Jeremiah 1:6
4 The 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!”
7 But 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.
8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- “Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”
- KJV
- Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
- WEB
- Then I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”
- ASV
- Then said I, Ah, Lord Jehovah! behold, I know not how to speak; for I am a child.
- DARBY
- And I said, Alas, Lord Jehovah! behold, I cannot speak; for I am a child.
- BLB
- And I said, “Ah, Lord YHWH! Behold, I have not known to speak, for I [am] a youth.”
- ÅB
- Men jeg sa: Akk, Herre, Herre! Se, jeg forstår ikke å tale; for jeg er ung.
- OTB
- Da sa jeg, "Akk, suverene Herre! Jeg vet ikke hvordan jeg skal tale, for jeg er ung."
- B1930
- Men jeg sa: Akk, Herre, Herre! Se, jeg forstår ikke å tale; for jeg er ung.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Exodus 4:10–16
“Please, Lord,” Moses replied, “I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since You have spoken to Your servant, for I am slow of speech and tongue.”
Read in contextExodus 6:12
But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, then why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I am unskilled in speech?”
Read in context1 Kings 3:7–9
And 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.
Read in contextJeremiah 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!
Read in contextJeremiah 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.’”
Read in contextExodus 4:1
Then Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to my voice? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’”
Read in contextExodus 6:30
But in the LORD’s presence Moses replied, “Since I am unskilled in speech, why would Pharaoh listen to me?”
Read in contextJeremiah 4:10
Then 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.”
Read in context