Jeremiah

This article is about the prophet. For other uses, see Jeremiah (disambiguation).
"Jeremias" redirects here. For other uses, see Jeremias (disambiguation).
Jeremiah
Jeremiah, as depicted by Michelangelo from the Sistine Chapel ceiling
Bornc. 650 BC
Anathoth
Diedc. 570 BC
Egypt
OccupationProphet
ParentHilkiah

Jeremiah[a] (Hebrew: יִרְמְיָהוּ, romanized: Yirmĭyāhu, lit. 'Yah shall raise',[2] Koinē Greek: Ἰερεμίας, romanized: Ieremíās; c. 650 – c. 570 BC),[3] also called Jeremias[4] or the "weeping prophet",[5] was one of the major prophets of the Hebrew Bible. According to Jewish tradition, Jeremiah authored the book that bears his name, the Books of Kings and the Book of Lamentations,[6] with the assistance and under the editorship of Baruch ben Neriah, his scribe and disciple.

According to the narrative of the Book of Jeremiah, the prophet emerged as a significant figure in the Kingdom of Judah in the late 7th and early 6th centuries BC. Born into a priestly lineage, Jeremiah reluctantly accepted his call to prophethood, embarking on a tumultuous, over five decade long ministry. His life was marked by opposition, imprisonment, and personal struggles according to Jeremiah 32 and 37. Central to Jeremiah's message were prophecies of impending divine judgment, forewarning of the nation's idolatry, social injustices, and moral decay. According to the Bible, he prophesied the siege of Jerusalem and Babylonian captivity as consequences for disobedience. Jeremiah's teachings encompassed lamentations, oracles, and symbolic acts, emphasising the urgency of repentance and the restoration of a covenant relationship with God.

Jeremiah is an essential figure in both Judaism and Christianity. His words are read in synagogues as part of the haftara and he is quoted in the New Testament.[7] Islam also regards Jeremiah as a prophet and his narrative is recounted in Islamic tradition.[8]

  1. ^ Wells 1990, p. 383.
  2. ^ Khan, Geoffrey (2020). The Tiberian Pronunciation Tradition of Biblical Hebrew, Volume 1. Open Book Publishers. ISBN 978-1783746767.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference britannica.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Jeremias". www.newadvent.org. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  5. ^ Hillers 1993, p. 419.
  6. ^ Hillers 1972, pp. xix–xxiv.
  7. ^ Matthew 2:18, Hebrews 8:8–12, Hebrews 10:16–17
  8. ^ Wensinck 1913–1936.


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