Jeremiah

the prophet of the new covenant

Who was Jeremiah?

A prophet from a priestly family of Anathoth. When God called him, he answered that he was too young. Jeremiah 1:1, 6
He was imprisoned for his message in the last years of Jerusalem. Baruch wrote down what he dictated. Jeremiah 37:15-16; Jeremiah 36:4
He announced a new covenant, written on the heart. Jesus spoke of the new covenant in his blood. Jeremiah 31:31-33; Luke 22:20

Also called: Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah Jeremiah 1:1
From: From Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin Jeremiah 1:1
Occupation: Prophet, from a family of priests Jeremiah 1:1, 5
Feast day: May 1: Saint Jeremiah, prophet

What the Bible says

Jeremiah 1:1, 6

¹The words of Jeremias the son of Helcias, of the priests that were in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin. ⁶And I said: Ah, ah, ah, Lord God: behold, I cannot speak, for I am a child.

Jeremiah 37:15-16; Jeremiah 36:4

¹⁵Wherefore the princes were angry with Jeremias, and they beat him, and cast him into the prison that was in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for he was chief over the prison. ¹⁶So Jeremias went into the house of the prison, and into the dungeon: and Jeremias remained there many days.

Jeremiah 31:31-33; Luke 22:20

³¹Behold the days shall come, saith the Lord, and I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda: ³²Not according to the covenant which I made with their fathers, in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt: the covenant which they made void, and I had dominion over them, saith the Lord. ³³But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel, after those days, saith the Lord: I will give my law in their bowels, and I will write it in their heart: and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Jeremiah

Before Jesus. God called him in the time of King Josiah. He told him that he knew him before he formed him in the womb. Jeremiah 1:2, 5
Before Jesus. Jeremiah answered that he did not know how to speak, that he was too young. The Lord touched his mouth and put his words in it. Jeremiah 1:6, 9
With Jesus. Because of what he announced, Pashhur the priest had Jeremiah beaten and kept him prisoner next to the Temple. Jeremiah 20:1-2
With Jesus. He wrote to the exiles in Babylon that the Lord had plans of peace for them, and a future. Jeremiah 29:4, 11
With Jesus. He announced that God would make a new covenant and write his law on the heart. Jeremiah 31:31-33
With Jesus. He dictated his prophecies to Baruch. King Jehoiakim burned the scroll, and Jeremiah dictated it again. Jeremiah 36:4, 23, 32
With Jesus. During the siege, some officials threw him into a cistern with no water. Ebed-melech, a servant of the king, pulled him out with ropes. Jeremiah 38:6-13
Afterward. When Jerusalem fell, the king of Babylon ordered that he be looked after. Later, those who were left in Judah went to Egypt and took him with Baruch. Jeremiah 39:11-14; Jeremiah 43:6-7

Words of Jeremiah

“Ah, ah, ah, Lord God: behold, I cannot speak, for I am a child.” Jeremiah 1:6

When the Lord called him to be a prophet.

“I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name: and there came in my heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was wearied, not being able to bear it.” Jeremiah 20:9

When the mockery tempted him to keep quiet.

“For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of affliction, to give you an end and patience.” Jeremiah 29:11

In his letter to the exiles in Babylon.

“Behold the days shall come, saith the Lord, and I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda.” Jeremiah 31:31

When he announced the new covenant.

What they were like

Honest with God: he complained to him about the mockery he suffered. Jeremiah 20:7-8
Faithful to his message, even though it cost him prison. Jeremiah 37:15-16
A man of prayer: he asked the Lord to heal him and save him. Jeremiah 17:14

The greatest thing they did

He announced the new covenant that God would write on the heart. Jeremiah 31:31-33
He bought a field in the middle of a war, as a sign of hope. Jeremiah 32:9, 15

In the Church today

Feast day: May 1, Saint Jeremiah, prophet (commemoration (not on the General Roman Calendar or the U.S. calendar)). Roman Martyrology (2004)

What people ask

Why is he called the prophet of the new covenant?

He announced that God would make a new covenant and write his law on the heart. At the Last Supper, Jesus spoke of the new covenant in his blood. Jeremiah 31:31-33; Luke 22:20

Did Jeremiah marry?

No. The Lord asked him not to marry or have children in that place. Jeremiah 16:1-2

What is a cistern?

A pit for storing water. The cistern Jeremiah was thrown into had no water, only mud. Jeremiah 38:6

Why did he buy a field when war was coming?

It was a sign from the Lord: houses, fields and vineyards would be bought again in that land. Jeremiah 32:9, 15

His struggle He even said he would no longer speak in the name of the Lord. Jeremiah 20:9 Little known The Lord asked him not to marry. Jeremiah 16:2 In…

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Who Jeremiah is connected to

Baruch · the prophet and his secretary
Jesus · the new covenant

More people

All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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