Jeremiah 11:1

¶ The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

The word ^{H1697} that came to Jeremiah ^{H3414} from the LORD ^{H3068}, saying ^{H559},

Here is the word that came to Yirmeyahu from ADONAI:

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:

The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,

Jeremiah 11:1 serves as a concise yet powerful introduction to a significant prophetic message within the Book of Jeremiah. It immediately establishes the divine origin and authority of the words that follow, emphasizing that the prophet Jeremiah is merely the messenger for a direct communication from God.

Context

This verse marks the beginning of a new section or oracle in Jeremiah's prophecy. Historically, Jeremiah ministered during a tumultuous period in Judah's history, just before the Babylonian exile. The messages he delivered were often harsh warnings of impending judgment due to the nation's idolatry and disobedience to God's covenant. Chapter 11, introduced by this verse, specifically focuses on God's indictment against Judah for breaking the covenant made at Mount Sinai, a theme central to the book. This prophetic declaration sets the stage for a detailed exposition of Judah's unfaithfulness and the consequences thereof, echoing the warnings found in the book of Deuteronomy regarding covenant violations.

Key Themes

Divine Revelation: The most prominent theme is that the message originates directly from the LORD (Hebrew: YHWH), God's personal covenant name. This underscores the truth and reliability of Jeremiah's prophecy.
Prophetic Authority: By stating "The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD," the verse asserts the prophet's legitimate role as God's spokesman. His words are not his own opinions but a divine mandate, similar to the introductions found in other prophetic books like Hosea 1:1 or Joel 1:1.
Covenant Focus (Implied): While not explicitly stated in this single verse, the subsequent verses in chapter 11 reveal that the "word" concerns the broken covenant, highlighting God's faithfulness even when His people are not.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD" is a standard prophetic formula in the Old Testament, signifying a direct communication from God. The Hebrew term for "word" (dabar) can mean not just spoken utterance, but also an event, a matter, or a thing, implying the comprehensive nature of God's message and its inevitable fulfillment. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) emphasizes God's covenant relationship with Israel, making the breaking of this covenant in the following verses all the more poignant.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 11:1 reminds us of the divine inspiration and authority of Scripture. Every word of the Bible, though delivered through human authors like Jeremiah, ultimately comes "from the LORD." This foundation provides assurance in the truthfulness of God's promises and warnings. For believers today, it encourages a diligent and reverent approach to studying God's Word, understanding that it is a direct message from the Creator to humanity, guiding us in matters of faith and life, much like the inspiration of all Scripture detailed in 2 Timothy 3:16.

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.

No cross-references found for this verse.