"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. … "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.""
— Jeremiah 1:5; 29:11 (NIV)
People who search bible verses about Jeremiah want Scripture on Yirmeyahu — the young man God knew before he was born, who protested "I am too young," carried a word that burned "like a fire shut up in my bones," wrote to the exiles about plans for hope and a future, and spoke of an "everlasting love" and a new covenant — not only calling in general. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about Isaiah, Bible verses about prophets, Bible verses about calling, Bible verses about God's plan, Bible verses about hope, Bible verses about trust, Bible verses about prayer, Bible verses about love, and Bible verse of the day. Jeremiah here means the prophet of Judah's last kings and the exile — distinct from generic calling lists.
Word study (lead theme). In Hebrew, יִרְמְיָהוּ Yirmeyahu (Strong's H3414; Bible Hub H3414) — Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth (Jeremiah 1:1). This list tracks that Jeremiah inventory — not a calling-alone twelve.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Jeremiah 1 dwells on God's claim on Jeremiah before birth, his sense of being too young, and the Lord's promise to be with him (Bible Hub MHC Jeremiah 1; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on Jeremiah 1). (Calling and God's-plan pages live elsewhere; this list centers Jeremiah the prophet.)
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12 Bible verses about Jeremiah
Jeremiah 1:5. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." Known before birth. See Bible verses about calling.
Jeremiah 1:6-7. ""Alas, Sovereign Lord," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am too young." 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."" Too young — and sent anyway. See Bible verses about courage.
Jeremiah 1:9. "Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "I have put my words in your mouth."" Words put in his mouth. See Bible verses about prophets.
Jeremiah 17:7-8. ""But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."" A tree by the water. See Bible verses about trust.
Jeremiah 18:6. ""Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?" declares the Lord. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel."" The potter and the clay.
Jeremiah 20:9. "But if I say, "I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." Fire in his bones — the cost of the call. See Bible verses about suffering.
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."" Written to exiles in Babylon. See Bible verses about God's plan and Bible verses about hope.
Jeremiah 29:12-13. "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Seek with all your heart. See Bible verses about prayer.
Jeremiah 31:3. "The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."" Everlasting love. See Bible verses about love.
Jeremiah 31:33. ""This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time," declares the Lord. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people."" The new covenant, written on hearts.
Jeremiah 32:17. ""Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you."" Nothing too hard — prayed while Jerusalem was under siege.
Jeremiah 33:3. "'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'" Spoken while he was confined in the courtyard of the guard (Jeremiah 33:1). See Bible verses about prayer.
How to use these verses
Pick one verse when you need Jeremiah — not twelve as a grind. If you feel unqualified, start at Jeremiah 1:5–9. If you are in a hard season far from home, open Jeremiah 29:11–13. If you need to know you are loved, open Jeremiah 31:3. If you are tired of carrying a hard word, open Jeremiah 20:9. For calling in general, open Bible verses about calling. For his fellow prophet, open Bible verses about Isaiah. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.
Questions people ask
What is the most famous Bible verse about Jeremiah?
Jeremiah 1:5 — "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you" — is God's word to Jeremiah himself. Jeremiah 29:11 is the verse from his book people quote most.
Who was Jeremiah 29:11 written to?
Jeremiah 29:1 says it was a letter Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the elders, priests, prophets and people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile in Babylon. Jeremiah 29:10 sets it after seventy years in Babylon.
What Hebrew word sits under Jeremiah?
Yirmeyahu (H3414) — Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, from the priests at Anathoth (Jeremiah 1:1).
Why is Jeremiah called the weeping prophet?
The nickname comes from verses like Jeremiah 9:1, "Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for the slain of my people."
How is Jeremiah different from calling alone?
Calling pages gather Scripture on God's call in general. This list centers Jeremiah the man — known before birth, too young, the fire in his bones, his letter to the exiles, and the everlasting love he announced.
