What is the meaning of Jeremiah 11:1? This is the word • Jeremiah opens with the simple assertion that what follows is God’s own message, not human speculation. • Similar affirmations appear in 2 Timothy 3:16, where “All Scripture is God-breathed,” and in 2 Peter 1:21, where men “spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” • By stressing “the word,” the verse reminds us that divine revelation is concrete and verbal; God chooses specific words to communicate His will (Isaiah 55:10-11). that came • The verb highlights movement—God’s initiative in reaching down to His prophet. As in Jeremiah 1:2, “the word of the LORD came to him,” the action is one-sided: the message does not originate with Jeremiah seeking God but with God seeking Jeremiah. • This echoes the pattern seen with other prophets (e.g., Jonah 1:1; Ezekiel 1:3): God intrudes into ordinary life to deliver His timely counsel. • The phrase assures us of ongoing revelation; God is not distant or silent (Psalm 25:14; Amos 3:7). to Jeremiah • God singles out a real, historical individual—“Jeremiah son of Hilkiah” (Jeremiah 1:1)—underscoring that divine truth meets people in specific contexts. • Jeremiah’s earlier call (Jeremiah 1:5-10) shows that he was set apart “before [he] was born,” confirming God’s sovereign choice of His messengers (Galatians 1:15-16). • By naming the prophet, the text invites readers to trust the credibility of a known servant of God, just as they trusted Moses (Exodus 3:10) or Samuel (1 Samuel 3:19-21). from the LORD • The covenant name “YHWH” points to the personal, faithful God who revealed Himself to Israel (Exodus 3:14-15). • Because the source is the LORD, the message carries absolute authority (Jeremiah 23:29: “Is not My word like fire…and like a hammer that smashes a rock?”). • The phrase draws a contrast between divine truth and human opinion; unlike the misleading words of false prophets (Jeremiah 23:16-17), this word is flawless (Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5). summary Jeremiah 11:1 underscores four vital realities: God speaks in precise words, He initiates communication, He addresses chosen servants, and His message bears the full weight of His covenant name. These layers invite us to listen with reverence, trust the Bible’s authority, and obey the God who still sends His living word to His people today. |
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