Jeremiah 1:1 kjv

The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:

Jeremiah 1:1 nkjv

The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,

Jeremiah 1:1 niv

The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.

Jeremiah 1:1 esv

The words of Jeremiah, the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,

Jeremiah 1:1 nlt

These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests from the town of Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.

Jeremiah 1 verses

Jeremiah 1 1 Meaning

Jeremiah 1:1 serves as the authenticating superscription or title of the book, introducing the prophet Jeremiah. It identifies him by name, lineage (son of Hilkiah), and priestly heritage from the Levitical city of Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. This introduction establishes Jeremiah's divine authority to speak "the words" that follow, highlighting his legitimate background for a message of profound significance during a critical period in Judah's history.

Jeremiah 1 1 Context

Jeremiah 1:1 is the initial verse of the prophetic book, serving as a declarative statement about the author. It introduces the messenger of God's word before diving into the specific prophecies. Historically, this places Jeremiah at the threshold of a deeply turbulent and significant period for Judah, leading up to its downfall and the Babylonian exile (circa 627-586 BC). Jeremiah's location in Anathoth, a priestly city near Jerusalem, and his own priestly heritage (possibly connected to the high priest Hilkiah who discovered the Book of the Law) are crucial for understanding his subsequent prophetic message. It suggests he was privy to religious and political affairs and perhaps disappointed by the religious decline despite the covenant God had established. The verse thus acts as a crucial identity tag, authenticating the prophet and establishing his credibility in a society where false prophets abounded.

Jeremiah 1 1 Word analysis

• The words (דִּבְרֵי - dibrey): "Words" implies communication, specifically a message. This term indicates that the content following is not Jeremiah's personal opinion or reflections, but rather divine communication—messages spoken through Jeremiah, but originating from God. It emphasizes the inspired nature and authority of the prophecy.
• of Jeremiah (יִרְמְיָהוּ - Yirmeyahu): This is the prophet's name, meaning "The LORD establishes/appoints" or "The LORD casts/hurls." The meaning resonates with Jeremiah's ministry; he was appointed by God to "uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant" (Jer 1:10), a task often involving being "cast" into difficult, confronting situations.
• son of Hilkiah (בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּהוּ - ben-Hilkiyahu): "Hilkiah" (חִלְקִיָּהוּ - Hilkiyahu) means "My portion is the LORD." This establishes Jeremiah's paternity. Scholarly consensus widely points to this Hilkiah being the High Priest who discovered the Book of the Law during King Josiah's reign (2 Ki 22). This connection would place Jeremiah in a highly significant religious family at a pivotal time, linking his prophetic warnings directly to the rediscovery and subsequent neglect of God's covenant.
• of the priests (מִן־הַכֹּהֲנִים - min hakkohenim): This explicitly states Jeremiah's lineage and belonging to the priestly class. Being a priest by birthright meant he understood the Mosaic Law, the covenant, the sacrificial system, and the temple rites intimately. His unique perspective as a prophet and a priest made his denunciations of temple defilement and spiritual apostasy particularly sharp and informed. He was tasked to condemn those of his own hereditary class.
• who were in Anathoth (אֲשֶׁר בַּעֲנָתוֹת - asher ba'anothot): Anathoth was a city allocated to the priests (Josh 21:18, 1 Ch 6:60). It was a few miles northeast of Jerusalem, a relatively small town. Historically, it was where Abiathar, a priest, was banished by Solomon (1 Ki 2:26), fulfilling a prophecy against Eli's house. Jeremiah's connection to Anathoth also implies his humble origins yet places him in a traditional spiritual center. Ironically, it was also the place where Jeremiah faced conspiracies against his life from his own people (Jer 11:21-23).
• in the land of Benjamin (בְּאֶרֶץ בִּנְיָמִן - b'erets Binyamin): This specifies the tribal territory where Anathoth was located. Benjamin was one of the two surviving tribes of the Southern Kingdom of Judah, situated geographically close to Jerusalem. This emphasizes Jeremiah's deep roots in the nation he was called to confront.

Words-group analysis

• "The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah": This opening phrase immediately establishes divine authorship (through the prophet) and human instrumentality. It declares that what follows are not Jeremiah's musings but God's authoritative message transmitted through His chosen vessel, further bolstered by the strong probability of his father being the high priest Hilkiah.
• "of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin": This phrase clearly defines Jeremiah's heritage and geographical roots. It means he was born into the hereditary priestly class. His hometown, Anathoth, as a priestly city in the land of Benjamin, signifies his direct connection to the spiritual and physical landscape of Judah. This dual identity—a priest and a prophet—gives his message unique authority and context, as he was addressing his own people from his own priestly background, having deep knowledge of the Law that Judah was breaking.

Jeremiah 1 1 Bonus section

The seemingly simple declaration in Jeremiah 1:1, stating Jeremiah's identity and background, served as a vital bulwark against accusations of being a false prophet in a time saturated with them. False prophets often lacked authentic lineage or relied on self-proclaimed authority; Jeremiah's introductory statement meticulously disarms such challenges before the prophetic content even begins. This deep-rooted authenticity also subtly emphasizes God's providence, calling someone from a well-established and covenant-keeping background (the priesthood and a Levitical city) to confront widespread apostasy, even among his own kin. This initial verse, therefore, sets a polemical tone against ungodly authority by implicitly asserting God's true messenger and divine standard for judgment and repentance.

Jeremiah 1 1 Commentary

Jeremiah 1:1, though just one verse, is the foundational statement for understanding the entire book of Jeremiah. It functions as the divine stamp of approval and the author's credential. By identifying "The words" first, the verse immediately sets the tone: the ensuing text is not merely a historical account or political commentary, but a divinely inspired message from God Himself. Jeremiah's name, potentially meaning "The LORD establishes" or "The LORD hurls," prophetically encapsulates his arduous ministry of declaring divine decrees that would both overthrow nations and establish new covenants. His lineage "son of Hilkiah" and background "of the priests who were in Anathoth" underscore his legitimacy and unique perspective. If his father was indeed Hilkiah the High Priest who found the Book of the Law under Josiah, Jeremiah's messages of repentance and return to covenant faithfulness gain profound significance. His prophetic voice, rooted in both priestly duty and personal experience in his often-hostile hometown of Anathoth, thus became an embodiment of God's challenging yet ultimately redemptive dealings with His people. It speaks to God's choice of specific individuals from particular backgrounds to deliver His message to specific contexts, showing His sovereign and deliberate approach to His divine communications.