At a glance
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Authorship | Jeremiah; Baruch as scribe (Jer.36) |
| Date | Ministry ~626-586 BC + into exile |
| Audience | Judah before + during + after fall to Babylon |
| Genre | Prophecy + biographical narrative + lament |
| Purpose | Calls Judah to repentance; announces judgment; promises New Covenant |
| Chapters | 52 |
Outline
| Section | Chapters | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Call + early prophecies | 1-25 | Repeated warnings; symbolic actions |
| Conflicts with kings + prophets | 26-29 | False prophets; Jeremiah's persecution |
| Book of Consolation | 30-33 | Restoration + New Covenant promise |
| Final years + fall | 34-45 | Jerusalem's fall; Jeremiah to Egypt |
| Oracles against nations | 46-51 | Judgment on foreign nations |
| Historical appendix | 52 | Fall of Jerusalem recap |
Main themes
| Theme | Description |
|---|---|
| Faithful prophet under suffering | Jeremiah's tears + persecution |
| Sin + judgment | Idolatry + injustice, covenant breaking |
| New Covenant | Jer.31.31-34, foundational text |
| Restoration after exile | 70-year exile then return (Jer.29.10) |
| Heart problem | Jer.17.9, "the heart is deceitful" |
| God's sovereign use of pagan empires | Babylon as God's instrument |
Key passages
- Jer.1, Jeremiah's call
- Jer.2-3, Israel's apostasy
- Jer.17.9, heart deceit
- Jer.29.4-14, exile counsel + "plans for you"
- Jer.31.31-34, New Covenant (foundational text)
- Jer.33.14-26, Davidic line preserved
NT use
- Heb.8.8-12, Jeremiah 31's New Covenant text cited as fulfilled in Christ
- Mat.2.18, Rachel weeping for children (Jer.31.15)
- 1Co.1.31; 2Co.10.17, "Let him who boasts boast in the LORD" (Jer.9.24)