Jeremiah 1:6

Jeremiah 1:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
• New International Version (NIV)“Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”

Context of Jeremiah 1:6

4The word of the LORD came to me, saying: 5“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” “Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!” 7But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak. 8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 1:6 word by word

וָאֹמַ֗ר אֲהָהּ֙ אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהֹוִ֔ה הִנֵּ֥ה לֹא־יָדַ֖עְתִּי דַּבֵּ֑ר כִּי־נַ֖עַר אָנֹֽכִי׃ פRead the interlinear

• Ahאֲהָהּ'ăhâhh · alas!H162
• Lordאֲדֹנָי'ădônây · LordH136
• GODיְהֹוִהyehôvih · YHWH/GodH3069
• I saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• I surelyהִנֵּהhinnêh · beholdH2009
• do notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• how to speakדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• forכִּיkîy · forH3588
• Iאָֽנֹכִ֫י'ânôkîy · IH595
• only a childנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288

Cross-references for Jeremiah 1:6

• Jeremiah 4:10Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD, how completely You have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, ‘You will have peace,’ while a sword is at our throats.”
• Jeremiah 14:13“Ah, Lord GOD!” I replied, “Look, the prophets are telling them, ‘You will not see the sword or suffer famine, but I will give you lasting peace in this place.’”
• Jeremiah 32:17“Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!
• Ezekiel 4:10You are to weigh out twenty shekels of food to eat each day, and you are to eat it at set times.
• Ezekiel 6:12He who is far off will die by the plague, he who is near will fall by the sword, and he who remains will die by famine. So I will vent My fury upon them.
• Isaiah 6:5Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”
• 1 Kings 3:7And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in.

Commentaries on Jeremiah 1:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6I cannot speak - Being very young, and wholly inexperienced, I am utterly incapable of conceiving aright, or of clothing these Divine subjects in suitable language. Those who are really called of God to the sacred ministry are such as have been brought to a deep acquaintance with themselves, feel their own ignorance, and know their own weakness. They know also the awful responsibility that attaches to the work; and nothing but the authority of God can…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6There is no resistance on Jeremiah‘s part, but he shrinks back alarmed. I cannot speak - i. e., “I cannot prophesy,” I have not those powers of oratory necessary for success. The prophets of Israel were the national preachers in religious matters, and their orators in political. I am a child - This implies nothing very definite about Jeremiah‘s age. Still the long duration of his prophetic mission makes it probable that he was very young when called to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6Jeremiah was young (probably a teenager).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-104-10. Jeremiah's call to the prophetical office. unto me--other manuscripts read "to him"; but English Version probably represents the true Hebrew text; this inscription was doubtless made by Jeremiah himself.Read the comment

Topics related to Jeremiah 1:6

• Children
• Doubting
• Excuses
• Humility
• Jeremiah
• Prophets

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Ah!
• Backsliding
• Disquiet
• Mad
• Thitherward
• Ah; Aha
• Prophecy; Prophets
• Self-Surrender

Commentaries on Jeremiah 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings