Who was Jeremiah in the bible?

Jeremiah is a biblical name borne by multiple people in the Old Testament, and it is also the name of “Jeremiah the prophet,” whose words are repeatedly described as Yahweh’s word. In the New Testament, “Jeremiah the prophet” is cited as one whose words were “fulfilled,” and his name is also mentioned among popular opinions about Jesus’ identity.

Jeremiah in Scripture

The name Jeremiah appears for several individuals in lists of notable Israelites and warriors. Among the heads of fathers’ houses, Jeremiah is named with others as “mighty men of valor” and “famous men.”

“These were the heads of their fathers’ houses: even Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, heads of their fathers’ houses.” (1 Chronicles 5:24)

In the account of those who came to David at Ziklag while he was a fugitive, Jeremiah appears within the roster of “mighty men” who were “his helpers in war.”

“Now these are those who came to David to Ziklag, while he was a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish. They were among the mighty men, his helpers in war.” (1 Chronicles 12:1)

“Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader of the thirty; Jeremiah; Jahaziel; Johanan; Jozabad the Gederathite;” (1 Chronicles 12:4)

The same chapter continues with additional lists in which the name Jeremiah occurs again, including a numbered ordering among captains and named men.

“Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,” (1 Chronicles 12:10)

“Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbannai the eleventh.” (1 Chronicles 12:13)

A separate set of references concerns Jeremiah as a prophet and a figure associated with lamentation and with Yahweh’s spoken word. In the reign narrative connected with Josiah, Jeremiah is presented as one who publicly lamented and whose lament became part of Israel’s practiced remembrance.

“Jeremiah lamented for Josiah, and all the singing men and singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this day; and they made them an ordinance in Israel. Behold, they are written in the lamentations.” (2 Chronicles 35:25)

Later, Jeremiah is explicitly called “the prophet,” and he is described as speaking a message that comes from Yahweh.

“He did that which was evil in Yahweh his God’s sight. He didn’t humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from Yahweh’s mouth.” (2 Chronicles 36:12)

Jeremiah’s words are also linked to Yahweh’s word being fulfilled over a period described as “seventy years,” and those words are said to be spoken “by Jeremiah’s mouth.”

“to fulfill Yahweh’s word by Jeremiah’s mouth, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. As long as it lay desolate, it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.” (2 Chronicles 36:21)

In connection with Cyrus king of Persia, the Chronicler again ties events to Jeremiah’s spoken word, describing Yahweh as stirring Cyrus’ spirit so that a proclamation was made and put in writing.

“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that Yahweh’s word by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, sayin” (2 Chronicles 36:22)

Daniel likewise refers to reading “the books” and coming to understand “the number of the years” connected to Yahweh’s word to Jeremiah the prophet, specifically “for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years.”

“in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years about which Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah the prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years.” (Daniel 9:2)

In the book bearing Jeremiah’s name, a brief prophetic exchange records Yahweh addressing him directly with a question, and Jeremiah answering with a specific vision.

“Moreover Yahweh’s word came to me, saying, ‘Jeremiah, what do you see?’ I said, ‘I see a branch of an almond tree.’” (Jeremiah 1:11)

In Kings, Jeremiah also appears as the identifier of a man “of Libnah,” mentioned as the father of Hamutal. This information is attached to two royal reign notices that name Hamutal as the mother of the king.

“Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.” (2 Kings 23:31)

“Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.” (2 Kings 24:18)

In the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, Jeremiah is explicitly called “the prophet” and is invoked as one through whom something “was fulfilled.” In the narrative surrounding Herod’s violence, Matthew introduces a fulfillment citation attributed to Jeremiah and quotes the lament:

“Then that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying,” (Matthew 2:17)

“A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; she wouldn’t be comforted, because they are no more.” (Matthew 2:18)

Later, when Jesus asks what people say about him, Jeremiah is named as one of the possibilities people suggest.

“They said, ‘Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.’” (Matthew 16:14)

Near the account of the chief priests using returned silver to buy “the potter’s field,” Matthew again frames events as fulfillment of words “spoken through Jeremiah the prophet,” and then begins the quotation.

“Then that which was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, ‘They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him upon whom a price had been set, whom some of the children of Israel priced,” (Matthew 27:9)

Multiple bearers

Several distinct men named Jeremiah appear in the Old Testament passages cited. One Jeremiah is listed among “heads of their fathers’ houses” who are “mighty men of valor” (1 Chronicles 5:24). Jeremiah also appears multiple times in the list of warriors who came to David at Ziklag, where those men are described as “mighty men” and “helpers in war,” and Jeremiah is named among them more than once in the chapter’s rosters (1 Chronicles 12:1, 12:4, 12:10, 12:13). Another Jeremiah is “Jeremiah of Libnah,” named as the father of Hamutal in the reign notices for Jehoahaz and Zedekiah (2 Kings 23:31; 2 Kings 24:18). A further set of texts refers to “Jeremiah the prophet,” who is said to speak “from Yahweh’s mouth” and whose words are tied to Yahweh’s word being fulfilled (2 Chronicles 36:12, 36:21–22; Daniel 9:2; Jeremiah 1:11). In Matthew, “Jeremiah the prophet” is cited in fulfillment formulas, and his name appears as one of the prophetic figures people mention when asked about Jesus’ identity (Matthew 2:17–18; 16:14; 27:9).

Name and Meaning

In Hebrew, the name is written יִרְמְיָה (transliteration: Yirmeyah; pronunciation: yir-meh-yaw’) and is also attested as יִרְמְיָהוּ. Strong’s derivation explains it as coming from a root meaning “to be high” or “to rise or raise” together with the divine element Yahh (Jah), giving the sense “Jah will rise.” In Greek, the name appears as Ἱερεμίας (transliteration: Hieremias; pronunciation: hee-er-em-ee’-as), described as being of Hebrew origin.

Observation

Across these passages, Jeremiah is associated both with public lament (“Jeremiah lamented for Josiah,” 2 Chronicles 35:25) and with the authoritative delivery of divine speech (“Jeremiah the prophet speaking from Yahweh’s mouth,” 2 Chronicles 36:12), and later writers treat those words as continuing to bear interpretive weight (“Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah the prophet,” Daniel 9:2; “spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled,” Matthew 2:17).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Jeremiah mean?

Jeremiah (Yirmeyah/Hieremias) means “Jah will rise.”

How many times does Jeremiah appear in the Bible?

Jeremiah appears 109 times total across the Hebrew and Greek forms listed (106 in Hebrew and 3 in Greek).

Who was Jeremiah?

Jeremiah is identified as a prophet; for example, 2 Chronicles 36:12 mentions “Jeremiah the prophet speaking from Yahweh’s mouth,” and Jeremiah 1:11 records Yahweh addressing him by name.

Was there more than one person named Jeremiah?

Yes. Jeremiah is the name of eight or nine Israelites, and the name also appears for Jeremiah the prophet and for another Jeremiah mentioned in family identifications (2 Kings 23:31).

Explore Further

If you found this page about Jeremiah interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.

Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).