Jeremiah 1:6

6 "You are my LORD and King," I said. "I don't know how to speak. I'm only a child."

Jeremiah 1:6 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 1:6

Then said I, Ah, Lord God!
&c.] The word (hha) , "Ah", or "Ahah", is used in distress and grief, as Kimchi observes; and is expressive of mourning and complaint, as Jarchi notes; and shows that the prophet was troubled and uneasy at his call, and would gladly have been excused on the following account: behold, I cannot speak;
or, "I know not how to speak" ^F18; properly and pertinently, politely and eloquently, especially before great personages, kings and princes, and the citizens of Jerusalem, being brought up in a rustic manner in the country. A like excuse Moses made, ( Exodus 4:10 ) . The Targum is, "I know not to prophesy: for I am a child"; meaning either in knowledge and understanding, or in years; not a mere child, but a "junior", as the Septuagint version renders the word; or a "young man", as the Arabic version; so Samuel and Zechariah were young men, when they first ministered in their office, ( 1 Samuel 3:1 ) ( Zechariah 2:4 ) . Abarbinel supposes that Jeremiah was now twelve or fifteen years of age; but it should seem rather that he was more, perhaps twenty years of age; since he seems to have prophesied to the men of Anathoth before he was sent to Jerusalem, ( Jeremiah 11:21 ) ( Jeremiah 12:5 Jeremiah 12:6 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 (rbd ytedy al) "uescio loqui", V. L. Munster, Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius; "non novi loqui", Pagninus, Montanus.

Jeremiah 1:6 In-Context

4 A message came to me from the Lord. He said,

5 "Before I formed you in your mother's body I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart to serve me. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations."

6 "You are my LORD and King," I said. "I don't know how to speak. I'm only a child."

7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I'm only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to. You must say everything I command you to say.

8 Do not be afraid of the people I send you to. I am with you. I will save you," announces the Lord.