What does Jeremias Chapter 1 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The dated introduction identifies Jeremias and his priestly origin. The commission meets his child objection with words and deliverance. A watching rod and northern caldron precede fortification against opposition.

Chapter breakdown

Jeremias 1 identifies Jeremias son of Helcias, of Anathoth's priests in Benjamin. The word comes in Josias's thirteenth year, continues in Joakim's days and reaches Sedecias's eleventh-year end and Jerusalem's captivity in the fifth month. No additional destination or personal age is specified.

The Lord says he knew him before formation in his mother's bowels and sanctified and appointed him prophet to nations before birth. Jeremias protests that he cannot speak because he is a child. He is told to go to all to whom he is sent, speak commanded words and not fear, with promised deliverance. A hand touches his mouth and words are given. His appointment over nations and kingdoms concerns rooting up, pulling down, wasting, destroying, building and planting.

He sees a rod watching; the Lord watches his word to perform it. Neither an almond species nor speedy execution is stated in this source. The second vision is a boiling caldron whose face is from the north. Evil from north and kingdoms' families setting thrones at Jerusalem's gates, walls and Juda's cities accompany judgment for forsaking God, strange sacrifices and handmade objects. Girding loins and speaking all commanded words precede the promise to make him not fear their countenance. A fortified city, iron pillar and brass wall describe support against kings, princes, priests and people. They fight without prevailing, with promised deliverance; the source does not insert a threat that God will confound him if he fears.

The story inside

Opening: The dated introduction identifies Jeremias and his priestly origin. Development: The commission meets his child objection with words and deliverance. Conclusion: A watching rod and northern caldron precede fortification against opposition.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The dated introduction identifies Jeremias and his priestly origin.
2
The commission meets his child objection with words and deliverance.
3
A watching rod and northern caldron precede fortification against opposition.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 84008–84017
1:1. The words of Jeremias the son of Helcias, of the priests that were in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin. 1:2. The word of the Lord which came to him in the days of Josias the son of Amon king of Juda, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 1:3. And which came to him in the days of Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda, unto the end of the eleventh year of Sedecias the son of Josias king of Juda, even unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive, in the fifth month.
Lines 84019–84023
1:4. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 1:5. Before I formed thee in the bowels of thy mother, I knew thee: and before thou camest forth out of the womb, I sanctified thee, and made thee a prophet unto the nations.
Lines 84025–84034
1:6. And I said: Ah, ah, ah, Lord God: behold, I cannot speak, for I am a child. 1:7. And the Lord said to me: Say not: I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee: and whatsoever I shall command thee, thou shalt speak. 1:8. Be not afraid at their presence: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.
Lines 84036–84043
Lord said to me: Behold I have given my words in thy mouth: 1:10. Lo, I have set thee this day over the nations, and over kingdoms, to root up, and to pull down, and to waste, and to destroy, and to build, and to plant. 1:11. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying: What seest thou, Jeremias? And I said: I see a rod watching.
Lines 84045–84055
1:12. And the Lord said to me: Thou hast seen well: for I will watch over my word to perform it. 1:13. And the word of the Lord came to me a second time saying: What seest thou? And I said: I see a boiling caldron, and the face thereof from the face of the north. 1:14. And the Lord said to me: From the north shall an evil break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land. 1:15. For behold I will call together all the families of the kingdoms
Lines 84068–84075
1:18. For behold I have made thee this day a fortified city, and a pillar of iron, and a wall of brass, over all the land, to the kings of Juda, to the princes thereof, and to the priests, and to the people of the land. 1:19. And they shall fight against thee, and shall not prevail: for I am with thee, saith the Lord, to deliver thee.