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Jeremiah's Role in Redemptive History and Prophecy

Jeremiah, whose name means "raised up by the Lord" [15], was a significant prophet in the Old Testament, active during a tumultuous period in Judah's history. He is identified as the son of Hilkiah, a priest from Anathoth [1, 15]. While the name Jeremiah appears for several other individuals in the Old Testament, including Gadite warriors in David's army and a Manassite chief [1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 9], the prophet Jeremiah is distinct [3]. He was called to his prophetic office at a young age, in the thirteenth year of King Josiah's reign [1].

Jeremiah's ministry spanned the reigns of several kings of Judah, including Josiah, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah, leading up to the Babylonian exile [1]. His prophecies primarily concerned Judah, foretelling its destruction and the subsequent captivity due to the people's sins [17]. The book of Jeremiah itself is believed to have grown out of a scroll dictated by the prophet to Baruch in the fourth year of Jehoiakim's reign [11]. This collection of prophecies includes warnings of judgment, but also promises of future restoration [11, 18].

A key aspect of Jeremiah's role in redemptive history is his emphasis on God's justice and his unwavering call for repentance. He frequently highlighted the covenant violations of Judah, which led to divine judgment. For instance, Zechariah 7:9 references Jeremiah 7:23, which calls for executing true judgment and showing mercy [14]. Despite the impending doom, Jeremiah also conveyed messages of hope and redemption. He prophesied that Yahweh would ransom Jacob and redeem him from those stronger than him (Jeremiah 31:11) [8]. Similarly, he declared that God, whose name is Yahweh of Armies, is strong and would thoroughly plead the cause of his people, bringing rest to the earth and disquieting Babylon (Jeremiah 50:34) [10].

The book of Jeremiah also contains prophecies against other nations, with a significant portion dedicated to Babylon itself [18]. These prophecies, delivered at various times, were eventually collected, with the longest prophecy against Babylon found in chapters 46-51 [11, 18]. The fulfillment of these predictions, particularly concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah, is seen by some as the best expositor of the prophecies themselves, providing context for books like Lamentations [16].

In the New Testament, the prophet Jeremiah is referenced, for example, in Matthew 2:17 and 27:9, where his prophecies are cited [7]. While some New Testament citations attribute prophecies to Isaiah, such as those concerning the Messiah (e.g., Matthew 4:14, 12:17 referencing Isaiah 9:1-2 and 42:1 respectively) [12, 13], Jeremiah's voice also contributes to the broader prophetic tradition that anticipates the coming of Christ and the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The "latter days" spoken of by Jeremiah, particularly concerning the restoration of nations like Elam, are understood by some to point towards gospel times, with Elamites being among the first to accept the gospel (Acts 2:9) [18].

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Jeremiah — Raised up or appointed by Jehovah. (1.) A Gadite who joined David in the wilderness (1 Chr. 12:10). (2.) A Gadite warrior (1 Chr. 12:13). (3.) A Benjamite slinger who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chr. 12:4). (4.) One of the chiefs of the tribe of Manasseh on the east of Jordan (1 Chr. 5:24). (5.) The father of Hamutal (2 Kings 23:31), the wife of Josiah. (6.) One of the "greater prophets" of the Old Testament, son of Hilkiah (q.v.), a priest of Anathoth (Jer. 1:1; 32:6). He was called to the prophetical office when still young (1:6), in the thirteenth year of”
  2. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Jeremiah — Seven other persons bearing the same name as the prophet are mentioned in the Old Testament:-- + Jeremiah of Libnah, father of Hamutal wife of Josiah. (2 Kings 23:31) (B.C. before 632.) 2,3,4. Three warriors--two of the tribe of Gad-- in David's army. (1 Chronicles 12:4,10,13) (B.C. 1061-53.) + One of the "mighty men of valor" of the transjordanic half-tribe of Manasseh. (1 Chronicles 5:24) (B.C. 782.) + A priest of high rank, head of the second or third of the twenty-one courses which are apparently enumerated in (Nehemiah 10:2-8; 12:1,12) (B.C. 446-410). ”
  3. STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H3414L — Prophet living at the time of Divided Monarchy (refs: #A prophet living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 2Ch.35.25; <br>referred to as )”
  4. STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H3414H — Man living at the time of Divided Monarchy (refs: #A man from the tribe of Manasseh living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.5.2)”
  5. STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H3414K — Man living at the time of Divided Monarchy (refs: #A warrior living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.12.13; <br>only referred to)”
  6. STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H3414J — Man living at the time of Divided Monarchy (refs: #A warrior living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.12.10; <br>only referred to)”
  7. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Jeremy — the prophet Jeremiah. (Matthew 2:17; 27:9)”
  8. Jeremiah “For Yahweh has ransomed Jacob, and redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he. -- Jeremiah 31:11”
  9. STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H3414I — Man living at the time of Divided Monarchy (refs: #A warrior living at the time of Divided Monarchy, only mentioned at 1Ch.12.4; <br>only referred to )”
  10. Jeremiah “Their Redeemer is strong; Yahweh of Armies is his name: he will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. -- Jeremiah 50:34”
  11. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Jeremiah, Book Of — "There can be little doubt that the book of Jeremiah grew out of the roll which Baruch wrote down at the prophet's mouth in the fourth year of Jehoiakim. ch. (Jeremiah 36:2) Apparently the prophets kept written records of their predictions, and collected into larger volumes such of them as were intended for permanent use."--Canon Cook. In the present order we have two great divisions:-- I. Chs. 1-45. Prophecies delivered at various times, directed mainly to Judah, or connected with Jeremiah's personal history. II. Chs. 46-51. Prophecies connected w”
  12. Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 4:14: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet-- (Isa 9:1-2 or, as in Hebrew, Isa 8:23, and Isa 9:1). saying--as follows:”
  13. Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 12:17: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying-- (Isa 42:1).”
  14. Zechariah (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Zechariah 7:9: Execute true judgment - See Isa 58:6, Isa 58:7; JeremiahJer 7:23; Mic 6:8, chap. 8.”
  15. Jeremiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Jeremiah 1:1: We have here as much as it was thought fit we should know of the genealogy of this prophet and the chronology of this prophecy. 1. We are told what family the prophet was of. He was the son of Hilkiah, not that Hilkiah, it is supposed, who was high priest in Josiah's time (for then he would have been called so, and not, as here, one of the priests that were in Anathoth), but another of the same name. Jeremiah signifies one raised up by the Lord. It is said of Christ that he is a prophet whom the Lord our God raised up unto us, Deu 18:15, Deu 18:18. He was of the ”
  16. Jeremiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Jeremiah 52 (introduction): History is the best expositor of prophecy; and therefore, for the better understanding of the prophecies of this book which relate to the destruction of Jerusalem and the kingdom of Judah, we are here furnished with an account of that sad event. It is much he same with the history we had 2 Kings 24 and 25, and many of the particulars we had before in that book, but the matter is here repeated and put together, to give light to the book of the Lamentations, which follows next, and to serve as a key to it. That article in the close concerning the adva”
  17. Jeremiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Jeremiah 32 (introduction): In this chapter we have, I. Jeremiah imprisoned for foretelling the destruction of Jerusalem and the captivity of king Zedekiah (Jer 32:1-5). II. We have him buying land, by divine appointment, as an assurance that in due time a happy end should be put to the present troubles (Jer 32:6-15). III. We have his prayer, which he offered up to God upon that occasion (Jer 32:16-25). IV. We have a message which God thereupon entrusted him to deliver to the people. 1. He must foretell the utter destruction of Judah and Jerusalem for their sins (Jer 32:26-35)”
  18. Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 49:39: latter days--The full restoration belongs to gospel times. Elamites were among the first who heard and accepted it (Act 2:9). After the predictions of judgment to be inflicted on other nations by Babylon, follows this one against Babylon itself, the longest prophecy, consisting of one hundred verses. The date of utterance was the fourth year of Zedekiah, when Seraiah, to whom it was committed, was sent to Babylon (Jer 51:59-60). The repetitions in it make it likely that it consists of prophecies uttered at different times, now collected by Jeremiah”
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