתִי לָכֶם֮ נְאֻם־יְהוָה֒ וְשַׁבְתִּ֣י אֶת־*שביתכם **שְׁבוּתְכֶ֗ם וְקִבַּצְתִּ֣י אֶ֠תְכֶם מִֽכָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֞ם וּמִכָּל־הַמְּקוֹמ֗וֹת אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִדַּ֧חְתִּי אֶתְכֶ֛ם שָׁ֖ם נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֣י אֶתְכֶ֔ם אֶל־הַ֨מָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁר־הִגְלֵ֥יתִי אֶתְכֶ֖ם מִשָּֽׁם׃
Mentioned in the Bible (117)
2 Kings 23:312 Kings 24:181 Chronicles 5:241 Chronicles 12:51 Chronicles 12:111 Chronicles 12:142 Chronicles 35:252 Chronicles 36:122 Chronicles 36:22Ezra 1:1Nehemiah 10:3Nehemiah 12:1Nehemiah 12:12Nehemiah 12:34Jeremiah 1:1Jeremiah 7:1Jeremiah 11:1Jeremiah 14:1Jeremiah 18:1Jeremiah 18:18Jeremiah 20:1Jeremiah 20:2Jeremiah 20:3Jeremiah 21:1Jeremiah 21:3Jeremiah 24:3Jeremiah 25:1Jeremiah 25:2Jeremiah 26:9Jeremiah 26:20Jeremiah 26:24Jeremiah 27:1Jeremiah 28:5Jeremiah 28:6Jeremiah 28:10Jeremiah 28:11Jeremiah 28:12Jeremiah 28:15Jeremiah 29:1Jeremiah 29:27Jeremiah 29:29Jeremiah 29:30Jeremiah 30:1Jeremiah 32:1Jeremiah 32:2Jeremiah 32:26Jeremiah 33:1Jeremiah 33:19Jeremiah 33:23Jeremiah 34:1Jeremiah 34:6Jeremiah 34:8Jeremiah 34:12Jeremiah 35:1Jeremiah 35:3Jeremiah 35:12Jeremiah 35:18Jeremiah 36:1Jeremiah 36:4Jeremiah 36:5Jeremiah 36:8Jeremiah 36:10Jeremiah 36:19Jeremiah 36:26Jeremiah 36:27Jeremiah 36:32Jeremiah 37:2Jeremiah 37:3Jeremiah 37:4Jeremiah 37:6Jeremiah 37:13Jeremiah 37:14Jeremiah 37:15Jeremiah 37:16Jeremiah 37:17Jeremiah 37:18Jeremiah 37:21Jeremiah 38:1Jeremiah 38:6Jeremiah 38:7Jeremiah 38:9Jeremiah 38:10Jeremiah 38:11Jeremiah 38:12Jeremiah 38:13Jeremiah 38:14Jeremiah 38:15Jeremiah 38:16Jeremiah 38:17Jeremiah 38:19Jeremiah 38:24Jeremiah 39:11Jeremiah 39:14Jeremiah 39:15Jeremiah 40:1Jeremiah 40:5Jeremiah 40:6Jeremiah 42:2Jeremiah 42:5Jeremiah 42:7Jeremiah 43:2Jeremiah 43:6Jeremiah 43:8Jeremiah 44:20Jeremiah 45:1Jeremiah 46:1Jeremiah 46:13Jeremiah 47:1Jeremiah 49:34Jeremiah 50:1Jeremiah 51:59Jeremiah 51:61Jeremiah 52:1Daniel 9:2Matthew 2:17Matthew 16:14Matthew 27:9