Jeremiah 2:1-2
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This isn't just a new chapter starting; the word "Moreover" links it directly to Jeremiah's calling in chapter 1, emphasizing that God's message is immediate and powerful, demanding Jeremiah's swift obedience. It highlights that this isn't just a message, but the word of the LORD, carrying divine authority and urgency right from the start.
The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD, “I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Lord directly commissions Jeremiah, following his initial calling, to deliver a powerful message to the people of Jerusalem. This prophecy marks the beginning of Jeremiah's ministry in earnest, likely during the reforms of King Josiah, where God begins to remind His people of their early devotion and His faithfulness. This sets the stage for a stark contrast between their past love for God and their current unfaithfulness.
Every prophet's journey starts with a divine encounter. Jeremiah's story is no different. But what does it mean for God's Word to 'come' to someone?
Jeremiah 2:1 isn't just a grammatical opening; it's the thunderclap that launches a prophetic career. "The word of the LORD came to me" signifies a direct, powerful impartation from God. It wasn't a suggestion or a whisper, but a divine mandate, equipping Jeremiah for his difficult task.
This wasn't Jeremiah's first encounter with God's presence (Jeremiah 1 details his call), but it marks the transition from being called to being actively sent. The word isn't just information; it’s the very power and authority of God being placed into the hands of His messenger. This is the fuel for Jeremiah's ministry, the unshakeable foundation for the pronouncements he's about to make.
Every great message has a starting point. For Jeremiah, this verse kicks off what seems to be his first public address. What's the immediate focus?
Scholars suggest that Jeremiah 2:1 marks the beginning of his prophetic ministry, possibly his first major sermon. This isn't a gentle introduction; it’s an immediate dive into God's heart for His people.
The commentators point out that this message, likely delivered during Josiah's reign, immediately sets a tone of divine remembrance – specifically, of Israel's early devotion and God's faithfulness.
God is about to launch into a powerful 'expostulation' – a strong plea and argument. He's reminding them of their 'youthful' love, their 'espousals' with Him. This isn't about bringing accusations first, but about recalling a beautiful, passionate beginning to underscore the tragedy of their current state. God’s method is to remind them of what have forgotten.
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Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God, revealed to Moses, emphasizing His self-existence, eternal nature, and faithfulness to His people.
Jeremiah's prophetic ministry began during a period of attempted revival under King Josiah, but it quickly transitioned into warnings against impending disaster as political alliances shifted and Babylonian power grew. The early messages, like this one, recall past faithfulness to highlight present unfaithfulness, setting the stage for the dramatic judgment to come.
c. 627 BC
Josiah's Reforms Begin
King Josiah, still a young man, begins a significant religious reformation, purging idolatry and restoring the worship of the LORD. This sets a context of spiritual renewal and obedience that Jeremiah's early prophecies would both support and challenge.
c. 626 BC— this verse
Jeremiah's Call to Prophesy
The LORD calls Jeremiah to be a prophet to Judah, giving him a powerful word for the people. This marks the official beginning of Jeremiah's ministry.
609 BC
Death of Josiah
Josiah is killed in battle at Megiddo while opposing the advance of the Egyptian Pharaoh Neco. His death plunges Judah into political instability and grief, undermining the reform efforts.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar, crown prince of Babylon, defeats the Egyptians at Carchemish and advances into Judah. He deports a group of elites and talented individuals, including Daniel, to Babylon. This event signals the rising power of Babylon and Judah's growing vulnerability.
c. 597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
Following a rebellion, Nebuchadnezzar deports King Jehoiachin and another large group of Judeans, including the prophet Ezekiel, to Babylon. This further weakens the kingdom.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar finally crushes Judah, destroying Jerusalem and its magnificent Temple. The remaining population is exiled to Babylon, marking the end of the Southern Kingdom.
This passage also marks the beginning of Ezekiel's prophetic ministry, with the phrase 'the word of the LORD came to me' signaling the divine impartation of his message, similar to Jeremiah's call.
Hosea 2:14-15The theme of God remembering Israel's early devotion and love, even amidst their current unfaithfulness, is powerfully echoed here, highlighting a recurring pattern in God's relationship with His people.
Isaiah 43:18-19This passage speaks of God doing a 'new thing,' contrasting with His past mighty deeds. Jeremiah 2, beginning with the word of the Lord, sets up a similar contrast between God's faithfulness and Israel's forgetfulness of His past acts of salvation.
1 Kings 18:21This verse shows Elijah confronting Israel's indecisiveness between God and Baal, mirroring the prophetic task of calling people back to exclusive devotion to the LORD, a central theme that begins with the divine word given to Jeremiah.
jfbJeremiah 2:1: "Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,"
CHAPTER 2Jer 2:1-37. Expostulation with the Jews, Reminding Them of Their Former Devotedness, and God's Consequent Favor, and a Denunciation of God's Coming Judgments for Their Idolatry.Probably in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah (Jer 1:2; compare Jer 3:6, "also … in … days of Josiah"). The warning not to rely as they did on Egypt (Jer 2:18), was in accordance with Josiah's policy, who took part with Assyria and Babylo…
ellicottJeremiah 2:1: "Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,"
II. (1) The first chapter had given the narrative of the call which had impressed itself indelibly on the prophet’s mind. The next five run on as one continuous whole, and, looking to the fact that the original record of his prophetic work during the reign of Josiah had been destroyed by Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 36:23), and was afterwards re-written from memory, it is probable that we have a kind of précis of what was then destroyed,…
This isn't just a new chapter starting; the word "Moreover" links it directly to Jeremiah's calling in chapter 1, emphasizing that God's message is immediate and powerful, demanding Jeremiah's swift obedience. It highlights that this isn't just a message, but the word of the LORD, carrying divine authority and urgency right from the start.
The Lord directly commissions Jeremiah, following his initial calling, to deliver a powerful message to the people of Jerusalem. This prophecy marks the beginning of Jeremiah's ministry in earnest, likely during the reforms of King Josiah, where God begins to remind His people of their early devotion and His faithfulness. This sets the stage for a stark contrast between their past love for God and their current unfaithfulness.
The Lord directly commissions Jeremiah, following his initial calling, to deliver a powerful message to the people of Jerusalem. This prophecy marks the beginning of Jeremiah's ministry in earnest, likely during the reforms of King Josiah, where God begins to remind His people of their early devotion and His faithfulness. This sets the stage for a stark contrast between their past love for God and their current unfaithfulness.
"The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem, Thus says the LORD,
“I remember the devotion of your youth,
your love as a bride,
how you followed me in the wilderness,
in a l…" — This isn't just a new chapter starting; the word "Moreover" links it directly to Jeremiah's calling in chapter 1, emphasizing that God's message is immediate and powerful, demanding Jeremiah's swift…
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Last reviewed October 2026