Jeremiah 2:1

KJV

¶ Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

KJV (with Strong's)

Moreover the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068} came to me, saying {H559},

Complete Jewish Bible

The word of ADONAI came to me:

Berean Standard Bible

Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

American Standard Version

And the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 2:1 serves as the authoritative introduction to the prophetic messages contained within the book of Jeremiah, unequivocally stating that the words conveyed by the prophet are not of human origin but are direct, divine revelation from the LORD. This foundational declaration establishes the absolute authority and imperative nature of the subsequent warnings, judgments, and calls to repentance directed towards the nation of Judah, setting the stage for a profound theological discourse on covenant faithfulness and divine justice.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 2:1 stands as a pivotal transition from the prophetic call and commissioning of Jeremiah in chapter 1 to the actual delivery of God's message to Judah, which commences in chapter 2. Chapter 1 details Jeremiah's initial reluctance, God's assurance of His presence and empowering touch, and the symbolic visions that underscore the prophet's challenging task. Thus, chapter 2 opens with the explicit declaration that the following pronouncements are not Jeremiah's personal opinions or political analyses, but the very "word of the LORD." This formal introduction is crucial for establishing the divine warrant for the severe indictments and warnings that characterize the early chapters of Jeremiah, particularly the charges of Judah's spiritual adultery and abandonment of their covenant with God.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The prophetic ministry of Jeremiah spanned a tumultuous period in Judah's history, roughly from 627/626 BC to after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC, encompassing the reigns of King Josiah, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah. During this era, Judah was precariously situated between the declining Assyrian Empire and the rising power of Babylon. Despite King Josiah's earlier reforms, the nation had largely reverted to widespread idolatry, syncretism, and social injustice, mirroring the spiritual decline that had plagued the Northern Kingdom of Israel. The people had forgotten the foundational covenant relationship with Yahweh, engaging in practices like child sacrifice and worshipping foreign deities. Jeremiah's message, therefore, arrived in a context of profound national apostasy, with the looming threat of Babylonian invasion serving as God's instrument of judgment for their persistent rebellion, as foretold in passages like [Jeremiah 1:15](/jeremiah/1-15 "Jeremiah 1:15 - God's Judgment from the North").
* **Key Themes:** This verse introduces several key themes that permeate the book of Jeremiah. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Revelation and Authority**, emphasizing that God actively communicates with His people through chosen messengers. The phrase "the word of the LORD came to me" highlights God's initiative in speaking, underscoring the divine origin and absolute authority of Jeremiah's prophecies. This directly links to the theme of **Prophetic Mandate and Responsibility**, as Jeremiah is not speaking on his own behalf but as God's mouthpiece, tasked with delivering an often unpopular message of impending judgment and a call to repentance. Finally, it sets the stage for the overarching theme of **Covenant Faithfulness and Apostasy**, as the subsequent chapters detail Judah's unfaithfulness to their covenant with Yahweh and God's righteous response to their spiritual adultery, a theme vividly illustrated in [Jeremiah 3:6-10](/jeremiah/3-6 "Jeremiah 3:6-10 - Israel and Judah's Unfaithfulness").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **word (Hebrew, _dâbâr'_):** From H1697, this term signifies more than just spoken sounds; it encompasses a "matter," "thing," "affair," "decree," or "purpose." When used in the context of divine communication, it denotes an authoritative, effective, and often performative utterance from God. The "word of the LORD" is not merely information but a potent force that shapes reality, carries divine intent, and demands a response. It is a communication that embodies God's will and power.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** From H3068, this is the sacred, covenantal name of God, often rendered as Yahweh or Jehovah. It emphasizes God's self-existence, eternality, and His covenant relationship with Israel. The use of "Yᵉhôvâh" here highlights that the message is from the sovereign, faithful God who entered into a covenant with His people and is now addressing their breach of that covenant. It underscores the personal and relational nature of the divine communication.
* **saying (Hebrew, _ʼâmar'_):** From H559, this primitive root means "to say" with great latitude, encompassing to "appoint," "declare," "command," "speak," or "utter." In this context, it signifies the direct, explicit, and intentional nature of God's communication to Jeremiah. It implies that the subsequent content is a direct verbalization from God, not an interpretation or a vision that needs decoding, but a clear, spoken message to be conveyed.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Moreover the word":** This opening phrase, often translated as "And the word" or "Now the word," indicates a continuation or commencement of a new phase of divine revelation following Jeremiah's call in chapter 1. The term "word" (dâbâr) here is pregnant with meaning, signifying not just a message but an active, potent, and authoritative utterance from God that carries His will and purpose.
* **"of the LORD came to me":** This clause explicitly states the divine origin and direct transmission of the message. The "LORD" (Yᵉhôvâh) identifies the speaker as the covenant God of Israel, emphasizing the personal and authoritative nature of the communication. The phrase "came to me" highlights the prophet Jeremiah as the chosen recipient and conduit for this divine revelation, underscoring his role as God's mouthpiece, not the originator of the message.
* **"saying,":** This final word (ʼâmar) acts as an immediate introduction to the content of the divine message that follows. It signifies that what comes next are the direct, verbatim pronouncements of God, establishing the absolute truthfulness and imperative nature of the prophecies that will unfold throughout the book of Jeremiah.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 2:1 primarily employs **Formal Introduction** and **Divine Mandate**. The verse acts as a clear and unambiguous marker, signaling to the reader that what follows is not merely human discourse but divinely inspired revelation. This formal opening, "Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying," is a common prophetic trope, immediately establishing the **Authority** of the message. It functions as a **Framing Device**, setting the entire subsequent narrative within the context of God's direct communication to humanity through His chosen prophet. The repetition of this formula throughout prophetic literature also lends it the quality of a **Formulaic Expression**, reinforcing the consistent nature of divine interaction with Israel.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 2:1 lays the theological groundwork for understanding the entire prophetic corpus: God is not silent but actively engaged with His creation, particularly His covenant people. This verse underscores the fundamental truth that divine revelation is initiated by God Himself, not conjured by human effort. It establishes the prophetic word as God's living and active communication, carrying His authority, truth, and power to judge, convict, and ultimately restore. The very act of God speaking to Jeremiah highlights His persistent love and desire for relationship, even in the face of His people's profound unfaithfulness, setting the stage for the dramatic tension between divine justice and enduring mercy that pervades the book.

* [Isaiah 55:11](/isaiah/55-11 "Isaiah 55:11 - God's Word Accomplishes His Purpose")
* [Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God Speaks Through His Son")
* [2 Timothy 3:16](/2_timothy/3-16 "2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is God-Breathed")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 2:1 is a profound reminder that we serve a speaking God, one who actively initiates communication with humanity. For us today, this verse calls for a posture of humble attentiveness and reverence towards God's revealed truth. Just as God's word "came to" Jeremiah, so too does His word come to us through the sacred Scriptures, which are divinely inspired and authoritative for all of life. This foundational truth compels us not only to read the Bible but to listen for God's voice within its pages, recognizing that it carries the weight of His divine will and purpose. It challenges us to move beyond mere intellectual assent to active engagement, allowing God's living word to confront, comfort, guide, and transform us, just as it was intended to do for ancient Judah. Our response to God's word, whether in ancient times or today, determines our trajectory.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does recognizing the divine origin of Scripture (as highlighted in Jeremiah 2:1) impact your approach to reading and studying the Bible?**
* **In what ways do you believe God is speaking to you today, and how are you positioning yourself to hear and respond to His "word"?**
* **What might it look like to live a life that truly reflects the belief that God's word "came" to you, carrying divine authority and purpose?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the phrase "the word of the LORD came to me" in prophetic literature?**

Answer: The phrase "the word of the LORD came to me" is a foundational and recurring formula in prophetic literature, serving as an explicit declaration of divine revelation. Its significance lies in establishing the absolute authority and divine origin of the message that follows. It distinguishes the prophet's words from mere human opinion, political commentary, or personal insight, asserting that they are direct, authoritative utterances from God Himself. This phrase underscores God's initiative in communicating with humanity and validates the prophet's role as a divinely appointed messenger, giving immense weight and imperative to their pronouncements, as seen in similar declarations throughout the Old Testament, such as in [Hosea 1:1](/hosea/1-1 "Hosea 1:1 - The Word of the LORD to Hosea") or [Joel 1:1](/joel/1-1 "Joel 1:1 - The Word of the LORD to Joel").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah 2:1 speaks of God's word coming to a prophet, it profoundly foreshadows the ultimate and most complete revelation of God's word in the person of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament prophets, including Jeremiah, served as conduits for God's spoken word, but [John 1:1](/john/1-1 "John 1:1 - The Word Was God") reveals that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This "Word" is Jesus, the living embodiment of God's communication and revelation. Just as the "word of the LORD came" to Jeremiah, God's ultimate Word, His Son, "became flesh and dwelt among us" ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). In Christ, we see not just a message about God, but God Himself made manifest, fully revealing the Father's character, will, and redemptive plan. He is the definitive utterance, the final and complete expression of God's heart for humanity, fulfilling the prophetic pattern of divine revelation by being the very "radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ, the Radiance of God's Glory")). Thus, Jeremiah 2:1, in its declaration of God's speaking nature, points forward to the supreme revelation found in the person and work of Jesus, who is the Word made flesh.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 23:28

The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What [is] the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.

Ezekiel 7:1

¶ Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

2 Peter 1:21

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.

Hebrews 1:1

¶ God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Jeremiah 7:1

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

Jeremiah 1:11

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