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Selected Verse: Jeremiah 1:5 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Jer 1:5	Strong Concordance	Before [02962] I formed [03335] thee in the belly [0990] I knew [03045] thee; and before thou camest forth [03318] out of the womb [07358] I sanctified [06942] thee, and I ordained [05414] thee a prophet [05030] unto the nations [01471].
	King James	Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
knew--approved of thee as My chosen instrument (Exo 33:12, Exo 33:17; compare Isa 49:1, Isa 49:5; Rom 8:29). sanctified--rather, "separated." The primary meaning is, "to set apart" from a common to a special use; hence arose the secondary sense, "to sanctify," ceremonially and morally. It is not here meant that Jehovah cleansed Jeremiah from original sin or regenerated him by His Spirit; but separated him to his peculiar prophetical office, including in its range, not merely the Hebrews, but also the nations hostile to them (Jer. 25:12-38; 27:1-21; 46:1-51:64), [HENDERSON]. Not the effect, but the predestination in Jehovah's secret counsel, is meant by the sanctification here (compare Luk 1:15, Luk 1:41; Act 15:18; Gal 1:15; Eph 1:11).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

knew--approved of thee as My chosen instrument (Exo 33:12, Exo 33:17; compare Isa 49:1, Isa 49:5; Rom 8:29).

sanctified--rather, "separated." The primary meaning is, "to set apart" from a common to a special use; hence arose the secondary sense, "to sanctify," ceremonially and morally. It is not here meant that Jehovah cleansed Jeremiah from original sin or regenerated him by His Spirit; but separated him to his peculiar prophetical office, including in its range, not merely the Hebrews, but also the nations hostile to them (Jer. 25:12-38; 27:1-21; 46:1-51:64), [HENDERSON]. Not the effect, but the predestination in Jehovah's secret counsel, is meant by the sanctification here (compare Luk 1:15, Luk 1:41; Act 15:18; Gal 1:15; Eph 1:11).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
Rather, "Before I formed thee in the belly." I approved of thee (as one fit for the prophetic office)," and before thou camest forth from the womb" I made thee holy (dedicated thee to holy uses); I have appointed thee (now by this public call to be) "a prophet unto the nations." Unto the nations - The privileges contained in this verse are so great as in their full sense to be true only of Christ Himself, while to Jeremiah they belong as being in so many particulars a type of Christ.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
I sanctified - I ordained thee for this public service. He speaks thus to Jeremiah, not to the other prophets, because he stood in need of greater encouragement than they, both in respect of the tenderness of his years, and the difficulties which he was to encounter with. The nations - To other nations besides the Jews.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Before I formed thee - I had destined thee to the prophetic office before thou wert born: I had formed my plan, and appointed thee to be my envoy to his people. St. Paul speaks of his own call to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles in similar terms, Gal 1:15, Gal 1:16.

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¹¹ In [1722] whom [3739] also [2532] we have obtained an inheritance [2820], being predestinated [4309] according to [2596] the purpose [4286] of him who worketh [1754] all things [3956] after [2596] the counsel [1012] of his own [846] will [2307]:

¹⁵ But [1161] when [3753] it pleased [2106] God [2316], who [3588] separated [873] me [3165] from [1537] my [3450] mother's [3384] womb [2836], and [2532] called [2564] me by [1223] his [846] grace [5485],

¹⁸ Known [1110] unto God [2316] are [2076] all [3956] his [846] works [2041] from [575] the beginning of the world [165].

⁴¹ And [2532] it came to pass [1096], that, when [5613] Elisabeth [1665] heard [191] the salutation [783] of Mary [3137], the babe [1025] leaped [4640] in [1722] her [846] womb [2836]; and [2532] Elisabeth [1665] was filled [4130] with the Holy [40] Ghost [4151]:

¹⁵ For [1063] he shall be [2071] great [3173] in the sight [1799] of the Lord [2962], and [2532] shall drink [4095] neither [3364] wine [3631] nor [2532] strong drink [4608]; and [2532] he shall be filled [4130] with the Holy [40] Ghost [4151], even [2089] from [1537] his [846] mother's [3384] womb [2836].

²⁹ For [3754] whom [3739] he did foreknow [4267], he [4309] also [2532] did predestinate [4309] to be conformed [4832] to the image [1504] of his [846] Son [5207], that [1519] he [846] might be [1511] the firstborn [4416] among [1722] many [4183] brethren [80].

⁵ And now, saith [0559] the LORD [03068] that formed [03335] me from the womb [0990] to be his servant [05650], to bring [07725] Jacob [03290] again [07725] to him, Though Israel [03478] be not gathered [0622], yet shall I be glorious [03513] in the eyes [05869] of the LORD [03068], and my God [0430] shall be my strength [05797].

¹ Listen [08085], O isles [0339], unto me; and hearken [07181], ye people [03816], from far [07350]; The LORD [03068] hath called [07121] me from the womb [0990]; from the bowels [04578] of my mother [0517] hath he made mention [02142] of my name [08034].

¹⁷ And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto Moses [04872], I will do [06213] this thing [01697] also that thou hast spoken [01696]: for thou hast found [04672] grace [02580] in my sight [05869], and I know [03045] thee by name [08034].

¹² And Moses [04872] said [0559] unto the LORD [03068], See [07200], thou sayest [0559] unto me, Bring up [05927] this people [05971]: and thou hast not let me know [03045] whom thou wilt send [07971] with me. Yet thou hast said [0559], I know [03045] thee by name [08034], and thou hast also found [04672] grace [02580] in my sight [05869].

¹⁶ To reveal [601] his [846] Son [5207] in [1722] me [1698], that [2443] I might preach [2097] him [846] among [1722] the heathen [1484]; immediately [2112] I conferred [4323] not [3756] with flesh [4561] and [2532] blood [129]: