◄ Jeremiah 1:5 ►
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
Study Bible
Before I formed you in the womb
This phrase emphasizes God's sovereignty and omniscience. The Hebrew word for "formed" is "yatsar," which is often used to describe a potter shaping clay. This imagery suggests that God is the divine craftsman, intricately involved in the creation of each individual. The concept of God forming Jeremiah in the womb underscores the belief that life begins at conception and that each person is purposefully created by God. This aligns with the conservative Christian view that every life is sacred and intentionally designed by the Creator.

I knew you
The Hebrew word for "knew" is "yada," which implies an intimate, personal knowledge. This is not merely an awareness of existence but a deep, relational understanding. In the biblical context, "knowing" often signifies a covenantal relationship, as seen in God's relationship with Israel. This phrase indicates that God had a specific plan and purpose for Jeremiah's life even before his birth, highlighting the personal nature of God's call and His intimate involvement in the lives of His people.

and before you were born I set you apart
The phrase "set you apart" comes from the Hebrew word "qadash," meaning to consecrate or make holy. This indicates that Jeremiah was chosen for a special purpose before his birth. In the conservative Christian perspective, this underscores the belief in divine election and the idea that God has a unique plan for each individual. Jeremiah's consecration before birth serves as a reminder that God has a purpose for every life, and that He calls people to fulfill specific roles in His divine plan.

and appointed you as a prophet to the nations
The word "appointed" is derived from the Hebrew "nathan," meaning to give or bestow. This indicates that Jeremiah's role as a prophet was a divine gift and calling. The phrase "to the nations" expands Jeremiah's mission beyond Israel, suggesting a universal scope to his prophetic ministry. This reflects the conservative Christian understanding that God's message is for all people and that His servants are called to proclaim His truth to the entire world. Jeremiah's appointment as a prophet to the nations highlights the global mission of God's people to spread His word and serve as His representatives on earth.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah. His ministry spanned over 40 years, during which he faced significant opposition and hardship.

2. God
The sovereign Creator who calls and appoints individuals for His purposes. In this verse, God is speaking directly to Jeremiah, affirming His divine plan and foreknowledge.

3. The Womb
Symbolic of the place where life begins, emphasizing God's intimate involvement in the creation and purpose of each individual.

4. Nations
Refers to the broader audience beyond Judah to whom Jeremiah's prophetic messages were directed, highlighting the universal scope of God's message.

5. Prophet
A person chosen by God to speak His words to the people. Jeremiah's role as a prophet was divinely appointed before his birth.
Teaching Points
Divine Foreknowledge and Purpose
God knows us intimately and has a purpose for our lives even before we are born. This should give us confidence in His plan and direction for us.

Sanctity of Life
The verse underscores the value and sanctity of life from conception, affirming the belief that life is sacred and purposeful from the very beginning.

Calling and Obedience
Like Jeremiah, we are called to respond to God's calling with obedience, trusting that He equips us for the tasks He appoints.

Courage in Adversity
Jeremiah's life teaches us to stand firm in our calling, even when faced with opposition, knowing that God is with us.

Universal Mission
Our calling may have a broader impact than we realize, as God often uses us to reach beyond our immediate surroundings.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding that God knew and formed you before birth impact your view of your own life and purpose?

2. In what ways can you discern and respond to God's calling in your life, similar to Jeremiah's response to his prophetic calling?

3. How does the concept of being "set apart" influence your daily decisions and interactions with others?

4. What challenges do you face in fulfilling your God-given purpose, and how can Jeremiah's example encourage you to persevere?

5. How can you apply the understanding of God's universal mission to your personal ministry or outreach efforts?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 139
This passage echoes the theme of God's intimate knowledge and formation of individuals in the womb, emphasizing His omniscience and personal involvement in our lives.

Ephesians 2:10
This verse speaks to believers being created for good works, which God prepared in advance, aligning with the idea of being set apart for a divine purpose.

Galatians 1:15
Paul speaks of being set apart from birth, similar to Jeremiah, highlighting God's sovereign choice and calling.
Sermons
Jehovah Calls Jeremiah and Gives Him Ample EncouragementsD. Young Jeremiah 1:4-9
A Call to ServiceChristian AgeJeremiah 1:4-10
A Portrait of the True Servant of GodHomilistJeremiah 1:4-10
A Reason for BraveryJeremiah 1:4-10
A Sense of Helplessness as a Preparation for MinistryF. B. Meyer, B. A.Jeremiah 1:4-10
A Young Preacher's Oppressive Sense of ResponsibilityJeremiah 1:4-10
Calling to ServiceJ. Spencer.Jeremiah 1:4-10
Charge to Pastors: Their Work DefinedAndrew Fuller.Jeremiah 1:4-10
Childhood PropheticJeremiah 1:4-10
Childlike, not ChildishG. E. Jeli, M. A.Jeremiah 1:4-10
Courage is MinistersBp. Phillips Brooks.Jeremiah 1:4-10
Danger Regarded from the High Ground of FaithThe Signal.Jeremiah 1:4-10
Destruction and Construction ConjoinedJohn Trapp.Jeremiah 1:4-10
Election and MediationJ. Parker, D. D.Jeremiah 1:4-10
Fears and Comforts in Prospect of Labour for GodR. A. Griffin.Jeremiah 1:4-10
God Achieves His Work by Seemingly Inadequate Workmen that the Glory May be HisJeremiah 1:4-10
God Teaching His ProphetF. G. Crossman.Jeremiah 1:4-10
I Formed TheeF. B. Meyer, B. A.Jeremiah 1:4-10
Jeremiah a ServantG. Inglis.Jeremiah 1:4-10
Prophet's CommissionC. J. Ball, M. A.Jeremiah 1:4-10
Reluctance OvercomeY. Burns, D. D.Jeremiah 1:4-10
The Call of the ProphetA.F. Muir Jeremiah 1:4-10
The Divine Mission of ChildrenD. J. Hamer.Jeremiah 1:4-10
The Gospel Minister Encouraged and InstructedD. Wilson.Jeremiah 1:4-10
The Prophet's CallJ. Waite Jeremiah 1:4-10
The Prophet's Call and ConsecrationC. F. Keil.Jeremiah 1:4-10
The Ways in Which Men are Called to ServiceJ. Parker, D. D.Jeremiah 1:4-10
The Work of Jeremiah, and that of St. PaulJohn Ellerton, M. A.Jeremiah 1:4-10
Valiant ManhoodJeremiah 1:4-10
The Dread CommissionS. Conway Jeremiah 1:4-19
People
Amon, Anathoth, Benjamin, Hilkiah, Jehoiakim, Jeremiah, Josiah, Zedekiah
Places
Anathoth, Jerusalem
Topics
Apart, Appointed, Belly, Birth, Body, Born, Camest, Comest, Consecrated, Embryo, Form, Formed, Forth, Hallowed, Holy, Nations, Ordained, Prophet, Sanctified, Separated, Wast, Womb
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 1:5

     1020   God, all-knowing
     1215   God, feminine descriptions
     5027   knowledge, God's of humanity
     5061   sanctity of life
     5199   womb
     5408   messenger
     5901   loneliness
     5971   uniqueness
     6641   election, responsibilities
     6710   privileges
     7734   leaders, spiritual
     7967   spiritual gifts, responsibility
     8341   separation

Jeremiah 1:1-10

     7758   preachers, call

Jeremiah 1:4-5

     6620   calling

Jeremiah 1:4-9

     8496   witnessing, importance

Jeremiah 1:4-10

     7740   missionaries, call

Library
May the Fifteenth God is Wide-Awake
"Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree." --JEREMIAH i. 7-19. And through the almond tree the Lord gave the trembling young prophet the strength of assurance. The almond tree is the first to awake from its wintry sleep. When all other trees are held in frozen slumber the almond blossoms are looking out on the barren world. And God is like that, awake and vigilant. Nobody anticipates Him. Wherever Jeremiah was sent on his prophetic mission the Lord would be there before …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Jeremiah, a Lesson for the Disappointed.
"Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord."--Jeremiah i. 8. The Prophets were ever ungratefully treated by the Israelites, they were resisted, their warnings neglected, their good services forgotten. But there was this difference between the earlier and the later Prophets; the earlier lived and died in honour among their people,--in outward honour; though hated and thwarted by the wicked, they were exalted to high places, and ruled in the congregation. …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

The Writings of Jerome.
The following is a list of the writings arranged under various heads, and showing the date of composition and the place held by each in the Edition of Vallarsi, the eleven volumes of which will be found in Migne's Patrologia, vols. xxii. to xxx. The references are to the volumes of Jerome's works (i.-xi.) in that edition. I. Bible translations: (1) From the Hebrew.--The Vulgate of the Old Testament, written at Bethlehem, begun 391, finished 404, vol. ix. (2) From the Septuagint.--The Psalms as used …
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

Out of Sectarian Confusion
I was still a Methodist. The Methodist did not license women to preach; but when the preachers found out that God was using me in the salvation of souls and that I was not especially interested in building up any certain denomination, I had an abundance of calls. God had already begun talking to my brother Jeremiah about the sin of division, and he was beginning to see the evils of sectarianism. The winter after I was healed, he had attended the Jacksonville, Illinois, holiness convention, and had …
Mary Cole—Trials and Triumphs of Faith

How those are to be Admonished who do not Even Begin Good Things, and those who do not Finish them when Begun.
(Admonition 35.) Differently to be admonished are they who do not even begin good things, and those who in no wise complete such as they have begun. For as to those who do not even begin good things, for them the first need is, not to build up what they may wholesomely love, but to demolish that wherein they are wrongly occupied. For they will not follow the untried things they hear of, unless they first come to feel how pernicious are the things that they have tried; since neither does one desire …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

The Servant's Inflexible Resolve
'For the Lord God will help Me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set My face like a flint.'--ISAIAH l. 7. What a striking contrast between the tone of these words and of the preceding! There all is gentleness, docility, still communion, submission, patient endurance. Here all is energy and determination, resistance and martial vigour. It is like the contrast between a priest and a warrior. And that gentleness is the parent of this boldness. The same Will which is all submission …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Baptismal Covenant Can be Kept Unbroken. Aim and Responsibility of Parents.
We have gone "to the Law and to the Testimony" to find out what the nature and benefits of Baptism are. We have gathered out of the Word all the principal passages bearing on this subject. We have grouped them together, and studied them side by side. We have noticed that their sense is uniform, clear, and strong. Unless we are willing to throw aside all sound principles of interpretation, we can extract from the words of inspiration only one meaning, and that is that the baptized child is, by virtue …
G. H. Gerberding—The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church

That Sometimes Some Laudably Desire the Office of Preaching, While Others, as Laudably, are Drawn to it by Compulsion.
Although sometimes some laudably desire the office of preaching, yet others are as laudably drawn to it by compulsion; as we plainly perceive, if we consider the conduct of two prophets, one of whom offered himself of his own accord to be sent to preach, yet the other in fear refused to go. For Isaiah, when the Lord asked whom He should send, offered himself of his own accord, saying, Here I am; send me (Isai. vi. 8). But Jeremiah is sent, yet humbly pleads that he should not be sent, saying, Ah, …
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

A Defence of the Doctrine of Justification, by Faith in Jesus Christ;
SHEWING, TRUE GOSPEL-HOLINESS FLOWS FROM THENCE; OR, MR. FOWLER'S PRETENDED DESIGN OF CHRISTIANITY, PROVED TO BE NOTHING MORE THAN TO TRAMPLE UNDER FOOT THE BLOOD OF THE SON OF GOD; AND THE IDOLIZING OF MAN'S OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS AS ALSO, HOW WHILE HE PRETENDS TO BE A MINISTER OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, HE OVERTHROWETH THE WHOLESOME DOCTRINE CONTAINED IN THE 10TH, 11TH, AND 13TH, OF THE THIRTY-NINE ARTICLES OF THE SAME, AND THAT HE FALLETH IN WITH THE QUAKER AND ROMANIST, AGAINST THEM. BY JOHN BUNYAN …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Letter Xlv (Circa A. D. 1140) to the Canons of Lyons, on the Conception of S. Mary.
To the Canons of Lyons, on the Conception of S. Mary. Bernard states that the Festival of the Conception was new; that it rested on no legitimate foundation; and that it should not have been instituted without consulting the Apostolic See, to whose opinion he submits. 1. It is well known that among all the Churches of France that of Lyons is first in importance, whether we regard the dignity of its See, its praiseworthy regulations, or its honourable zeal for learning. Where was there ever the vigour …
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

Epistle iv. To Cyriacus, Bishop.
To Cyriacus, Bishop. Gregory to Cyriacus, Bishop of Constantinople. We have received with becoming charity our common sons, George the presbyter and Theodore your deacon; and we rejoice that you have passed from the care of ecclesiastical business to the government of souls, since, according to the voice of the Truth, He that is faithful in a little will be faithful also in much (Luke xvi. 10). And to the servant who administers well it is said, Because thou hast been faithful over a few things, …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

The Sin-Bearer.
A COMMUNION MEDITATION AT MENTONE. "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."--1 Peter ii. 24, 25. THE SIN-BEARER. THIS wonderful passage is a part of Peter's address to servants; and in his day nearly all servants were slaves. Peter begins at the eighteenth verse: "Servants, be subject …
Charles Hadden Spurgeon—Till He Come

John the Baptist's Person and Preaching.
(in the Wilderness of Judæa, and on the Banks of the Jordan, Occupying Several Months, Probably a.d. 25 or 26.) ^A Matt. III. 1-12; ^B Mark I. 1-8; ^C Luke III. 1-18. ^b 1 The beginning of the gospel [John begins his Gospel from eternity, where the Word is found coexistent with God. Matthew begins with Jesus, the humanly generated son of Abraham and David, born in the days of Herod the king. Luke begins with the birth of John the Baptist, the Messiah's herald; and Mark begins with the ministry …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Jeremiah 1:5 NIV
Jeremiah 1:5 NLT
Jeremiah 1:5 ESV
Jeremiah 1:5 NASB
Jeremiah 1:5 KJV

Jeremiah 1:5 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Jeremiah 1:4
Top of Page
Top of Page