The Call of Jeremiah

Jeremiah 1

1 The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were a in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, 2 to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of b Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, c in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It came also in the days of d Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, e until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, f until the carrying away of Jerusalem captive g in the fifth month.

4 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:

5 "Before I h formed you in the womb i I knew you;
Before you were born I j sanctified 1 you;
I 2 ordained you a prophet to the nations."

6 Then said I:
k "Ah, Lord GOD!
Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."

7 But the LORD said to me:
"Do not say, 'I am a youth,'
For you shall go to all to whom I send you,
And l whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 m Do not be afraid of their faces,
For n I am with you to deliver you," says the LORD.

9 Then the LORD put forth His hand and o touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me:
"Behold, I have p put My words in your mouth. 10 q See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To r root out and to pull down,
To destroy and to throw down,
To build and to plant."

11 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Jeremiah, what do you see?" And I said, "I see a 3 branch of an almond tree." 12 Then the LORD said to me, "You have seen well, for I am 4 ready to perform My word."

13 And the word of the LORD came to me the second time, saying, "What do you see?" And I said, "I see s a boiling pot, and it is facing away from the north." 14 Then the LORD said to me:
"Out of the t north calamity shall break forth
On all the inhabitants of the land. 15 For behold, I am u calling
All the families of the kingdoms of the north," says the LORD;
"They shall come and v each one set his throne
At the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem,
Against all its walls all around,
And against all the cities of Judah. 16 I will utter My judgments
Against them concerning all their wickedness,
Because w they have forsaken Me,
Burned x incense to other gods,
And worshiped the works of their own y hands. 17 "Therefore z prepare yourself and arise,
And speak to them all that I command you.
a Do not be dismayed before their faces,
Lest I dismay you before them. 18 For behold, I have made you this day
b A fortified city and an iron pillar,
And bronze walls against the whole land -
Against the kings of Judah,
Against its princes,
Against its priests,
And against the people of the land. 19 They will fight against you,
But they shall not prevail against you.
For I am with you," says the LORD, "to deliver you."

  1. Cross References
    Joshua 21:18
    Anathoth with its common-land, and Almon with its common-land: four cities.
    1 Kings 2:26
    And to Abiathar the priest the king said, "Go to Anathoth, to your own fields, for you are deserving of death; but I will not put you to death at this time, because you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and because you were afflicted every time my father was afflicted.
    1 Chronicles 6:60
    And from the tribe of Benjamin: Geba with its common-lands, Alemeth with its common-lands, and Anathoth with its common-lands. All their cities among their families were thirteen.
    Isaiah 10:30
    Lift up your voice, O daughter of Gallim! Cause it to be heard as far as Laish - O poor Anathoth!
    Jeremiah 29:27
    Now therefore, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth who makes himself a prophet to you?
  2. Cross References
    1 Kings 13:2
    Then he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD, and said, "O altar, altar! Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, a child, Josiah by name, shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men's bones shall be burned on you.'
    2 Kings 21:24
    But the people of the land executed all those who had conspired against King Amon. Then the people of the land made his son Josiah king in his place.
    2 Chronicles 34:1
    Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
    Jeremiah 3:6
    The LORD said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: "Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot.
    Jeremiah 36:2
    Take a scroll of a book and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah even to this day.
  3. Cross References
    Jeremiah 25:3
    From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, this is the twenty-third year in which the word of the LORD has come to me; and I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking, but you have not listened.
  4. Cross References
    2 Kings 23:34
    Then Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Pharaoh took Jehoahaz and went to Egypt, and he died there.
    1 Chronicles 3:15
    The sons of Josiah were Johanan the firstborn, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, and the fourth Shallum.
    2 Chronicles 36:5 - 8
    Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD his God.
    Jeremiah 25:1
    The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon).
  5. Cross References
    2 Kings 24:17
    Then the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.
    1 Chronicles 3:15
    The sons of Josiah were Johanan the firstborn, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, and the fourth Shallum.
    2 Chronicles 36:11 - 13
    Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
    Jeremiah 39:2
    In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, the city was penetrated.
  6. Cross References
    Jeremiah 52:12
    Now in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month ( which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.
  7. Cross References
    2 Kings 25:8
    And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month (which was the nineteenth year of King Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.
  8. Cross References
    Isaiah 49:1
    Listen, O coastlands, to Me, And take heed, you peoples from afar! The LORD has called Me from the womb; From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.
    Isaiah 49:5
    And now the LORD says, Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, To bring Jacob back to Him, So that Israel is gathered to Him (For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, And My God shall be My strength).
  9. Cross References
    Exodus 33:12
    Then Moses said to the LORD, "See, You say to me, 'Bring up this people.' But You have not let me know whom You will send with me. Yet You have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found grace in My sight.
  10. Cross References
    Luke 1:15
    For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
    Galatians 1:15
    But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace.
  11. Cross References
    Exodus 4:10
    Then Moses said to the LORD, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.
    Exodus 6:12
    And Moses spoke before the LORD, saying, "The children of Israel have not heeded me. How then shall Pharaoh heed me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?
    Exodus 6:30
    But Moses said before the LORD, "Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh heed me?
  12. Cross References
    Numbers 22:20
    And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you - that you shall do.
    Numbers 22:38
    And Balaam said to Balak, "Look, I have come to you! Now, have I any power at all to say anything? The word that God puts in my mouth, that I must speak.
    Jeremiah 1:17
    Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them.
    Matthew 28:20
    Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
  13. Cross References
    Ezekiel 2:6
    And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house.
    Ezekiel 3:9
    "Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house."
  14. Cross References
    Exodus 3:12
    So He said, "I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.
    Deuteronomy 31:6
    "Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you."
    Joshua 1:5
    No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.
    Jeremiah 15:20
    And I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; And they will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you; For I am with you to save you And deliver you," says the LORD.
    Hebrews 13:6
    So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
  15. Cross References
    Isaiah 6:7
    And he touched my mouth with it, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.
    Mark 7:33 - 35
    And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue.
  16. Cross References
    Exodus 4:11 - 16
    So the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the LORD?
    Deuteronomy 18:18
    I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.
    Isaiah 51:16
    And I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, That I may plant the heavens, Lay the foundations of the earth, And say to Zion, 'You are My people.'
  17. Cross References
    1 Kings 19:17
    It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.
  18. Cross References
    Jeremiah 18:7 - 10
    The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it.
    Ezekiel 22:18
    Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to Me; they are all bronze, tin, iron, and lead, in the midst of a furnace; they have become dross from silver.
    2 Corinthians 10:4
    For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.
    2 Corinthians 10:5
    Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
  19. Cross References
    Ezekiel 11:3
    "who say, ' The time is not near to build houses; this city is the caldron, and we are the meat.'
    Ezekiel 24:3
    And utter a parable to the rebellious house, and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Put on a pot, set it on, And also pour water into it.
  20. Cross References
    Jeremiah 6:1
    O you children of Benjamin, Gather yourselves to flee from the midst of Jerusalem! Blow the trumpet in Tekoa, And set up a signal-fire in Beth Haccerem; For disaster appears out of the north, And great destruction.
  21. Cross References
    Jeremiah 6:22
    Thus says the LORD: "Behold, a people comes from the north country, And a great nation will be raised from the farthest parts of the earth.
    Jeremiah 25:9
    Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,' says the LORD, 'and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land, against its inhabitants, and against these nations all around, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, a hissing, and perpetual desolations.
  22. Cross References
    Isaiah 22:7
    It shall come to pass that your choicest valleys Shall be full of chariots, And the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.
    Jeremiah 39:3
    Then all the princes of the king of Babylon came in and sat in the Middle Gate: NergalShare'zer, SamgarNe'bo, Sarsechim, Rabsaris, NergalSare'zer, Rabmag, with the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.
  23. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 28:20
    The LORD will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, because of the wickedness of your doings in which you have forsaken Me.
    Jeremiah 17:13
    O LORD, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You shall be ashamed. "Those who depart from Me Shall be written in the earth, Because they have forsaken the LORD, The fountain of living waters.
  24. Cross References
    Isaiah 65:3
    A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face; Who sacrifice in gardens, And burn incense on altars of brick.
    Isaiah 65:4
    Who sit among the graves, And spend the night in the tombs; Who eat swine's flesh, And the broth of abominable things is in their vessels.
    Jeremiah 7:9
    Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know.
  25. Cross References
    Isaiah 37:19
    And have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands - wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them.
    Jeremiah 2:28
    But where are your gods that you have made for yourselves? Let them arise, If they can save you in the time of your trouble; For according to the number of your cities Are your gods, O Judah.
  26. Cross References
    1 Kings 18:46
    Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
    2 Kings 4:29
    Then he said to Gehazi, "Get yourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but lay my staff on the face of the child.
    Job 38:3
    Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
    Luke 12:35
    Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning.
    1 Peter 1:13
    Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
  27. Cross References
    Ezekiel 2:6
    And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house.
  28. Cross References
    Isaiah 50:7
    For the Lord GOD will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced; Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.
    Jeremiah 6:27
    I have set you as an assayer and a fortress among My people, That you may know and test their way.
    Jeremiah 15:20
    And I will make you to this people a fortified bronze wall; And they will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you; For I am with you to save you And deliver you," says the LORD.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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