Jeremiah 1:7 kjv

But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

Jeremiah 1:7 nkjv

But the LORD said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.

Jeremiah 1:7 niv

But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.

Jeremiah 1:7 esv

But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.

Jeremiah 1:7 nlt

The LORD replied, "Don't say, 'I'm too young,' for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.

Jeremiah 1 verses

Jeremiah 1 7 Meaning

Jeremiah 1:7 encapsulates God's immediate and definitive rejection of Jeremiah's protest regarding his youth and perceived inadequacy for the prophetic calling. It powerfully declares that Jeremiah's ability and authority do not stem from his age or personal qualifications but solely from God's sending and commanding. The verse affirms divine enablement for a divinely ordained mission, asserting that the prophet is to go to whomever God directs and speak only what God commands, overriding any personal excuses.

Jeremiah 1 7 Context

Jeremiah 1:7 is a pivotal verse within the prophet's call narrative (Jer 1:4-10). Having already received the divine word concerning his pre-birth consecration as a prophet (v. 5), Jeremiah responds with an immediate and understandable objection in verse 6, stating, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." Verse 7 is God's direct and unwavering counter-response, rejecting Jeremiah's self-assessment and reaffirming the divine mandate. The historical context is Josiah's reign in Judah, a period of attempted reform but also underlying apostasy. God is raising Jeremiah as a prophet of judgment and lament, primarily to announce the impending Babylonian exile due to the people's persistent idolatry and moral corruption. Jeremiah's objection based on youth and speech reflects a cultural expectation where age conveyed wisdom and authority, both crucial for a public prophet. God's response directly challenges this human criterion, establishing His sovereign choice and enablement as the sole basis for prophetic ministry.

Jeremiah 1 7 Word analysis

• But the Lord said: This opening emphasizes a divine counter-argument to Jeremiah's human objection. The phrase signifies immediate and authoritative divine initiative. "Lord" is YHWH (יְהוָה), the covenant God, underscoring the personal and sovereign nature of the command.
• to me: Highlights the direct, personal commissioning of Jeremiah. It's a specific, one-on-one call, leaving no room for misunderstanding who the message is for.
• 'Do not say,': A direct, imperative command, silencing Jeremiah's excuse. It prohibits him from reiterating or dwelling on his self-perceived inadequacy. This phrase carries weight, indicating divine disapproval of Jeremiah's doubt.
• 'I am only a youth';: Jeremiah's objection, echoing back his words from verse 6. The Hebrew word is na'ar (נַעַר), which can refer to a young man, a boy, or even a servant. In this context, it highlights Jeremiah's lack of a full beard (a sign of maturity), experience, and gravitas traditionally expected for someone holding such public office. It implies a lack of perceived authority or ability to influence older, more established leaders.
• for: This conjunction introduces the divine rationale that dismantles Jeremiah's excuse. God's reasoning directly addresses and negates the human argument.
• to all to whom I send you,: "Send" is shalaḥ (שָׁלַח), denoting an authoritative sending with a specific purpose, like an ambassador. The universality "to all" indicates no human limitations on his assignment. Jeremiah's mission scope is entirely dictated by God, not by social hierarchies or human preferences.
• you shall go,: "Go" is halak (הָלָךְ), implying movement, action, and obedient execution of the divine command. It's a definite future action, a promise and a command. The emphasis is on faithful obedience to the divine itinerary, not selecting his audience.
• and whatever I command you,: "Command" is tsawa (צָוָה), signifying divine instruction or directive, carrying absolute authority. The "whatever" (Hebrew kol asher) underscores the completeness and unchangeability of the divine message. No editorializing or filtering is allowed. This directly counters the common prophetic failing of speaking for personal gain or human approval.
• you shall speak.: "Speak" is dabar (דָּבַר), meaning to utter or proclaim. It stresses the delivery of the exact divine message. The authority of the prophet rests not on his person, but on the authoritative divine word entrusted to him. This is a polemic against false prophets who spoke "from their own hearts" (Jer 23:16) rather than God's word.

• "Do not say... for to all to whom I send you, you shall go": This word-group strongly contrasts Jeremiah's self-perception with God's clear, overriding will. Jeremiah's protest (his 'saying') is explicitly forbidden because his mobility and audience are divinely predetermined and not subject to his youthful limitation. It emphasizes the active obedience required of a prophet sent by God, overriding social conventions.
• "to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak": This pairing defines the two core dimensions of prophetic ministry: directed mission and delivered message. It underscores that both the destination and content of Jeremiah's prophetic activity are solely under God's control. His calling involves unreserved obedience both in where he goes and what he says, negating any room for human discretion based on perceived ability or status.

Jeremiah 1 7 Bonus section

This verse contains a powerful theological statement about God's nature as the primary agent in human callings. It teaches that divine commissioning trumps all human criteria, whether perceived lack of ability, social standing, or age. The very identity of the messenger ("only a youth") becomes irrelevant because the source and authority of the message are entirely divine. This stands as a counter-cultural truth against societal expectations where gravitas, wisdom, and experience were directly correlated with age. Furthermore, the divine "sending" and "commanding" establish the immutable scope and content of Jeremiah's prophetic role, pre-empting any inclination for him to filter or adjust the message to be more palatable, a common challenge faced by true prophets versus false ones. This principle applies universally: whenever God commissions, He also enables, and the recipient's responsibility is unreserved obedience.

Jeremiah 1 7 Commentary

Jeremiah 1:7 is God's direct and absolute dismissal of Jeremiah's human-centric excuse for not accepting the prophetic call. Jeremiah’s plea of youth, which implies a lack of social standing, experience, and authority, is immediately countered by the divine declaration. God asserts that the prophet's effectiveness and legitimacy derive entirely from Him—His sending determines the audience, and His commanding determines the message. It fundamentally reorients the basis of ministry from human qualifications to divine sovereignty and enablement, emphasizing that God does not choose based on what people are, but based on what He intends to do through them. The prophet is merely an instrument, obligated to complete fidelity in both going and speaking, thereby silencing any doubts about personal inadequacy because the true power resides in the one who sends and commands.