Jeremiah 1

1 These are the words [chronicles, prophetic messages] of Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed] son of Hilkiah [a high priest and father of Jeremiah], one of the priests [spiritual leaders, mediators between God and people] in Anathoth [a city near Jerusalem, meaning answers to prayer] in the territory [land, region] of Benjamin [son of the right hand, a tribe of Israel]. word study 2 The word [divine message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God] came to Jeremiah [a prophet of God] in the thirteenth year of the reign [kingly rule, dominion] of Josiah [whom Jehovah heals] son of Amon [a king of Judah] king of Judah [a tribe and region of Israel], word study 3 and through the days [period of time, era] of Jehoiakim [whom Jehovah has set up] son of Josiah [whom Jehovah heals] king of Judah [a tribe of Israel, the southern kingdom], until the fifth [the number five] month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah [Jehovah is righteous] son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital of Judah] went into exile [were taken captive, forcibly removed]. word study 4 The word [a message or declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah] came [was given or revealed] to me, saying [to speak or command, to declare His will]: word study 5 “Before [at an earlier time, prior to] I formed [shaped, molded like a potter] you in the womb [belly, place of fetal development] I knew [was acquainted with, had knowledge of] you, and before [prior to, at an earlier time] you were born [came forth from the womb] I set you apart [consecrated, sanctified] and appointed [ordained, gave] you as a prophet [one who speaks for God] to the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples].” word study 6 “Ah, Lord [Adonay, a title of reverence] GOD [Yehovah],” I said, “I surely do not know [am unaware, lack understanding] how to speak [communicate effectively, proclaim], for I am only a child [youth, inexperienced one, naive]!” word study 7 But the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] told me: “Do not [absolutely not, under no circumstances] say, ‘I am only [merely, just] a child [youth, a young person].’ For to everyone [all people, every individual] I send [dispatch, commission] you, you must go [walk, proceed], and all [everything, whatsoever] that I command [give orders, appoint] you, you must speak [communicate, declare]. word study 8 Do not [fear] be afraid of them [their faces, presence], for I [the Lord] am with you [near you, to support] to deliver [rescue, save] you [to keep you safe, from harm],” declares [says, utters] the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]. word study 9 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] reached out His hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share], touched my mouth [lips, or edge of something], and said to me: “Behold [look, see], I have put [given, set, or placed] My words [message, or thing] in your mouth [lips, or edge of something, a portion or side of something]. word study 10 See, I have appointed [set in place, ordained] you today [in this present time, at this moment] over nations [Gentile peoples, non-Hebrew groups] and kingdoms [domains, territories] to uproot [to pluck up, tear away] and tear down [to break down, destroy], to destroy [to perish, be lost] and overthrow [to throw down, demolish], to build [to establish, construct] and plant [to establish, cultivate].” word study 11 And the word [message, declaration] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] came to me, asking [saying, speaking], “Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed], what [how, in what manner] do you see [perceive, look after]?” “I see [behold, observe] a branch [rod, staff] of an almond tree,” I replied [said, spoke]. word study 12 “You have observed [seen with understanding, perceived] correctly,” said the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], “for I am watching over [keeping a careful eye on, guarding] My word [My message, My promise] to accomplish [fulfill, bring to pass] it.” word study 13 Again the word [divine message, utterance] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] came to me, asking [inquiring, seeking an answer], “What [in what manner, to what extent] do you see [perceive, discern]?” “I see [behold, observe] a boiling [seething, bubbling] pot [caldron, vessel],” I replied, “and it is tilting [leaning, turning] toward [in the direction of, facing] us from the north [the region of Zaphon, the northern direction].” word study 14 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said to me, “Disaster [evil, trouble, calamity] from the north [Zaphon, a direction of judgment] will be poured out [to open, to break forth] on all [everything, every person] who live [to dwell, to remain] in the land [the earth, the territory]. word study 15 For I am about to summon [call forth, gather] all the clans [families, tribes] and kingdoms [nations, dominions] of the north [Zaphon, the direction of darkness],” declares the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God]. “Their kings will come [approach, draw near] and set up [establish, place] their thrones [seats of power, authority] at the entrance [gate, doorway] of the gates [entry points, portals] of Jerusalem [the city of peace, the capital]. They will attack [assail, besiege] all her surrounding walls [barriers, fortifications] and all the other cities [towns, villages] of Judah [the land of praise, the southern kingdom]. word study 16 I will pronounce [declare, utter] My judgments [justice, verdicts] against them for all [every, entire] their wickedness [evil, badness], because they have forsaken [abandoned, loosened] Me to burn [offer, make] incense to other [different, foreign] gods [deities, idols] and to worship [bow down, revere] the works [deeds, creations] of their own hands [strength, power]. word study 17 Get yourself ready [to take action, prepare for service]. Stand up [arise, take your position] and tell them [speak to, proclaim to] everything [all that I command, every word] that I command [order, instruct] you. Do not be intimidated [dismayed, afraid] by them [their presence, their faces], or I will terrify [dismay, break] you before them [in their presence, in front of them]. word study 18 Now behold [look, see], this day I have made you like a fortified [strongly defended, walled] city, an iron [strong, unyielding] pillar, and bronze [copper, enduring] walls against the whole land [all the earth, every region]—against the kings [rulers, monarchs] of Judah, its officials [leaders, princes], its priests [spiritual leaders, mediators], and the people [nation, inhabitants] of the land. word study 19 They will fight [oppose, battle against] against you but will never [not at all, under no circumstances] overcome [prevail, defeat] you, since [for, because] I am [exist, present] with [near, beside] you to deliver [rescue, save] you,” declares [says, utters] the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God]. word study