The Call of Jeremiah

Jeremiah 1

The Lord calls Jeremiah before his birth to be a prophet to the nations, promising to be with him despite his fear that he is too young to speak. Jeremiah is shown a rod of an almond tree and a boiling cauldron facing north, and the Lord tells him that disaster will come from the north against Jerusalem and the cities of Judah because the people have forsaken him for other gods.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonThe word of God which came to Jeremias the son of Chelkias, one of the priests who dwelt at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:

BrentonThe word of God which came to Jeremias the son of Chelcias, of the priests, who dwelt in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:

GreekΤΟ ῥῆμα τοῦ Θεοῦ ὃ ἐγένετο ἐπὶ Ἱερεμίαν τὸν του Χελκίου, ἐκ τῶν ἱερέων, ὃς κατῴκει ἐν Ἀναθὼθ ἐν γῇ Βενιαμὶν,

KJVThe words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin:

JPSTHE WORDS of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests that were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,

Thomsonas the word of God came to him in the days of Josias son of Amos king of Juda, in the thirteenth year of his reign

Brentonaccordingly as the word of God came to him in the days of Josias son of Amos king of Juda, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

Greekὡς ἐγενήθη λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ πρὸς αὐτὸν, ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις Ἰωσία υἱοῦ Ἀμὼς βασιλέως Ἰούδα, ἔτους τρισκαιδεκάτου ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ αὐτοῦ.

KJVTo whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

JPSto whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.

Thomsonand came to him in the days of Joakim son of Josias king of Juda even to the eleventh year of Zedekias son of Josias king of Juda, even to the capture of Jerusalem, in the fifth month.

BrentonAnd it was in the days of Joakim son of Josias king of Juda, until the eleventh year of Sedekias king of Juda, even until the captivity of Jerusalem in the fifth month.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις Ἰωακεὶμ υἱοῦ Ἰωσία βασιλέως Ἰούδα, ἕως ἑνδεκάτου ἔτους τοῦ Σεδεκία υἱοῦ Ἰωσία βασιλέως Ἰούδα, ἕως τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας Ἱερουσαλὴμ ἐν τῷ πέμπτῳ μηνί.

KJVIt came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

JPSIt came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

ThomsonThis word of the Lord came to him:

BrentonAnd the word of the Lord came to him, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς αὐτόν·

KJVThen the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

JPSAnd the word of the LORD came unto me, saying:

ThomsonBefore I formed thee in the womb, I knew thee, and before thou wast born I hallowed thee. I have appointed thee a prophet for nations.

BrentonBefore I formed thee in the belly, I knew thee; and before thou camest forth from the womb, I sanctified thee; I appointed thee a prophet to the nations.

GreekΠρὸ τοῦ με πλάσαι σε ἐν κοιλίᾳ, ἐπίσταμαί σε, καὶ πρὸ τοῦ σε ἐξελθεῖν ἐκ μήτρας, ἡγίακά σε, προφήτην εἰς ἔθνη τέθεικά σε.

KJVBefore I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

JPSBefore I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, And before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee; I have appointed thee a prophet unto the nations.

ThomsonThereupon I said, O Self-existent Sovereign, Lord! behold I know not how to speak, for I am a child.

BrentonAnd I said, O Lord, thou that art supreme Lord, behold, I know not how to speak, for I am a child.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπα, ὁ ὢν δέσποτα, Κύριε, ἰδοὺ οὐκ ἐπίσταμαι λαλεῖν, ὅτι νεώτερος ἐγώ εἰμι.

KJVThen said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

JPSThen said I: ‘Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak; for I am a child.’

ThomsonAnd the Lord said to me: Say not, For I am a child. For thou shalt go to all, to whomsoever I send thee; and according to all that I command thee thou shalt speak.

BrentonAnd the Lord said to me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all to whomsoever I shall send thee, and according to all the words that I shall command thee, thou shalt speak.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μὲ, μὴ λέγε, ὅτι νεώτερος ἐγώ εἰμι, ὅτι πρὸς πάντας οὓς ἐὰν ἐξαποστείλω σε, πορεύσῃ, καὶ κατὰ πάντα ὅσα ἐὰν ἐντείλωμαί σοι, λαλήσεις.

KJVBut 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.

JPSBut the LORD said unto me: Say not: I am a child; For to whomsoever I shall send thee thou shalt go, And whatsoever I shall command thee thou shalt speak.

ThomsonBe not afraid of them; for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

BrentonBe not afraid before them: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

GreekΜὴ φοβηθῇς ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν, ὅτι μετὰ σοῦ ἐγώ εἰμι τοῦ ἐξαιρεῖσθαί σε, λέγει Κύριος.

KJVBe not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

JPSBe not afraid of them; For I am with thee to deliver thee, Saith the LORD.

ThomsonThen the Lord stretched forth His hand towards me and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, Behold I have put My words in thy mouth.

BrentonAnd the Lord stretched forth his hand to me, and touched my mouth: and the Lord said to me, Behold, I have put my words into thy mouth.

GreekΚαὶ ἐξέτεινε Κύριος τὴν χεῖρα αὐτοῦ πρὸς μὲ, καὶ ἥψατο τοῦ στόματός μου, καὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μὲ, ἰδοὺ δέδωκα τοὺς λόγους μου εἰς τὸ στόμα σου.

KJVThen the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

JPSThen the LORD put forth His hand, and touched my mouth; and the LORD said unto me: Behold, I have put My words in thy mouth;

ThomsonBehold I have this day set thee over nations and over kingdoms to root out and demolish and destroy; and to rebuild and plant.

BrentonBehold, I have appointed thee this day over nations and over kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to rebuild, and to plant.

GreekἸδοὺ καθέστακά σε σήμερον ἐπὶ ἔθνη καὶ ἐπὶ βασιλείας, ἐκριζοῦν, καὶ κατασκάπτειν, καὶ ἀπολύειν, καὶ ἀνοικοδομεῖν, καὶ καταφυτεύειν.

KJVSee, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

JPSSee, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, And to destroy and to overthrow; To build, and to plant.

ThomsonThen a word of the Lord came to me saying, What dost thou see. Whereupon I said, I see a rod of an almond-tree.

BrentonAnd the word of the Lord came to me, saying, What seest thou? And I said, A rod of an almond tree.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς μὲ, λέγων, τί σὺ ὁρᾷς; καὶ εἶπα, βακτηρίαν καρυΐνην.

KJVMoreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree.

JPSMoreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: ‘Jeremiah, what seest thou?’ And I said: ‘I see a rod of an almond-tree.’

ThomsonAnd the Lord said to me, Thou hast seen well: for I have watched over My words to perform them.

BrentonAnd the Lord said to me, Thou hast well seen: for I have watched over my words to perform them.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μὲ, καλῶς ἑώρακας, διότι ἐγρήγορα ἐγὼ ἐπὶ τοὺς λόγους μου τοῦ ποιῆσαι αὐτούς.

KJVThen said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

JPSThen said the LORD unto me: ‘Thou hast well seen; for I watch over My word to perform it.’

ThomsonAgain a word of the Lord came to me a second time saying: What dost thou see? And I said, A kettle; its bottom glowing hot; and its mouth from the north.

BrentonAnd the word of the Lord came to me a second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, A caldron on the fire; and the face of it is toward the north.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου ἐκ δευτέρου πρὸς μὲ, λέγων, τί σὺ ὁρᾷς; καὶ εἶπα, λέβητα ὑποκαιόμενον, καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ προσώπου Βοῤῥᾶ.

KJVAnd the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.

JPSAnd the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying: ‘What seest thou?’ And I said: ‘I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is from the north.’

ThomsonThen the Lord said to me, From the north shall blaze out the evils against all the inhabitants of this land.

BrentonAnd the Lord said to me, From the north shall flame forth evils upon all the inhabitants of the land.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς μὲ, ἀπὸ προσώπου Βοῤῥᾶ ἐκκαυθήσεται τὰ κακὰ ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς κατοικοῦντας τὴν γῆν.

KJVThen the LORD said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

JPSThen the LORD said unto me: ‘Out of the north the evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.

ThomsonFor behold I am calling together all the kingdoms of the earth from the north, saith the Lord; and they shall come and set, every one his throne against the vestibules of the gates of Jerusalem and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Juda:

BrentonFor, behold, I call together all the kingdoms of the earth from the north, saith the Lord; and they shall come, and shall set each one his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls round about her, and against all the cities of Juda.

GreekΔιότι ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ συγκαλῶ πάσας τὰς βασιλείας τῆς γῆς ἀπὸ Βοῤῥᾶ, λέγει Κύριος· καὶ ἥξουσι καὶ θήσουσιν ἕκαστος τὸν θρόνον αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὰ πρόθυρα τῶν πυλῶν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἐπὶ πάντα τὰ τείχη τὰ κύκλῳ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐπὶ πάσας τὰς πόλεις Ἰούδα.

KJVFor, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entering of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.

JPSFor, lo, I will call all the families of the kingdoms of the north, saith the LORD; and they shall come, and they shall set every one his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, and against all the walls thereof round about, and against all the cities of Judah.

Thomsonand I will speak to them with a judicial process touching all their wickedness. As they have forsaken Me and sacrificed to strange Gods, and worshipped the works of their hands,

BrentonAnd I will speak to them in judgment, concerning all their iniquity, forasmuch as they have forsaken me, and sacrificed to strange gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.

GreekΚαὶ λαλήσω πρὸς αὐτοὺς μετὰ κρίσεως, περὶ πάσης τῆς κακίας αὐτῶν, ὡς ἐγκατέλιπόν με, καὶ ἔθυσαν θεοῖς ἀλλοτρίοις, καὶ προσεκύνησαν τοῖς ἔργοις τῶν χειρῶν αὐτῶν.

KJVAnd I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.

JPSAnd I will utter My judgments against them touching all their wickedness; in that they have forsaken me, and have offered unto other gods, and worshipped the work of their own hands.

Thomsontherefore gird thou up thy loins and stand up and speak all that I command thee. Be not afraid of them, nor terrified at their presence; for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

BrentonAnd do thou gird up thy loins, and stand up, and speak all the words that I shall command thee: be not afraid of their face, neither be thou alarmed before them; for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ σὺ περίζωσαι τὴν ὀσφύν σου, καὶ ἀνάστηθι, καὶ εἰπὸ πάντα ὅσα ἄν ἐντείλωμαί σοι· μὴ φοβηθῇς ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν, μηδὲ πτοηθῇς ἐναντίον αὐτῶν, ὅτι μετὰ σοῦ εἰμι, τοῦ ἐξαιρεῖσθαί σε, λέγει Κύριος.

KJVThou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them.

JPSThou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee; be not dismayed at them, lest I dismay thee before them.

ThomsonBehold I have made thee this day, like a fortified city and like a wall of brass, too strong for all the kings of Juda and the chiefs thereof and the people of the land.

BrentonBehold, I have made thee this day as a strong city, and as a brazen wall, strong against all the kings of Juda, and the princes thereof, and the people of the land.

GreekἸδοὺ τέθεικά σε ἐν τῇ σήμερον ἡμέρᾳ ὡς πόλιν ὀχυρὰν καὶ ὡς τεῖχος χαλκοῦν, ὀχυρὸν πᾶσι τοῖς βασιλεύσιν Ἰούδα, καὶ τοῖς ἄρχουσιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ τῷ λαῷ τῆς γῆς.

KJVFor, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.

JPSFor, behold, I have made thee this day a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.

ThomsonThough they fight against thee they cannot prevail over thee; for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

BrentonAnd they shall fight against thee; but they shall by no means prevail against thee; because I am with thee, to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ πολεμήσουσί σε, καὶ οὐ μὴ δύνωνται πρὸς σὲ διότι μετὰ σοῦ ἐγώ εἰμι, τοῦ ἐξαιρεῖσθαί σε, εἶπε Κύριος.

KJVAnd they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.

JPSAnd they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; For I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.’