During the dark days leading to their destruction, Jeremiah was a weeping prophet to a wayward people. He was a blazing torch who exposed their sin with the brightness of God’s Word.
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize
SUMMARY
Title
The book is named for its author: Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah.
Author
The author is Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah:
Jeremiah 1:1. The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.
Jeremiah’s father Hilkiah was a member of the Levitical priesthood, and lived in Anathoth.
That was a small village about three miles northeast of Jerusalem.
Date
Jeremiah’s ministry began in about 627 BC. Specifically, Jeremiah began during the 13th year of the reign of king Josiah:
Jeremiah 1:2. The LORD’s word came to him in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
Jeremiah’s ministry lasted until at least 586 BC. Specifically, Jeremiah prophesied at least until the exile:
Jeremiah 1:3. It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.
Purpose
Jeremiah’s ministry as a prophet spanned the final five decades of Judah’s history.
He began during the reign of Josiah, who was Judah’s final good king.
The people were deeply ensnared by the idolatry that King Manasseh had promoted during his 55-year reign.
For these wayward people, Jeremiah was a prophet who wept.
During the dark days leading to their destruction, Jeremiah was a blazing torch who exposed their sin with the brightness of God’s Word.
Through Jeremiah, the LORD God offered Judah their final opportunities to repent.
Unfortunately, they refused to listen.
Structure
Four characteristics are evident in the Book of Jeremiah:
1. Not Chronological
Unlike many books of the Bible, the Book of Jeremiah is not written chronologically.
2. Autobiographical
Jeremiah writes an intensely personal book.
He not only reveals the nation’s response to his ministry, but he also records his personal feelings about his messages.
He weeps over the impending destruction, and complains about the ridicule he was forced to endure. He records his own self-doubt as well as his doubts about the LORD God’s justice.
3. Different Literary Styles
Three types of literary materials are found in the Book of Jeremiah:
- poetic discourse
- prose discourse
- prose narratives
4. Logical Ordering
Jeremiah did not arrange his book chronologically. Instead, he arranged the sections in a broad logical arrangement.
That logical ordering is seen in our outline (see below).
OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION
Jeremiah 1:1-10. Jeremiah is called to to be a prophet
Jeremiah 1:11-12. Vision of a blossoming almond branch
Jeremiah 1:13-16. Vision of a boiling pot
Jeremiah 1:17-19. Jeremiah is to oppose his nation
GENERAL PROPHECIES OF JUDGMENT
Jeremiah 2:1-37. Jerusalem lost its faith
Jeremiah 3:1-5. Jerusalem lost its faith, continued
Jeremiah 3:6-25. Repent in light of the coming judgment
Jeremiah 4:1-4. The nation needs to repent
Jeremiah 4:5-31. Judgment is already on the way
Jeremiah 5:1-31. Reasons for the coming judgment of Judah
Jeremiah 6:1-30. The coming judgment is certain
Jeremiah 7:1-34. Jeremiah begins to preach in the temple
Jeremiah 8:1-22. People will reap what they had sown
Jeremiah 9:1-26. People will reap what they had sown, continued
Jeremiah 10:1-25. People will reap what they had sown, continued
Jeremiah 11:1-15. They violated the covenant
Jeremiah 11:16-23. Consequences of violating the covenant
Jeremiah 12:1-17. Consequences of violating the covenant, continued
Jeremiah 13:1-11. The illustration of the linen belt
Jeremiah 13:12-14. The parable of the wineskins
Jeremiah 13:15-27. The message on sin and its results
Jeremiah 14:1-6. The great drought
Jeremiah 14:7-22. The people cry out for deliverance
Jeremiah 15:1-4. The LORD responds to their cry for deliverance
Jeremiah 15:5-9. The people of Jerusalem had rejected the LORD God
Jeremiah 15:10-21. Jeremiah laments his own life
Jeremiah 16:1-9. Restrictions on Jeremiah’s personal life
Jeremiah 16:10-21. The sin of Judah
Jeremiah 17:1-18. The people of Judah were steeped in idolatry
Jeremiah 17:19-27. Jeremiah confronts the nation about keeping the Sabbath
Jeremiah 18:1-23. Jeremiah goes to the potter’s house
Jeremiah 19:1-15. The message of the broken jar
Jeremiah 20:1-6. Pashhur rejects the message of Jeremiah
Jeremiah 20:7-13. Jeremiah complains to the LORD God
Jeremiah 20:14-18. Jeremiah echoes the prophet Job
SPECIFIC PROPHECIES OF JUDGMENT
Jeremiah 21:1-14. Jeremiah rebukes king Zedekiah of Judah
Jeremiah 22:1-9. Jeremiah rebukes king Zedekiah of Judah, continued
Jeremiah 22:10-12. Jeremiah rebukes king Jehoahaz
Jeremiah 22:13-30. Jeremiah rebukes king Jehoiakim
Jeremiah 23:1-8. The LORD God will raise up a righteous branch
Jeremiah 23:9-40. Jeremiah rebukes the prophets
Jeremiah 24:1-10. A vision of two baskets of figs
Jeremiah 25:1-7. Judah had ignored the warnings of the prophets
Jeremiah 25:8-10. Jerusalem will be destroyed
Jeremiah 25:11-38. Judah will be taken captive to Babylon
PERSONAL CONFLICT WITH JUDAH
Jeremiah 26:1-6. Jeremiah preaches in the temple
Jeremiah 26:7-19. The religious leaders call for Jeremiah to be killed
Jeremiah 26:20-24. King Jehoiakim kills the prophet Uriah
Jeremiah 27:1-11. Against the false prophets
Jeremiah 27:12-15. To king Zedekiah of Judah
Jeremiah 27:16-22. To the priests and the people
Jeremiah 28:1-11. Hananiah masquerades as a prophet
Jeremiah 28:12-17. Jeremiah counters the false message of Hananniah
Jeremiah 29:1-14. Jeremiah’s first letter to the exiles in Babylon
Jeremiah 29:15-23. False prophets among the exiles in Babylon
Jeremiah 29:24-32. Jeremiah’s second letter to the exiles in Babylon
FUTURE CONFORT FOR ISRAEL AND JUDAH
Jeremiah 30:1-11. The LORD will restore them to their land
Jeremiah 30:12-17. The LORD will restore them spiritually
Jeremiah 30:18-24. The LORD will materially bless them
Jeremiah 31:1-40. The LORD will restore their nation
Jeremiah 32:1-5. Jeremiah is in prison
Jeremiah 32:6-44. The LORD promises restoration
Jeremiah 33:1-5. The coming judgment
Jeremiah 33:6-13. The coming restoration
Jeremiah 33:14-26. The covenants with David and the Levitical priests
PRESENT CATASTROPHE OF JUDAH
Jeremiah 34:1-7. The fate of Zedekiah king of Judah
Jeremiah 34:8-22. Slave owners must set their slaves free
Jeremiah 35:1-19. The faithful Rechabites
Jeremiah 36:1-7. Jeremiah writes his prophecies on a scroll
Jeremiah 36:8-19. Baruch reads the scroll to the people
Jeremiah 36:20-26. Foolish king Jehoiakim burns the scroll
Jeremiah 36:27-32. Jeremiah rewrites the scroll
Jeremiah 37:1-10. Jeremiah’s message to king Zedekiah
Jeremiah 37:11-16. Jeremiah is arrested and thrown in a dungeon
Jeremiah 37:17-21. King Zedekiah asks Jeremiah a favor
Jeremiah 38:1-6. Jeremiah is imprisoned in a cistern
Jeremiah 38:7-13. Jeremiah is rescued from the cistern
Jeremiah 38:14-28. King Zedekiah summons Jeremiah
Jeremiah 39:1-10. The fall of Jerusalem
Jeremiah 39:11-18. The fate of Jeremiah
Jeremiah 40:1-4. Jeremiah is set free
Jeremiah 40:5-12. Jeremiah remains in Judah with governor Gedeliah
Jeremiah 40:13-16. King Baalis sends an assassin to kill governor Gedeliah
Jeremiah 41:1-10. An assassin kills Governor Gedaliah
Jeremiah 41:11-18. Johanan rescues the hostages
Jeremiah 42:1-22. The hostages ask Jeremiah to pray for them
Jeremiah 43:1-7. Johanan persuades the remnant to flee to Egypt
Jeremiah 43:8-13. Nebuchadnezzar will easily conquer Egypt
Jeremiah 44:1-30. Jeremiah warns the Jewish people in Egypt
Jeremiah 45:1-5. A message for Baruch
PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE NATIONS
Jeremiah 46:1-28. Jeremiah prophecies against Egypt
Jeremiah 47:1-7. Jeremiah prophecies against the Philistines
Jeremiah 48:1-48. Jeremiah prophecies against Moab
Jeremiah 49:1-6. Jeremiah prophecies against Ammon
Jeremiah 49:7-22. Jeremiah prophecies against Edom
Jeremiah 49:23-27. Jeremiah prophecies against Damascus
Jeremiah 49:28-33. Jeremiah prophecies against Kedar and Hazor
Jeremiah 49:34-39. Jeremiah prophecies against Elam
Jeremiah 50:1-46. Jeremiah prophecies against Babylon
Jeremiah 51:1-64. Jeremiah prophecies against Babylon, continued
CONCLUSION
Jeremiah 52:1-11. The fall of Jerusalem
Jeremiah 52:12-30. The destruction of Jerusalem
Jeremiah 52:31-34. Disgraced king Jehoiakin is given undeserved favor
MEMORIZE
Here are some great verses to memorize:
Jeremiah 9:23. But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord. (NKJV translation)
Jeremiah 15:16. Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. (KJV translation)
Jeremiah 23:29. “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?” (NIV translation)
Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV translation)
Jeremiah 29:12. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. (NIV translation)
Jeremiah 29:13. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (NIV translation)
Jeremiah 32:27. I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? (NIV translation)
Jeremiah 33:3. Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. (KJV translation)
Jeremiah 39:18. Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the Lord, have spoken! (NLT translation)
SEE ALSO:
Great verses to memorize from the entire Bible
JEREMIAH
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.
