Jeremiah 7:1

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

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

Complete Jewish Bible

This word came to Yirmeyahu from ADONAI:

Berean Standard Bible

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

American Standard Version

The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 7:1 serves as a foundational introductory verse, meticulously establishing the divine origin and authoritative nature of the prophetic message that follows. It signals the commencement of a pivotal discourse, often termed the "Temple Sermon," delivered by the prophet Jeremiah directly from the LORD to the people of Judah. This verse underscores that the subsequent pronouncements are not human opinions or political analyses, but rather direct, weighty revelations from the covenant God of Israel, setting the stage for a profound call to repentance and a stark warning against false security.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 7:1 acts as a formal superscription, marking a distinct shift in the book's narrative structure. Preceding chapters have detailed Jeremiah's call and initial prophecies, often delivered in a more general or poetic manner. This verse, however, introduces a specific, public, and highly confrontational message—the "Temple Sermon"—which begins immediately in [Jeremiah 7:2](/jeremiah/7-2 "Jeremiah 7:2 - The Temple Sermon Begins"). The sermon directly addresses the people's misguided reliance on the physical Temple as a charm against divine judgment, despite their rampant idolatry and moral decay. It is a powerful indictment of superficial religiosity, setting the tone for the subsequent chapters that detail Judah's impending destruction and the reasons for it, directly linking their sin to God's righteous judgment, as seen in the consequences outlined in [Jeremiah 7:20-26](/jeremiah/7-20 "Jeremiah 7:20-26 - Consequences of Disobedience").

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The message of Jeremiah 7:1-15 is widely believed to have been delivered during the reign of King Jehoiakim (609-598 BC), a period marked by profound spiritual apostasy and political instability following the death of the righteous King Josiah. Jehoiakim reversed many of Josiah's reforms, promoting idolatry and injustice. Culturally, the people of Judah had developed a dangerous theological presumption: that God would never allow Jerusalem or His Temple to be destroyed, regardless of their behavior, because it was His dwelling place. This belief, rooted in a misinterpretation of God's covenant promises to David and the sanctity of Zion, fostered a false sense of security. Jeremiah's sermon, delivered at the Temple gate, directly challenged this deeply ingrained cultural and religious delusion, warning that their physical proximity to the Temple offered no protection against a holy God's judgment if their hearts were far from Him, a theme echoed in [Isaiah 1:10-17](/isaiah/1-10 "Isaiah 1:10-17 - True Worship and Justice").

* **Key Themes:** This introductory verse powerfully establishes several key themes central to the book of Jeremiah. Firstly, it emphasizes **Divine Authority and Origin**, unequivocally stating that the subsequent message originates "from the LORD," not from Jeremiah's personal insights or political agenda. This immediately validates the prophecy's truthfulness and demands the people's earnest attention. Secondly, it highlights the **Prophetic Mandate** of Jeremiah himself, solidifying his role as God's chosen mouthpiece, a true prophet distinct from the many false prophets who spoke "a vision of their own imagination" ([Jeremiah 14:14](/jeremiah/14-14 "Jeremiah 14:14 - False Prophets and Their Deceptions")). Thirdly, the verse subtly introduces the theme of **Imminent Confrontation and Judgment**. The very act of God sending a "word" through His prophet implies a divine response to the people's current state, foreshadowing the direct challenge to their spiritual complacency and the impending consequences of their unrepentant sin, a warning that culminates in the pronouncement of exile in [Jeremiah 25:8-11](/jeremiah/25-8 "Jeremiah 25:8-11 - Seventy Years of Exile").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Word (Hebrew, _dâbâr'_):** From H1697, this term is far richer than a mere utterance. It signifies a substantive, active communication that carries weight, consequence, and often, a divine decree or command. In this context, it is not just information but a powerful, living entity that will bring about what it declares, embodying God's will and purpose. It can refer to a matter, an affair, a thing, or a message, indicating the comprehensive nature of God's communication.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** From H3068, this is the sacred covenant name of God, YHWH, often translated as "Jehovah" or "the LORD." It emphasizes God's self-existence, eternal nature, and His covenant relationship with Israel. The use of this specific name underscores that the message is from the God who made promises to Israel and holds them accountable to the covenant, not a generic deity. It highlights His personal involvement and authority over His chosen people.
* **Saying (Hebrew, _ʼâmar'_):** From H559, this primitive root means "to say" with great latitude. Here, it denotes the active, ongoing process of divine communication. It implies that the "word" is not a static concept but an active, spoken declaration, indicating that Jeremiah is directly quoting or relaying the very words of God, lending immediate and undeniable authority to the subsequent sermon.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"The word":** This phrase immediately establishes the divine origin and authoritative nature of the message. It is not Jeremiah's personal opinion or political analysis, but a direct communication from God Himself, carrying ultimate weight and truth.
* **"that came to Jeremiah":** This clause highlights the prophet's role as a recipient and conduit of divine revelation. Jeremiah is not the originator of the message but the chosen vessel through whom God chooses to speak to His people, underscoring his prophetic legitimacy.
* **"from the LORD":** This specifies the ultimate source of the "word" as Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. It emphasizes His sovereignty, His personal involvement in the affairs of His people, and His right to address them, call them to account, and declare His will.
* **"saying":** This concluding participle indicates that the divine communication is direct, verbal, and immediately actionable. It signals that what follows are the very words spoken by God, relayed verbatim through Jeremiah, demanding attention and obedience.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 7:1 primarily functions as a **Framing Device** or **Superscription**, a common literary convention in prophetic literature. It sets the stage for the entire discourse that follows, immediately establishing the divine authority and origin of the message. This verse also employs **Authorial Intrusion**, where the narrator steps in to inform the reader about the source and nature of the prophecy, rather than the prophecy beginning abruptly. Furthermore, the phrase "The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying" is a classic example of a **Divine Oracle Formula**. This formula is a powerful rhetorical device that authenticates the prophet's message, distinguishing it from human wisdom or false prophecy and imbuing it with the absolute authority of God himself. It prepares the audience for a message that is not merely advisory but declarative and binding.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 7:1 fundamentally underscores the consistent biblical truth that God is a speaking God who actively communicates His will and truth to humanity. This verse establishes the bedrock principle of divine revelation, asserting that the subsequent message is not merely human insight but a direct, authoritative utterance from the Creator to His creation. It highlights God's ongoing relationship with His people, even in their rebellion, demonstrating His patience in sending warnings before judgment. The theological weight of "the word from the LORD" emphasizes God's sovereignty, His unchanging character, and His commitment to justice and righteousness, even when it demands confronting His own people. This divine communication serves as both a testament to His love and a stern reminder of accountability.

* [Numbers 12:6](/numbers/12-6 "Numbers 12:6 - God Speaks to Prophets")
* [Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God's Revelation Through Son")
* [2 Timothy 3:16](/2_timothy/3-16 "2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is God-Breathed")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 7:1, though brief, carries profound implications for contemporary believers. It reminds us that true spiritual authority and guidance flow directly from God. In a world saturated with voices, opinions, and competing truths, this verse calls us to anchor our lives in the authoritative "word that came... from the LORD." It challenges us to cultivate a discerning spirit, recognizing that not every message, even those cloaked in religious language, originates from divine truth. Just as Jeremiah's audience was called to heed a difficult message, we too are often confronted with God's word that challenges our comfort zones, exposes our false securities, and calls us to genuine repentance and obedience. This verse compels us to ask: Are we truly listening for God's voice in our lives, not just seeking affirmation for our existing beliefs? Are we willing to embrace the uncomfortable truths that His word may reveal about our own hearts and practices?

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does recognizing the divine origin of Scripture (as emphasized in "the word that came... from the LORD") impact your approach to studying and obeying the Bible?**
* **In what areas of your life might you be relying on a false sense of security, similar to Judah's reliance on the Temple, instead of genuine obedience to God's word?**
* **How can you cultivate a greater discernment to identify messages that truly originate "from the LORD" versus those that are merely human opinions or cultural trends?**

### FAQ
**What is the significance of the phrase "the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD"?**

Answer: This phrase is a common prophetic formula that serves to authenticate the message immediately following it. Its significance lies in establishing the **divine origin and absolute authority** of the prophecy. It asserts that the words Jeremiah is about to speak are not his own thoughts, political analyses, or personal opinions, but a direct, revealed message from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This declaration distinguishes Jeremiah as a true prophet, a mere mouthpiece for God, and demands the utmost attention and obedience from his audience. It underscores God's active involvement in human history and His communication of His will to His people, as seen throughout the prophetic books, for example, in the opening of [Hosea 1:1](/hosea/1-1 "Hosea 1:1 - The Word of the LORD to Hosea").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 7:1, by establishing the divine origin of God's "word" through His prophet, beautifully foreshadows the ultimate and perfect "Word" of God revealed in Jesus Christ. While Jeremiah received the word and spoke it, Jesus *is* the Word made flesh, the full and final revelation of God's character and will, as profoundly stated in [John 1:1-3](/john/1-1 "John 1:1-3 - The Word Was God"). Just as the word "came to Jeremiah from the LORD," so too did the Son come from the Father, embodying divine authority and truth. Jeremiah's message called Israel to repentance and warned of judgment for their false security in the Temple; Christ's advent brought the ultimate call to repentance and offered true security, not in a physical building, but in His person and atoning work, fulfilling the very purpose of the Temple as the dwelling place of God among His people ([John 2:19-21](/john/2-19 "John 2:19-21 - Jesus Predicts His Resurrection")). Jesus is the living embodiment of God's authoritative "saying," through whom God has spoken His final and most comprehensive word to humanity, inviting all to enter into a new covenant relationship through faith in Him ([Hebrews 1:1-2](/hebrews/1-1 "Hebrews 1:1-2 - God Speaks Through His Son")).

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.