Who is the author of the Book of Jeremiah?

Historical Setting and Early Context

The Book of Jeremiah dates to a pivotal stage in the history of the kingdom of Judah, spanning the final decades before the Babylonian exile (late seventh to early sixth century BC). According to the text itself, Jeremiah’s prophetic ministry began “in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah” (Jeremiah 1:2), placing his call around 626 BC. He continued prophesying through the reigns of subsequent kings, witnessed the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians (586 BC), and addressed conditions that followed the destruction of the city and temple.

This era was turbulent. Judah struggled to maintain political independence under the threat of rising empires. These circumstances make Jeremiah’s writings (and the references to him within other biblical passages such as 2 Chronicles 35 and 36) all the more significant in portraying God’s message during a time of profound national crisis.

Internal Evidence of Authorship

From the start, the text identifies Jeremiah as the main speaker. Jeremiah 1:1 begins, “These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.” This direct statement supports the idea that the content is primarily derived from the prophet himself.

Jeremiah 36 provides additional clarity. The chapter describes Jeremiah dictating words to his scribe, Baruch son of Neriah, who wrote them on a scroll. Since this process was repeated after an initial scroll was burned by King Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 36:27–28), it shows Jeremiah’s ongoing role in originating the prophetic material, with Baruch recording it.

Jeremiah as the Prophet and Author

Jeremiah was from a priestly family, the son of Hilkiah, and most likely had a thorough knowledge of Israel’s religious traditions. The Book of Jeremiah himself claims divine call and guidance: “The word of the LORD came to me, saying… ‘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 1:4–5).

From a traditional standpoint, Jeremiah is considered the primary author. He received God’s messages and delivered oracles to Judah’s kings, officials, and populace. Periodic references to Jeremiah in the third person do not undermine his authorship but likely indicate biographical sections or final editorial shaping, possibly by Baruch or other close associates.

Baruch’s Role as Scribe

Jeremiah 36 highlights Baruch’s significance. Baruch is described as writing down all the prophecies Jeremiah had spoken. He read these words publicly in the temple and to Judean officials. When asked how the scroll was produced, Baruch’s response was: “‘He dictated all these words to me and I wrote them in ink on the scroll’” (Jeremiah 36:18).

This indicates Jeremiah as the originating prophet, with Baruch acting as his personal secretary. Historical parallels from the ancient Near East show prophets and statesmen often relied on scribes to transcribe official documents. Baruch’s presence underscores that while the core contents were Jeremiah’s inspired words, the mechanical process of writing was frequently carried out by trained scribes.

Confirmation from Archaeological and Historical Tradition

Archaeological finds and historical records support the plausibility of Jeremiah’s era and context:

• The Lachish Letters (late seventh/early sixth century BC) refer to Judean distress signals as the Babylonian armies advanced, corroborating the sociopolitical unrest Jeremiah’s prophecies describe.

• Fragments of the Book of Jeremiah have been discovered among the Dead Sea Scrolls, affirming the early transmission and circulation of the text. These scrolls, found at Qumran, highlight a consistent textual tradition that supports the core material attributed to Jeremiah.

Jewish tradition (including references within the Talmud) consistently acknowledges Jeremiah as the prophet behind the book. Early Christian tradition likewise affirms Jeremiah’s role. Josephus, in his “Antiquities of the Jews,” also incorporates Jeremiah’s narrative in a manner that aligns with the prophet as the source of his own prophecies.

Role of Divine Inspiration

Although Jeremiah is the human medium, the text presents the ultimate issuance as divine. Throughout the book, verses assert that the message originates from God (Jeremiah 1:9; 7:1; 14:1). The repeated phrase “The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah…” points to an insistence that Jeremiah was serving under direct divine commission.

No matter the specific scribal or editorial refinements, the core claim within Scripture is that the Holy Spirit inspired Jeremiah’s prophecies (cf. 2 Peter 1:21). As a result, the Book of Jeremiah is presented as authoritative revelation that not only conveyed immediate warnings and comfort to Judah but continues to speak beyond its immediate historical setting.

Conclusion: Authorship Affirmed

The internal testimony of Jeremiah 1:1 and 36, along with consistent Jewish and Christian tradition, strongly attests that Jeremiah son of Hilkiah is the true author of the Book of Jeremiah. Baruch, his scribe, assisted in recording the prophetic messages, preserving them in a scroll that underwent copying and recopying, evidenced both biblically and through ancient manuscript tradition.

In sum, when asked, “Who is the author of the Book of Jeremiah?” the historical and textual records point to Jeremiah as the inspired prophet who conveyed God’s words during the final days of Judah’s autonomy before exile. Baruch was the faithful scribe who committed the utterances to writing, ensuring the survival and transmission of Jeremiah’s vital message through the generations.