Chapter Overview
Summary
The call of Jeremiah. LXX and MT are closely aligned in this chapter with only minor lexical differences.
Notable Variants
Minor wording differences; LXX lacks the emphatic repetition found in some MT phrases. The superscription (1:1-3) is nearly identical.
Structural Notes
LXX Jeremiah is approximately 2,700 words (roughly 12-15%) shorter than MT Jeremiah overall. The LXX preserves what many scholars believe is the OLDER, SHORTER text of Jeremiah. This is confirmed by 4QJerb from Qumran, which follows the LXX's shorter text and different arrangement of the Oracles Against the Nations. The MT represents a later, expanded edition. Two distinct Hebrew Vorlagen existed: a shorter text (behind LXX and 4QJerb) and a longer text (behind MT and 4QJera). This makes Jeremiah the most dramatically divergent book between LXX and MT in the entire Hebrew Bible.
The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
The word of the LORD came to him in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
It continued through the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah — until Jerusalem was taken into exile in the fifth month.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
The word of the LORD came to me:
Masoretic (WLC)
וַיְהִי דְבַר־יְהוָה אֵלַי
Septuagint (LXX)
Καὶ ἐγένετο λόγος κυρίου πρός με
LXX adds καὶ before the verb, a minor syntactic smoothing.
Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you came out from the womb, I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
But I said, "Oh, Lord GOD! I do not know how to speak — I am only a youth."
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth.' To everyone I send you to, you will go, and everything I command you, you will speak.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to rescue you," declares the LORD.
Masoretic (WLC)
אַל־תִּירָא מִפְּנֵיהֶם
Septuagint (LXX)
μὴ φοβηθῇς ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν
LXX reads 'do not be afraid before them' (ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν) where MT has 'of their faces' (מִפְּנֵיהֶם). Same sense, slightly different idiom.
Then the LORD stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. The LORD said to me, "See — I have placed my words in your mouth.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
See, today I have appointed you over nations and over kingdoms — to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
The word of the LORD came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I said, "I see the branch of an almond tree."
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching over my word to carry it out."
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
The word of the LORD came to me a second time: "What do you see?" I said, "I see a boiling pot, and it is tilting away from the north."
Masoretic (WLC)
מִפְּנֵי צָפוֹנָה
Septuagint (LXX)
ἀπὸ προσώπου βορρᾶ
LXX reads ἀπὸ προσώπου βορρᾶ 'from the face of the north' — identical sense to MT.
The LORD said to me, "From the north, disaster will be unleashed upon all the inhabitants of the land.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
For I am about to summon all the clans of the kingdoms of the north," declares the LORD. "They will come and each will set up his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its surrounding walls, and against all the cities of Judah.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
I will pronounce my judgments against them for all their wickedness, because they have abandoned me, burned incense to other gods, and bowed down to the works of their own hands.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
As for you — prepare yourself! Stand up and speak to them everything that I command you. Do not be shattered by them, or I will shatter you before them.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land — against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.
They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue you," declares the LORD.
LXX and MT are substantially identical here.