Jeremiah 1:18

18 Listen, Jeremiah! Everyone in this land - the kings of Judah, the officials, the priests, and the people - will be against you. But today I am giving you the strength to resist them; you will be like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. They will not defeat you, for I will be with you to protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken."

Jeremiah 1:18 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 1:18

For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city
Or, "as" one; so read the Targum, Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions; which is inexpungible, and cannot be taken: and an iron pillar;
which cannot be removed out of its place: and brasen walls;
which cannot be broken down. All these metaphors show the safety and security of the prophet, being surrounded by the power of God; his constancy, immovableness, and invincibleness in the work of the Lord, having such a spirit of power, fortitude, and of a sound mind, that nothing was able to move and shake him, or to deter him from the execution of his office; and that he should stand inflexible against the whole land;
of Judea, and all the inhabitants of it: against the kings of Judah;
in successive reigns, as Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, or Jechonias, and Zedekiah: against the princes thereof;
who desired he might be put to death, ( Jeremiah 38:4 ) : against the priests thereof;
who all of them dealt falsely, and were given to covetousness, ( Jeremiah 8:10 ) : and against the people of the land;
who were grievously addicted to idolatry, and all manner of wickedness.

Jeremiah 1:18 In-Context

16 I will punish my people because they have sinned; they have abandoned me, have offered sacrifices to other gods, and have made idols and worshiped them.

17 Get ready, Jeremiah; go and tell them everything I command you to say. Do not be afraid of them now, or I will make you even more afraid when you are with them.

18 Listen, Jeremiah! Everyone in this land - the kings of Judah, the officials, the priests, and the people - will be against you. But today I am giving you the strength to resist them; you will be like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. They will not defeat you, for I will be with you to protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken."