Jeremiah 1:18 kjv

For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.

Jeremiah 1:18 nkjv

For behold, I have made you this day 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.

Jeremiah 1:18 niv

Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land?against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land.

Jeremiah 1:18 esv

And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.

Jeremiah 1:18 nlt

For see, today I have made you strong
like a fortified city that cannot be captured,
like an iron pillar or a bronze wall.
You will stand against the whole land ?
the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah.

Jeremiah 1 verses

Jeremiah 1 18 Meaning

Jeremiah 1:18 reveals the divine commission and supernatural empowerment of the prophet Jeremiah. The Almighty declares that He has sovereignly made Jeremiah to be an unyielding, divinely strengthened presence—likened to an impenetrable fortress, an immovable pillar of iron, and an unbreakable wall of bronze. This extraordinary resilience is bestowed upon Jeremiah specifically to enable him to stand firm against every segment of Judahite society, from its reigning kings and influential officials to its spiritual leaders, the priests, and even the general populace of the land. This empowerment ensures that despite the universal opposition and personal attacks he would face, Jeremiah would remain steadfast and unshaken in delivering God's challenging message.

Jeremiah 1 18 Context

Jeremiah 1:18 is a pivotal assurance within Jeremiah's divine commissioning. It immediately follows the Almighty's direct command in verse 17 for Jeremiah to prepare himself, arise, and speak everything commanded to him, warning against fear or being terrified. This promise of empowerment precedes the explicit declaration in verse 19 that although the kings, officials, priests, and people will fight against him, they will not prevail, "for I am with you to deliver you." The entire first chapter introduces Jeremiah as a prophet called from before birth (v. 4-5) and given a formidable task to pluck up, break down, destroy, overthrow, build, and plant (v. 10)—a mission that involves both severe judgment and future restoration. Historically, this commissioning occurs as the kingdom of Judah is in rapid decline under various kings (Josiah, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah) during a tumultuous period marked by spiritual apostasy, social injustice, and increasing threats from dominant regional powers, leading inevitably to Babylonian exile. Jeremiah's message of imminent judgment, coupled with a call to genuine repentance and submission to Babylon, was profoundly unpopular, making the assurance of divine strength crucial for his survival and the fulfillment of his calling amidst overwhelming opposition from all segments of society that would resist the inconvenient truth of God's word.

Jeremiah 1 18 Word analysis

• For behold (Hebrew: Hinnêh, הִנֵּה): An emphatic interjection. Commands immediate attention. Indicates an important and often unexpected divine declaration. Signifies a revelation or direct, significant act of the Almighty.
• I have made you (Hebrew: Nātattîkā, נְתַתִּיךָ): Literally "I have given you" or "I have appointed you." Perfect tense verb. Emphasizes a completed divine action with ongoing, sustained results. It highlights God's sovereign initiative and creative power in forming Jeremiah into what he is destined to be. Not Jeremiah's innate strength, but God's deliberate bestowal.
• this day (Hebrew: Hayyôm, הַיּוֹם): "Today." Stresses the immediacy and certainty of this divine empowerment. It marks the commencement of a new reality for Jeremiah, sealed by divine decree. This is not a future promise, but a present enablement.
• a fortified city (Hebrew: 'Ir Mivtsār, עִיר מִבְצָר): A powerful metaphor for security and invincibility. A city built with strong defenses, designed to withstand siege and attack. Signifies impregnability. Jeremiah is made supernaturally resistant to human assaults, both physical and psychological.
• an iron pillar (Hebrew: 'Ammûd Barzel, עַמּוּד בַּרְזֶל): Symbolizes unyielding firmness, permanence, and immovability. Iron is strong, rigid, and resistant to bending or breaking. This suggests Jeremiah's unshakeable stance and steadfastness in delivering divine truth, despite pressure or attempts to move him. He stands firm as a witness.
• and bronze walls (Hebrew: Ḥōmōṯ Neḥōšeṯ, חוֹמֹת נְחֹשֶׁת): Bronze, stronger and more durable than other common metals of the time like clay or stone for walls. Represents invulnerability and robust defense. Such walls cannot be easily breached. It emphasizes Jeremiah's resilience and protection against overwhelming external forces.
• against the whole land (Hebrew: ‘Al-Kol-Hā'āreṣ, עַל־כָּל־הָאָרֶץ): "Against all the land" or "concerning all the land." Indicates the comprehensive scope of the opposition Jeremiah would face. It signifies that the entire societal fabric of Judah would stand in opposition to his message. This clarifies that his ministry affects everyone.
• against the kings of Judah (Hebrew: Malḵê Yəhûḏāh, מַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה): Refers to the succession of monarchs Jeremiah prophesied under (Josiah, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah). Indicates direct opposition from the highest secular authority, who often disregarded God's word.
• its officials (Hebrew: Sāreyhā, שָׂרֶיהָ): Princes, nobles, military commanders, advisors. Those holding positions of power, influence, and governance within the kingdom, directly beneath the kings. These often formed strong factions opposing the prophets.
• its priests (Hebrew: Kōhănêhā, כֹּהֲנֶיהָ): The religious leaders. They were meant to uphold divine law and guide the people spiritually but were frequently corrupt, practicing or condoning idolatry, and promoting false prophecies (Jer 5:31; 6:13; 14:18). Their opposition represents a spiritual betrayal.
• and the people of the land (Hebrew: Wə‘am Hā'āreṣ, וְעַם הָאָרֶץ): This phrase can refer to the general populace, common folk, or more specifically to influential landowners and powerful citizens who were not royalty or officials. It indicates widespread popular resistance to Jeremiah's message, from the highest levels to a significant segment of society.

Word-groups/phrases analysis:

• "I have made you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls": This powerful tri-metaphor constitutes the core of the divine empowerment. Each image builds upon the previous one, emphasizing different facets of Jeremiah's divine strength: impregnability ("fortified city"), unshakeable resolve ("iron pillar"), and impervious defense ("bronze walls"). Together, they communicate an absolute, supernaturally bestowed capacity to withstand any attack, highlighting that this strength originates entirely from the Almighty. This stands in stark contrast to Jeremiah's initial protests of inadequacy.
• "against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land": This phrase meticulously specifies the comprehensive nature of the opposition. It encompasses every stratum of society: the political authority (kings and officials), the religious establishment (priests), and the broader public (people of the land). This detailed enumeration underscores the human impossibility of Jeremiah's mission without divine intervention. It signifies that opposition would be widespread, unified, and deeply entrenched, making Jeremiah's divine empowerment a radical and essential prerequisite for his ministry.

Jeremiah 1 18 Bonus section

• Polemics against Human Authority: The declaration implicitly serves as a powerful polemic. By asserting that Jeremiah, a lone prophet, would be made stronger than all the combined earthly powers and institutions (kings, officials, priests, people) that represent stability and authority in society, the verse directly diminishes the ultimate power of human establishments when they stand in opposition to God's will. Their formidable earthly structures are portrayed as nothing before the divine power empowering one man.
• Nature of Prophetic Resilience: While Jeremiah did indeed suffer greatly throughout his ministry—facing imprisonment, attempted assassination, public scorn, and profound emotional anguish (e.g., in Jer 20:7-9; 38:4-6)—the promise of 1:18 speaks not to an absence of hardship but to his unshakeable integrity and the ultimate success of his calling in delivering God's message. He was protected from being destroyed or silenced before his prophetic task was complete, thus fulfilling God's purpose for him, demonstrating unwavering obedience and resolve regardless of external pressures.
• Theological Foundation: This verse underscores a critical theological principle: the efficacy of God's instruments (like Jeremiah) rests solely on God's active enabling power, not on their intrinsic human merits or capabilities. "I have made you" attributes all agency and empowering grace to the Divine, serving as a powerful lesson in humble reliance on God for fulfilling His call.

Jeremiah 1 18 Commentary

Jeremiah 1:18 encapsulates the Sovereign God's transformative act of enabling His prophet for an otherwise insurmountable task. Understanding Jeremiah's initial hesitancy and sense of inadequacy in earlier verses, the Almighty preemptively assures him of a divinely imparted resilience that transcends all human capacity. The striking imagery of a "fortified city," "iron pillar," and "bronze walls" communicates absolute impregnability and unyielding strength. This is not a promise of an easy ministry free from struggle, but a guarantee of unwavering steadfastness and ultimate endurance despite fierce opposition. This protection means that Jeremiah's mission will not be thwarted; he will not be overthrown or silenced by those who reject God's word through him. The explicit enumeration of his adversaries—the kings, officials, priests, and people of the land—underscores that opposition would come from every echelon of Judahite society, reflecting widespread spiritual and moral decline. This comprehensive resistance necessitated a comprehensive divine enablement. The verse therefore serves as both an immediate assurance for Jeremiah and a timeless principle for all who are called to stand for God's truth amidst hostile environments: the ability to faithfully serve comes entirely from divine empowerment, rendering His chosen instruments immovable in the face of human resistance. The true strength in challenging a rebellious world is not in oneself, but in the Almighty Who makes His servants stand.