Jeremiah 1:7
New International Version
But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.

New Living Translation
The LORD replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.

English Standard Version
But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
But the LORD said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.

New American Standard Bible
But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak.

NASB 1995
But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak.

NASB 1977
But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Yahweh said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak.

Amplified Bible
But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am [only] a young man,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And whatever I command you, you shall speak.

Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to me: Do not say, “I am only a youth,” for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then the LORD said to me: Do not say, “I am only a youth,” for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
"Don't say you're too young," the LORD answered. "If I tell you to go and speak to someone, then go! And when I tell you what to say, don't leave out a word!

English Revised Version
But the LORD 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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But the LORD said to me, "Don't say that you are only a boy. You will go wherever I send you. You will say whatever I command you to say.

Good News Translation
But the LORD said to me, "Do not say that you are too young, but go to the people I send you to, and tell them everything I command you to say.

International Standard Version
Then the LORD told me, "Don't say, 'I'm only a young man,' for you will go everywhere I send you, and you will speak everything I command you.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
The LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' But go to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you.

New Heart English Bible
But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am a child;' for to whoever I shall send you, you shall go, and whatever I shall command you, you shall speak.

Webster's Bible Translation
But the LORD said to me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatever I command thee thou shalt speak.

World English Bible
But Yahweh said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am a child;’ for you must go to whomever I send you, and you must say whatever I command you.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH says to me, “Do not say, I [am] a youth, for to all to whom I send you—go, and all that I command you—speak.

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah saith unto me, 'Do not say, I am a youth, for to all to whom I send thee thou goest, and all that I command thee thou speakest.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will say to me, Thou shalt not say, I a boy; for thou shalt go to all to whom I shall send thee, and all which I shall command thee thou shalt speak.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said to me: Say not: I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee: and whatsoever I shall command thee, thou shalt speak.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord said to me: “Do not choose to say, ‘I am a boy.’ For you shall go forth to everyone to whom I will send you. And you shall speak all that I will command you.

New American Bible
But the LORD answered me, Do not say, “I am too young.” To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak.

New Revised Standard Version
But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the LORD said to me, Do not say, I am a child; for you shall go to all that I shall send you, and whatever I command you you shall speak.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH said to me: "Do not say, ‘I am a boy', because to everyone to whom I will send you, you shall go, and all that I shall command you, you shall speak
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But the LORD 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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord said to me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all to whomsoever I shall send thee, and according to all the words that I shall command thee, thou shalt speak.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Call of Jeremiah
6“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!” 7But 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. 8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.…

Cross References
Exodus 4:10-12
“Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.” / And the LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, the sighted or the blind? Is it not I, the LORD? / Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”

Isaiah 6:5-8
Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.” / Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. / And with it he touched my mouth and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.” ...

Matthew 10:19-20
But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. / For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Acts 7:22
So Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.

1 Timothy 4:12
Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Exodus 3:11-12
But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” / “I will surely be with you,” God said, “and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.”

1 Samuel 3:10
Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

Luke 12:11-12
When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say. / For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”

Acts 4:13
When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.

2 Corinthians 3:5-6
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God. / And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Isaiah 50:4
The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

Matthew 28:19-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, / and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Acts 9:15-16
“Go!” said the Lord. “This man is My chosen instrument to carry My name before the Gentiles and their kings, and before the people of Israel. / I will show him how much he must suffer for My name.”

1 Corinthians 2:4-5
My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, / so that your faith would not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

Ezekiel 2:6-7
But you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns surround you, and you dwell among scorpions. Do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their presence, though they are a rebellious house. / But speak My words to them, whether they listen or refuse to listen, for they are rebellious.


Treasury of Scripture

But the LORD said to me, Say not, I am a child: for you shall go to all that I shall send you, and whatever I command you you shall speak.

for thou shalt

Jeremiah 1:17,18
Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them…

Exodus 7:1,2
And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet…

Numbers 22:20,38
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…

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Jeremiah 1
1. The time
4. And the calling of Jeremiah
11. His prophetical visions of an almond rod and a seething pot
15. His heavy message against Judah
17. God encourages him with his promise of assistance














But the LORD said to me
This phrase introduces the divine response to Jeremiah's hesitation. The Hebrew word for "LORD" here is "Yahweh," the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal and unchanging nature. This highlights the personal relationship between God and Jeremiah, underscoring that the call to prophecy is not from a distant deity but from a personal, covenant-keeping God who knows Jeremiah intimately.

Do not say
God's command here is direct and authoritative. The Hebrew verb used implies a prohibition, indicating that Jeremiah's self-doubt is not just a personal issue but a matter of obedience to God. This reflects the biblical principle that God's commands often challenge our natural inclinations and require faith and trust in His wisdom over our own understanding.

I am only a boy
Jeremiah's self-description as a "boy" (Hebrew: "na'ar") suggests youth and inexperience. In ancient Near Eastern culture, age was associated with wisdom and authority, so Jeremiah's concern is understandable. However, God's call often transcends human qualifications, reminding us that divine empowerment is not limited by age or experience.

for to everyone I send you
The phrase emphasizes the universality and scope of Jeremiah's mission. The Hebrew root for "send" (shalach) is often used in the context of divine commissioning, indicating that Jeremiah's authority and purpose are derived from God's sovereign will. This underscores the biblical theme that God's purposes are global and inclusive, reaching all people.

you must go
This imperative highlights the necessity of obedience in the prophetic calling. The Hebrew verb "halak" (to go) is a common biblical term for walking or journeying, symbolizing the life of faith and obedience. Jeremiah's mission requires active participation and movement, reflecting the dynamic nature of God's work in the world.

and all that I command you
The phrase underscores the completeness and sufficiency of God's instructions. The Hebrew word for "command" (tsavah) implies a divine mandate that is not optional but obligatory. This reflects the biblical principle that God's word is authoritative and must be proclaimed in its entirety, without alteration or omission.

you shall speak
The final phrase emphasizes the prophetic role of speaking God's word. The Hebrew verb "dabar" (to speak) is central to the prophetic vocation, highlighting the power and importance of the spoken word in conveying divine truth. This reminds us that the prophet's role is not to create or modify the message but to faithfully communicate what God has revealed.

(7) The Lord said unto me.--The misgiving, which was not reluctance, is met by words of encouragement. God gave the work; He would also give the power.

Verse 7. - Thou shalt go, etc. Thoughts of self are altogether out of place in one who has received a Divine commission. Jeremiah's duty is simple obedience. In put-suing this path he cannot but be safe (ver. 8).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But the LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

told
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

me:
אֵלַ֔י (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

say,
תֹּאמַ֖ר (tō·mar)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘I [am]
אָנֹ֑כִי (’ā·nō·ḵî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 595: I

only a child.’
נַ֣עַר (na·‘ar)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

For
כִּ֠י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

to
עַֽל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

everyone
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

I send you,
אֶֽשְׁלָחֲךָ֙ (’eš·lā·ḥă·ḵā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

you must go,
תֵּלֵ֔ךְ (tê·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

and all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

that
אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

I command you,
אֲצַוְּךָ֖ (’ă·ṣaw·wə·ḵā)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6680: To lay charge (upon), give charge (to), command, order

you must speak.
תְּדַבֵּֽר׃ (tə·ḏab·bêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 1:7 But Yahweh said to me Don't say (Jer.)
Jeremiah 1:6
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