Jeremiah

  • Author: Jeremiah (1:1)
  • Written over the period from 13th year of Josiah (628 BC, 1:2) until after the destruction of Jerusalem (~ 585 BC, 41:1)
  • History (generally prose) and prophecy (generally poetry) interspersed
  • Prophesied that Israel would serve Babylon 70 years (25:11-12, 29:10)
  • Seventy years recalled in Daniel 9:2, 2 Chronicles 26:21-22, Ezra 1:1.

Chapter Outline

1               Jeremiah called as a youth

2 – 4:2     Call to repentance, threat of invasion from the north, promise of return

4:3 – 6     Promise of a return and that all the nations would gather to it; desolation is certain but not complete or permanent

7 – 10       Calls to repentance and promises of relenting

11 – 12     The broken covenant

13             Israel will rot in Babylon

14 – 17     Description of types of punishment

18 – 21     God is in charge

22 – 24     Against the leaders of Israel

25             Babylon will conquer

26 – 29     Persecution of Jeremiah

30 – 33     Consolation: a return is promised

34 – 36     Examples of obedience and disobedience

37 – 39     Last days of Jerusalem

40 – 44     More trouble after the fall; flight to Egypt despite warning

45             Comfort for Baruch

46             Against Egypt

47             Against Philistia

48             Against Moab

49             Against Ammon, Edom, Syria, Kedar, Hazor, and Elam

50 – 51     Against Babylon

52             Historical account of the last days of Jerusalem

New Testament citations of Jeremiah

  • Jeremiah 6:16 (Matthew 11:29) Jesus applied the image of “the ancient paths” to Himself.
  • Jeremiah 7:11 (Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46) This is the other half of Jesus’ statement concerning the cleansing of the Temple.
  • Jeremiah 9:23 – 24 (1 Corinthians 1:31, 2 Corinthians 10:17) Paul uses Jeremiah’s concept of boasting.
  • Jeremiah 31:15 (Matthew 2:18)  Jeremiah 40:1 records that the Israelites were collected by the Babylonians at Ramah for deportation.  The slaughter in Bethlehem is likened to the deaths of many innocent parties in the fall of Jerusalem.
  • Jeremiah 31:31 – 34 (Hebrews 8:8 – 12)  The author of Hebrews used this passage to remind Jewish people that a new covenant implies the end of an old one, based on better promises.  Hebrews 10:16 – 17 carries the passage further to imply one perfect sacrifice.