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Jeremiah 1:5

1:4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Before 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. ordained: Heb. gave

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“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Before 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.

Before I formed you in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet to the nations.

1:6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

What does Jeremiah 1:5 mean?

Jeremiah 1:5 is a verse in the book of Jeremiah, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include טֶרֶם (ṭerem), יָצַר (yâtsar), בֶּטֶן (beṭen). It connects to 21 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
Beforeטֶרֶםṭerem/teh'-rem/H2962properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before
I
formedיָצַרyâtsar/yaw-tsar'/H3335to mould into a form; especially as apotter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution)
thee
in
the
bellyבֶּטֶןbeṭen/beh'-ten/H990the belly, especially the womb; also the bosom or body of anything
I
knewיָדַעyâdaʻ/yaw-dah'/H3045to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)
thee;
and
before
thou
camest
forthיָצָאyâtsâʼ/yaw-tsaw'/H3318to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
out
of
the
wombרֶחֶםrechem/rekh'-em/H7358the womb
I
sanctifiedקָדַשׁqâdash/kaw-dash'/H6942to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)
thee,
and
I
ordainedנָתַןnâthan/naw-than'/H5414to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
thee
a
prophetנָבִיאnâbîyʼ/naw-bee'/H5030a prophet or (generally) inspired man
unto
the
nations.גּוֹיgôwy/go'-ee/H1471a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
ordained:
Heb.
gave

Commentary on Jeremiah 1:5

HENRY_FULL · Jeremiah 1:5
ef, who take pride in causing the righteous to go astray in an evil way, in drawing them into a snare, that they may insult over them. They shall not gain their point; it is impossible to deceive the elect. But they shall fall themselves into their own pit; and having been not only sinners, but tempters, not only unrighteous, but enemies to the righteous, their condemnation will be so much the greater, Matt. xxiii. 14, 15 . 2. The happiness of the sincere. They shall not only be preserved from the evil way which the wicked would decoy them into, but they shall have good things, the best things, in possession, the graces and comforts of God's Spirit, besides what they have in reversion. 11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out. Note, 1. Those that are rich are apt to think themselves wise, because, whatever else they are ignorant of, they know how to get and save; and those that are purse-proud exp

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

1 Samuel 24:11

Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.

1 Kings 17:3

Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

1 Kings 18:13

Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD'S prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

1 Kings 19:3

And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.

1 Chronicles 15:25

So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obededom with joy.

1 Chronicles 16:7

Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren.

1 Chronicles 29:20

And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king.

2 Chronicles 7:10

And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.

2 Chronicles 30:22

And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers. comfortably: Heb. to the heart of all

Esther 8:15

And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. blue: or, violet

Job 29:11

When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:

Ecclesiastes 10:6

Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. in great: Heb. in great heights

Ecclesiastes 10:16

Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!

Jeremiah 5:1

Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

Jeremiah 11:10

They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.

Jeremiah 29:2

(After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;) eunuchs: or, chamberlains

Jeremiah 36:26Luke 19:37Luke 19:38Hebrews 11:37Hebrews 11:38

Topics

ExcusesPredestinationProphecyProphetsSanctification

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Jeremiah 1:5.

Exodus 13:2

Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

Genesis 15:7

And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.

Genesis 17:6

And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.

Genesis 19:5

And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

Genesis 19:8

Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

Genesis 20:6

And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

Job 3:11

Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?

Job 31:15

Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb? did not one: or, did he not fashion us in one womb?

Frequently asked questions

What does Jeremiah 1:5 say?

Jeremiah 1:5 (King James Version) reads: "Before 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. ordained: Heb. gave"

Is Jeremiah 1:5 in the Old or New Testament?

Jeremiah 1:5 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Jeremiah.

Reflect

As you read Jeremiah 1:5, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Jeremiah 1:5
1:4Read all of Jeremiah 11:6