Jeremiah 1:2 kjv

To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

Jeremiah 1:2 nkjv

to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

Jeremiah 1:2 niv

The word of the LORD came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah,

Jeremiah 1:2 esv

to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

Jeremiah 1:2 nlt

The LORD first gave messages to Jeremiah during the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah.

Jeremiah 1 verses

Jeremiah 1 2 Meaning

The second verse of Jeremiah establishes the divine origin and specific historical anchoring of the prophetic messages Jeremiah would deliver. It asserts that the word he received and would proclaim came directly from Yahweh, the God of Israel, not from human insight or opinion. This divine communication began during a particular period of Judah's history, in the thirteenth year of King Josiah's reign. This dating emphasizes the historical reliability and divine intentionality behind Jeremiah's challenging ministry, positioning it at a crucial moment when King Josiah was undertaking significant religious reforms in Judah, yet deep spiritual malaise persisted.

Jeremiah 1 2 Context

Jeremiah 1:2 is a vital chronological and theological marker at the outset of the book of Jeremiah. It immediately establishes the authority behind Jeremiah's prophecies, making clear they are not mere human insights but direct messages from the Lord. This verse provides the precise beginning of his prophetic ministry, setting it squarely within recorded history. The mention of King Josiah's thirteenth year places Jeremiah's initial call during a pivotal moment in Judah's history (circa 627/626 BC). Josiah, one of Judah's more righteous kings, had already initiated religious reforms by this time, particularly around his eighteenth year with the discovery of the Book of the Law (2 Kgs 22). Jeremiah's message, therefore, begins at a time when Judah was experiencing a façade of revival under Josiah, but deeper idolatry and social injustice still plagued the nation, leading eventually to its judgment.

Jeremiah 1 2 Word analysis

• The word (דְּבַר - d'var): Refers to the divine utterance, decree, or message. In the Hebrew Bible, "the word of the Lord" is not merely information; it carries intrinsic power and authority. It is an active, living force that creates (Gen 1:3), reveals, commands, judges, and accomplishes God's will. Its presence indicates direct, authoritative communication from God to His chosen servant.
• of the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): Identifies the source of the word as the covenant God of Israel. This emphasizes that Jeremiah's prophecy originates from the sovereign, faithful God who has revealed Himself uniquely to His people, not from pagan deities, human wisdom, or a prophet's own initiative. This underscores the authenticity and authority of Jeremiah's message.
• came to him (הָיָה אֵלָיו - hayah 'elayw): Lit. "was to him" or "happened to him." This phrase denotes the direct and impactful nature of the divine communication. It indicates an active revelation from God, highlighting the supernatural experience of the prophet receiving the divine word. The prophet is not seeking the word but is a recipient of God's initiative.
• in the thirteenth year: This exact chronological detail is significant. It anchors the prophecy firmly in historical reality. Such precise dating was characteristic of Israelite prophecy, distinguishing it from pagan divination. It testifies to God's involvement in human history and provides a point of verification. The thirteeth year of Josiah (around 627/626 BC) was prior to the major reform triggered by the discovery of the Book of the Law, indicating Jeremiah began his work amidst pervasive idolatry even within a period of superficial renewal.
• of the reign of Josiah: Identifies the specific monarch during whom Jeremiah began his ministry. King Josiah was a notable figure for his widespread religious reforms aimed at eradicating idolatry and re-establishing Yahweh worship (2 Kgs 22-23). Placing Jeremiah's call during his reign is poignant, as Jeremiah's difficult message would expose the superficiality of much of the national "repentance."
• son of Amon: Provides the king's lineage. Amon, Josiah's father, was an idolater who quickly returned to wicked ways after his father Manasseh's belated repentance. This lineage highlights the depth of the spiritual struggle and the recurring patterns of sin that Josiah, and then Jeremiah, confronted.
• king of Judah: Specifies the geographical and political scope of Jeremiah's initial prophetic commission. His message was directed to the southern kingdom of Judah, the last remaining vestige of the Davidic monarchy, highlighting the immediate and severe implications for God's covenant people living in the land.

Jeremiah 1 2 Bonus section

The precise dating in Jeremiah 1:2 highlights a key characteristic of authentic biblical prophecy: its grounding in specific historical circumstances. Unlike generalized or mystical predictions, the prophets of Israel spoke into the socio-political and spiritual realities of their time, giving their messages an unmistakable authenticity. This chronological anchor distinguishes the messages of Yahweh's prophets from contemporary pagan oracles that lacked such verifiable details. The choice of Josiah's thirteenth year (around 627/626 BC) is especially insightful. It positions Jeremiah's call roughly five years before Josiah's temple repair led to the discovery of the Book of the Law and the subsequent nationwide covenant renewal (2 Kgs 22). This implies that Jeremiah began his ministry when the deep-seated idolatry inherited from kings like Manasseh and Amon was still largely prevalent, preceding the visible wave of reform, thereby setting him up to address the true spiritual state of the nation's heart, which superficial reforms might not fully change.

Jeremiah 1 2 Commentary

Jeremiah 1:2 is the bedrock for the prophet's entire ministry, laying out its divine origin and historical commencement. It immediately validates the weighty words that follow by asserting they are "the word of the Lord," signifying ultimate authority and truth. This is crucial for a prophet whose message would often be unpopular and challenging, calling for radical repentance amidst national decay.

The precise chronological marker, "in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah," demonstrates God's sovereign control over history and His intentional timing in raising prophets. This period, before Josiah's more intense reforms fully took hold, signifies a time of entrenched idolatry and social injustice, even as national attention was starting to turn towards a superficial return to God. Jeremiah was called into a complex national landscape, to expose the heart issues that even a righteous king's reforms could not fundamentally alter without genuine spiritual transformation from the people. This verse underscores that divine communication is anchored in real-world events and addressed to specific historical contexts, affirming the reliability and relevance of the prophetic message. It means Jeremiah's message was not merely political or social commentary, but a divinely authoritative declaration addressing the spiritual state of God's chosen people at a specific juncture.