to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
English Standard Version (ESV)
While Jeremiah officially received God's word in Josiah's thirteenth year, this doesn't mean God's message just arrived then. The Hebrew phrasing suggests that the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah and stayed, implying a continuous, ongoing relationship and commission from that point forward, not a single, isolated event.
to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage introduces Jeremiah's prophetic ministry during a pivotal time in Judah's history, specifically the thirteenth year of King Josiah's reign. This was a period of significant religious reform following the rediscovery of the Book of the Law, but it was also just before the nation's eventual downfall, setting the stage for Jeremiah's challenging message of impending judgment and the call for repentance.
Jeremiah's prophetic call didn't happen in a vacuum. It began during a pivotal moment in Judah's history.
Jeremiah 1:2 places the start of his ministry squarely in the thirteenth year of King Josiah's reign. This was a time of significant religious revival in Judah. Josiah, a young king, had initiated a sweeping reform, purging the land of idolatry and restoring the worship of the Lord. It was within this atmosphere of spiritual awakening, ironically occurring against a backdrop of deep-seated corruption that would ultimately lead to judgment, that Jeremiah received his call.
This timing is significant. It suggests that God often speaks and calls His people into service at crucial junctures, sometimes amidst hopeful renewal and other times in the face of impending doom. Jeremiah's message, though ultimately one of judgment, was delivered during a period where there was still a chance for repentance, spurred by Josiah's reforms.
The way the text describes Jeremiah receiving God's word suggests more than a one-time event.
The phrase 'the word of the LORD came' implies a continuous impartation, not a fleeting encounter. From this initial call in Josiah's thirteenth year, the word of the Lord was consistently with Jeremiah. This means his prophetic ministry was sustained by a steady stream of divine communication throughout his long service.
This ongoing relationship with God's word is vital for any messenger. It wasn't just about delivering a single message, but about being a faithful conduit for God's unfolding purposes over decades. This sustained communication provided Jeremiah with the authority and the endurance needed for his challenging task.
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Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The term referring to the supreme Being of Israel, who entered into covenant relationship with His people. It is the personal, proper name of God in the Hebrew Bible, revealing His eternal, self-existent nature.
dābār · Hebrew Noun
A formal, historical declaration of an oracle or divine message received by a prophet from God. It carries the authority of the speaker, who is the Creator Himself.
Jeremiah's prophetic call occurred during a pivotal period in Judah's history under the reforms of King Josiah. This context highlights the stark contrast between a brief season of religious renewal and the looming, inevitable judgment that Jeremiah was commissioned to proclaim.
640 BC
Josiah Becomes King of Judah
Josiah ascends to the throne of Judah at a young age, marking the beginning of his reign during which Jeremiah would later be called as a prophet.
c. 629 BC— this verse
Jeremiah Receives His Prophetic Call
The word of the Lord comes to Jeremiah, marking the start of his prophetic ministry during the 13th year of King Josiah's reign.
c. 622 BC
Discovery of the Book of the Law
The Book of the Law is discovered in the Temple during renovations ordered by Josiah. This event spurs a major religious reformation throughout Judah.
609 BC
Death of King Josiah
King Josiah is killed in battle at Megiddo while attempting to stop Pharaoh Neco of Egypt's advance. His death marks a turning point and the beginning of Judah's decline.
609-598 BC
Reign of Jehoiakim
Jeremiah continues his prophetic ministry under King Jehoiakim, a time marked by increasing political instability and Babylonian threat.
597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon captures Jerusalem and deports King Jehoiachin and many citizens to Babylon, a significant step towards the city's eventual destruction.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem
Babylonian forces destroy Jerusalem and its Temple, ending the Davidic monarchy and leading to the final exile of the Judean people.
Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel was appointed to deliver a divine message that was to come to him, indicating a direct calling and commission from God.
Isaiah 6:1This passage describes Isaiah's encounter with the Lord in the year King Uzziah died, similar to how Jeremiah's ministry is marked by the reign of King Josiah, grounding prophetic calls in specific historical moments.
1 Samuel 3:1The 'word of the LORD' coming to Samuel signifies his own divine calling, paralleling Jeremiah's experience of receiving God's word in his youth.
Genesis 15:1This verse shows God speaking directly to Abram in a vision, illustrating the concept of 'the word of the LORD came' as a direct divine communication, which is foundational to understanding Jeremiah's commission.
barnesJeremiah 1:2: "To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign."
Came - literally, was (and in Jeremiah 1:4 ); the phrase implies that Jeremiah possessed God's word from that time onward, not fitfully as coming and going, but constantly. The thirteenth year of his reign - According to the ordinary reckoning, this would be 629 b.c., but if the Ptolemaic canon be right in putting the capture of Jerusalem at 586 b.c., it wo…
cambridgeJeremiah 1:2: "To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign."
2 . in the days of, etc .] See introductory note. in the thirteenth year of his reign ] c. b.c. 626. The period included in these two verses is one of 40 years, viz. the latter part of Josiah’s reign = 18 years; that of Jehoahaz = 3 months; that of Jehoiakim = 11 years; that of Jehoiachin = 3 months; that of Zedekiah = 11 years. The omission of the names of…
While Jeremiah officially received God's word in Josiah's thirteenth year, this doesn't mean God's message just arrived then. The Hebrew phrasing suggests that the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah and stayed, implying a continuous, ongoing relationship and commission from that point forward, not a single, isolated event.
This passage introduces Jeremiah's prophetic ministry during a pivotal time in Judah's history, specifically the thirteenth year of King Josiah's reign. This was a period of significant religious reform following the rediscovery of the Book of the Law, but it was also just before the nation's eventual downfall, setting the stage for Jeremiah's challenging message of impending judgment and the call for repentance.
This passage introduces Jeremiah's prophetic ministry during a pivotal time in Judah's history, specifically the thirteenth year of King Josiah's reign. This was a period of significant religious reform following the rediscovery of the Book of the Law, but it was also just before the nation's eventual downfall, setting the stage for Jeremiah's challenging message of impending judgment and the call for repentance.
"to whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign." — While Jeremiah officially received God's word in Josiah's thirteenth year, this doesn't mean God's message just arrived then. The Hebrew phrasing suggests that the word of the Lord came to Jeremi…
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Last reviewed October 2026