Jeremiah 1:7

But 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.

But the LORD {H3068} said {H559} unto me, Say {H559} not, I am a child {H5288}: for thou shalt go {H3212} to all that I shall send {H7971} thee, and whatsoever I command {H6680} thee thou shalt speak {H1696}.

But ADONAI said to me, "Don't say, 'I'm just a child.' "For you will go to whomever I send you, and you will speak whatever I order you.

But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak.

But Jehovah 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.

Jeremiah 1:7 KJV is a pivotal verse in the narrative of Jeremiah's prophetic call, where the Lord directly confronts the young prophet's initial reluctance and empowers him for his daunting mission.

Context of Jeremiah 1:7

This verse is part of the opening chapter of the book of Jeremiah, detailing the prophet's divine commissioning. In the preceding verses (Jeremiah 1:4-6), God reveals that He knew Jeremiah before birth and ordained him as a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah, however, expresses profound inadequacy, declaring, "Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child." Verse 7 is God's immediate and firm rebuttal to this excuse, setting the tone for Jeremiah's long and often difficult ministry in a tumultuous pre-exilic Judah.

Key Themes

  • Divine Commissioning and Empowerment: The verse powerfully asserts that God, not human ability or age, determines one's fitness for service. God's call comes with His enabling power, ensuring that those He sends are equipped for the task. This echoes a recurring biblical theme that God enables those He calls.
  • Obedience Over Excuses: Jeremiah's protest of being "a child" (Hebrew: na'ar, meaning youth, but also indicating inexperience or dependence) is swiftly dismissed. God demands immediate and complete obedience, emphasizing that the prophet's personal feelings of inadequacy are irrelevant to the divine mandate.
  • Divine Authority of the Message: The phrase "whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak" underscores that Jeremiah is merely a mouthpiece for God. The words are not his own opinions or wisdom, but direct divine revelation. This highlights the immense responsibility of a prophet to faithfully deliver God's exact message, regardless of its popularity or personal cost.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "child" here is na'ar (נַעַר), which broadly refers to a young person, often from infancy up to early adulthood, or even a servant. While Jeremiah was likely a young man, his use of na'ar emphasizes his feeling of immaturity and inexperience for such a monumental task, akin to Moses' reluctance in Exodus 4:10. God's response directly counters this, shifting the focus from Jeremiah's perceived weakness to God's sovereign strength and command.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 1:7 offers profound encouragement and challenge for believers today:

  • Your Age or Inexperience is Not a Barrier: God often chooses the seemingly unqualified to demonstrate His power. Whether young or old, new in faith or seasoned, our perceived limitations do not hinder God's plans for us.
  • Embrace God's Calling with Obedience: Rather than making excuses, we are called to trust God's equipping. When God sends, He also provides the means and strength to fulfill the mission.
  • Speak God's Truth Faithfully: Like Jeremiah, we are called to be faithful communicators of God's word, not our own. This requires listening to Him and courageously sharing what He commands, even when it's difficult or unpopular.
  • Overcome Fear with Divine Assurance: God's promise to be with Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:8) follows immediately after this command. Knowing that God sends us and is with us empowers us to overcome fear and inadequacy in service.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Mark 16:15

    And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

  • Mark 16:16

    He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

  • Ezekiel 3:27

    But when I speak with thee, I will open thy mouth, and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; He that heareth, let him hear; and he that forbeareth, let him forbear: for they [are] a rebellious house.

  • Numbers 22:20

    And God came unto Balaam at night, and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, [and] go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.

  • Ezekiel 3:17

    Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

  • Ezekiel 3:21

    Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous [man], that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

  • Ezekiel 2:3

    And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me: they and their fathers have transgressed against me, [even] unto this very day.
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