Jeremiah 1:5 kjv

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.

Jeremiah 1:5 nkjv

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."

Jeremiah 1:5 niv

"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 esv

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."

Jeremiah 1:5 nlt

"I knew you before I formed you in your mother's womb.
Before you were born I set you apart
and appointed you as my prophet to the nations."

Jeremiah 1 verses

Jeremiah 1 5 Meaning

Jeremiah 1:5 is a profound declaration of God's sovereign initiative in calling and equipping His servant. It reveals that before Jeremiah's physical formation in his mother's womb, God intimately knew him, a knowledge that implies selection and a pre-existing relationship. Further, before his birth, God set him apart for a holy purpose. This divine pre-determination culminated in God appointing him a prophet, not just to the people of Judah, but significantly, "to the nations," underscoring the universal scope of God's authority and message. This verse highlights divine election, meticulous providence, and the sacredness of individual purpose originating in God's eternal counsel.

Jeremiah 1 5 Context

Jeremiah 1:5 occurs in the introductory section of the Book of Jeremiah, immediately following God's identification and before Jeremiah expresses his initial reluctance to accept the prophetic call. The broader chapter context (Jer 1:4-10) describes God's direct revelation to Jeremiah, his commission, and the power invested in his words to "pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant." This verse sets the foundation for Jeremiah's challenging ministry to a disobedient nation on the brink of judgment. Historically, Judah was in spiritual decline, vacillating between various kings and alliances, with impending threats from major empires like Babylon. God's call to Jeremiah was thus both personal and profoundly significant for a people desperately needing a word from the Lord, yet largely unwilling to listen. The scope "to the nations" also frames the understanding of God's global sovereignty and impending judgment on all unrighteousness, not just Judah's.

Jeremiah 1 5 Word analysis

• Before: This preposition signifies priority in time and action, asserting divine initiation. It underlines that God's purpose for Jeremiah was not reactive or emergent, but eternal and pre-ordained.
• I formed: From Hebrew yatsar (יָצַר), meaning to fashion, mold, or shape, like a potter. This term emphasizes God's creative agency and intimate involvement in Jeremiah's very physical and personal constitution. It conveys purposeful design, not accidental existence.
• you (singular): Direct, personal address to Jeremiah, highlighting the intimate, individual nature of God's call.
• in the womb: Hebrew ba'bete(n) (בֶּבֶּטֶן). Pinpoints the specific period of prenatal development, underscoring God's deep engagement in the earliest, hidden stages of human life. It means divine activity precedes consciousness.
• I knew: From Hebrew yada' (יָדַע), indicating profound, intimate, and elective knowledge, far beyond mere cognitive awareness. It implies a personal relationship established by God, signifying His choosing and caring for Jeremiah even before his birth, distinguishing him for a unique role. It carries covenantal weight.
• and before you were born: This phrase reiterates and emphasizes the preceding point, affirming that the acts of knowing and consecrating occurred prior to Jeremiah's physical emergence into the world, solidifying the pre-natal divine action.
• I consecrated: From Hebrew qadash (קָדַשׁ), meaning to set apart, make holy, or dedicate for a sacred purpose. This signifies a divine act of sanctification, a formal separation and designation of Jeremiah for God's special service. His life was thus divinely ordained as sacred for a divine task.
• I appointed: From Hebrew nathan (נָתַן), meaning to give, place, or establish. This indicates a formal commissioning, God bestowing upon Jeremiah the office and responsibility of a prophet. It is the practical application of the prior acts of knowing and consecrating.
• a prophet: Hebrew navi' (נָבִיא). One who is called by God to be His spokesperson, to deliver His divine messages. This defines Jeremiah's primary identity and function within God's plan.
• to the nations: Hebrew lagoyim (לַגּוֹיִם), referring to the non-Israelite peoples, the Gentiles. This broadens the scope of Jeremiah's prophetic ministry significantly beyond Judah, highlighting God's universal sovereignty and His intention to execute judgment and salvation globally. It prepares for the universal judgment oracles later in the book and hints at the future reach of God's kingdom.

Jeremiah 1 5 Bonus section

The progressive nature of God's action – forming, knowing, consecrating, appointing – illustrates the meticulous and thorough divine preparation for Jeremiah's call. Each stage builds upon the previous, culminating in his public commissioning. This verse emphasizes not only God's omnipotence but also His immanence, His intimate involvement in the very fabric of human life and history. It implicitly argues for the sacredness of human life from its earliest stages, as God's purpose for individuals begins "in the womb" and before birth. This understanding provides comfort and assurance to believers that their lives are not accidental but purposeful, shaped and directed by an all-knowing, all-loving God. For Jeremiah, this served as the ultimate credential for his difficult ministry, proving his authority derived from divine election, not human merit or appointment.

Jeremiah 1 5 Commentary

Jeremiah 1:5 stands as a foundational statement regarding God's sovereignty over individual lives and His redemptive plan for humanity. It unveils a truth that stretches beyond human comprehension: God's foreknowledge and purpose predate even our physical existence. For Jeremiah, this meant his challenging, often painful ministry was not an arbitrary assignment but rooted in God's eternal design and intimate personal selection. His life's purpose was divinely installed from conception, providing the ultimate authority and assurance for his prophetic pronouncements, especially when facing immense opposition. This verse assures that God is actively involved in forming, knowing, and equipping individuals for specific purposes, even before their first breath. It implies that every human life, conceived and developing, is seen and known by God. Furthermore, the inclusion of "to the nations" is crucial, expanding God's work beyond a singular ethnic group, foreshadowing the global reach of His salvation and judgment, ultimately fulfilled in the Gospel message to all peoples. This also served as a counter to the prevalent insular thinking of the day that God's concern was solely for Judah.