Bible Characters
Who Was Jeremiah in the Bible? The Prophet of Judah's Final Years
Jeremiah was a prophet from a priestly family who spoke God's word to the kingdom of Judah for about forty years, from around 627 BC until after Jerusalem fell to Babylon in 586 BC (Jeremiah 1:1-3). He warned that judgment was coming because of the nation's idolatry, and he was beaten, imprisoned, and thrown into a cistern for his message (Jeremiah 20:2; 37:15; 38:6). He also foretold a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Traditional authorship credits him with the book of Jeremiah and the book of Lamentations.
Quick Facts About Jeremiah
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Name meaning | Often understood as "the LORD exalts" or "the LORD establishes" |
| Testament | Old Testament |
| Key books | Jeremiah, Lamentations (traditional authorship); 2 Chronicles 35-36 |
| Time period | About 627-580 BC (traditional dating) |
| Known for | Warning of Jerusalem's fall, suffering for his message, the new covenant prophecy |
Who Was Jeremiah in the Bible? His Background and Call
Jeremiah was the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin (Jeremiah 1:1). Anathoth was a few miles north of Jerusalem. The word of the LORD came to him in the thirteenth year of King Josiah (Jeremiah 1:2).
God told Jeremiah that his calling began before his birth:
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5)
Jeremiah objected that he did not know how to speak and was too young (Jeremiah 1:6). God told him not to say he was too young, but to go where he was sent and say what he was commanded (Jeremiah 1:7). Then the LORD touched his mouth and said He had put His words there (Jeremiah 1:9).
God showed Jeremiah two visions: an almond branch, meaning God was watching to see that His word was fulfilled, and a boiling pot tilting from the north, meaning disaster would come from the north (Jeremiah 1:11-14).
The Kings of Jeremiah's Lifetime
| King | Events in Jeremiah's ministry |
|---|---|
| Josiah | Jeremiah's call; Jeremiah later lamented Josiah's death (Jeremiah 1:2; 2 Chronicles 35:25) |
| Jehoahaz (Shallum) | Jeremiah said he would never return from exile (Jeremiah 22:11-12) |
| Jehoiakim | Temple sermon; scroll burned by the king (Jeremiah 26; 36) |
| Jehoiachin | Taken to Babylon (Jeremiah 22:24-26; 24:1) |
| Zedekiah | Imprisonment, the cistern, fall of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 37-39) |
Warnings to Judah
The Temple Sermon
God sent Jeremiah to stand at the gate of the temple and tell the people to reform their ways (Jeremiah 7:1-3). They were trusting in the temple as if it guaranteed their safety, while stealing, murdering, committing adultery, and following other gods (Jeremiah 7:4, 7:9-10). God said He would do to the temple what He had done to Shiloh (Jeremiah 7:14).
When Jeremiah repeated this message, the priests, prophets, and people seized him and said he must die (Jeremiah 26:8). Some elders recalled that the prophet Micah had spoken similar words under King Hezekiah, and Ahikam son of Shaphan protected Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:17-19, 26:24).
Object Lessons
God often had Jeremiah act out his message:
- He buried a linen belt and dug it up ruined, to show how God would ruin the pride of Judah (Jeremiah 13:1-11).
- He watched a potter reshape clay, showing that God could reshape the nation (Jeremiah 18:1-6).
- He broke a clay jar before the elders to show how God would smash the city (Jeremiah 19:1-11).
- He wore a wooden yoke to urge submission to Babylon (Jeremiah 27:2, 27:12).
God also told Jeremiah not to marry or have children in that place, as a sign of the coming disaster (Jeremiah 16:1-4).
Suffering for the Message
Beaten and Put in Stocks
Pashhur, the chief officer in the temple, had Jeremiah beaten and put in stocks (Jeremiah 20:1-2). Afterward, Jeremiah poured out a complaint to God. He said the word of the LORD had brought him insult all day long, yet when he tried not to speak, the word was like a fire shut up in his bones (Jeremiah 20:7-9). He even cursed the day he was born (Jeremiah 20:14).
The Burned Scroll
God told Jeremiah to write all His words on a scroll. Jeremiah dictated them to his scribe Baruch, who read them at the temple (Jeremiah 36:1-10). When the scroll was read to King Jehoiakim, he cut it with a knife, piece by piece, and burned it in the fire (Jeremiah 36:22-23). God told Jeremiah to write it again, and many similar words were added (Jeremiah 36:27-32).
Prison and the Cistern
During the Babylonian siege under King Zedekiah, Jeremiah tried to leave Jerusalem for Benjamin. He was arrested as a deserter, beaten, and imprisoned (Jeremiah 37:11-15). Officials later lowered him into a cistern that had no water, only mud, and he sank down into it (Jeremiah 38:6).
Ebed-Melek, a Cushite official, appealed to the king. With thirty men he pulled Jeremiah out using ropes and old rags (Jeremiah 38:7-13). God later promised to rescue Ebed-Melek because he trusted in Him (Jeremiah 39:15-18).
Hope Beyond Judgment
Seventy Years
Jeremiah foretold that the nation would serve the king of Babylon seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11). He wrote to the exiles, telling them to build houses, plant gardens, and seek the peace of the city where they were carried (Jeremiah 29:4-7). God promised that after seventy years He would bring them back (Jeremiah 29:10-11). Daniel later read this prophecy (Daniel 9:2), and Cyrus's decree is described as fulfilling it (Ezra 1:1). See who was Ezra in the Bible.
Buying a Field
While Jerusalem was under siege and Jeremiah was confined, God told him to buy his cousin's field at Anathoth (Jeremiah 32:1-9). The deed was sealed in a clay jar as a sign that houses, fields, and vineyards would again be bought in the land (Jeremiah 32:14-15).
The New Covenant
God promised a new covenant with Israel and Judah, unlike the covenant made at the exodus. He said He would put His law in their minds and write it on their hearts, and would forgive their wickedness (Jeremiah 31:31-34). The book of Hebrews quotes this passage and applies it to Christ (Hebrews 8:6-13).
The Fall of Jerusalem and After
In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the Babylonians broke through the city wall. Zedekiah was captured, and the city and temple were burned (Jeremiah 39:1-8; 52:12-13). Nebuchadnezzar ordered that Jeremiah be treated well, and he was released to stay among the people with Gedaliah the governor (Jeremiah 39:11-14; 40:5-6).
After Gedaliah was murdered, the remaining leaders asked Jeremiah to seek God's direction (Jeremiah 41:2; 42:1-3). God told them to stay in the land and not go to Egypt (Jeremiah 42:10-19). They refused, went to Egypt, and took Jeremiah and Baruch with them (Jeremiah 43:1-7). The Bible's last record of Jeremiah is his prophesying in Egypt (Jeremiah 44:1). His death is not recorded. A later tradition says he was stoned in Egypt, but this is not in Scripture.
Key Lessons From Jeremiah's Life
- God's call rests on God. Jeremiah felt too young, and God said He would put His words in his mouth (Jeremiah 1:6-9).
- Faithfulness does not always bring visible success. Kings and people rejected his message repeatedly (Jeremiah 25:3-4).
- Honest prayer is part of faith. Jeremiah brought his complaints directly to God (Jeremiah 20:7-18).
- Judgment and hope go together. The same prophet who announced destruction also bought a field and spoke of a new covenant (Jeremiah 32:15; 31:31).
Where Jeremiah Appears in the Bible
- Jeremiah 1-52
- Lamentations (traditional authorship)
- 2 Chronicles 35:25; 36:12, 36:21-22
- Ezra 1:1; Daniel 9:2
- Matthew 2:17; 16:14; 27:9
The book of Jeremiah is among the longest in the Bible. See what is the longest book in the Bible. For another major prophet, see who was Isaiah in the Bible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Jeremiah in the Bible?
Jeremiah was a prophet from a priestly family in Anathoth who spoke to Judah from the reign of Josiah until after Jerusalem fell to Babylon (Jeremiah 1:1-3). He warned of judgment and also foretold a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
Why is Jeremiah called the weeping prophet?
Jeremiah expressed deep grief over Judah's sin and coming destruction, saying he wished his eyes were a fountain of tears (Jeremiah 9:1). The title "weeping prophet" is a traditional name, not one used in the Bible.
Did Jeremiah write Lamentations?
Lamentations does not name its author. Jewish and Christian tradition attributes it to Jeremiah, and 2 Chronicles 35:25 records that he composed laments for King Josiah.
Who was Baruch?
Baruch son of Neriah was Jeremiah's scribe. He wrote down Jeremiah's prophecies and read them publicly at the temple (Jeremiah 36:4-10).
How did Jeremiah die?
The Bible does not record Jeremiah's death. He was last seen prophesying in Egypt, and a later tradition says he was stoned there (Jeremiah 43:6-7; 44:1).