Jeremiah 1 · Verse 6

Jeremiah 1:6

Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.
Jeremiah 1:6, King James Version

Jeremiah 1:6 in other translations

BSB“Ah, Lord GOD,” I said, “I surely do not know how to speak, for I am only a child!”
WEBThen I said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”
ASVThen said I, Ah, Lord Jehovah! behold, I know not how to speak; for I am a child.
YLTAnd I say, ‘Ah, Lord Jehovah! lo, I have not known--to speak, for I am a youth.'
DARBYAnd I said, Alas, Lord Jehovah! behold, I cannot speak; for I am a child.
BBEThen said I, O Lord God! see, I have no power of words, for I am a child.
WebsterThen said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

What does Jeremiah 1:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 1:4-10

4-10. Jeremiah's call to the prophetical office. unto me--other manuscripts read "to him"; but English Version probably represents the true Hebrew text; this inscription was doubtless made by Jeremiah himself.

Read the full comment on Jeremiah 1:4-10 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 I cannot speak - Being very young, and wholly inexperienced, I am utterly incapable of conceiving aright, or of clothing these Divine subjects in suitable language. Those who are really called of God to the sacred ministry are such as have been brought to a deep acquaintance with themselves, feel their own ignorance, and know their own weakness. They know also the awful responsibility that attaches to the work; and nothing but the authority of God can induce such to undertake it. They whom God never called run, because of worldly honor and emolument: the others hear the call with fear and trembling, and can go only in the strength of Jehovah. "How ready is the man to go, Whom God hath never sent! How timorous, diffident, and slow, God's chosen instrument!"

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Jeremiah 1:1-10

Jeremiah's call to the prophetic office. (Jr 1:1-10) A vision of an almond-tree and of a seething-pot, Divine protection is promised. (Jr 1:11-19) Verses 1-10 Jeremiah's early call to the work and office of a prophet is stated. He was to be a prophet, not to the Jews only, but to the neighbouring nations. He is still a prophet to the whole world, and it would be well if they would attend to these warnings. The Lord…

Read the full comment on Jeremiah 1:1-10 →

Jeremiah 1:6 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וָאֹמַ֗רva.'o.Marand I saidH559
אֲהָהּ֙'a.Hahalas!H162
אֲדֹנָ֣י'a.do.NaiO LordH136
יְהֹוִ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3069
הִנֵּ֥הhi.Nehhere!H2009
לֹא\־lo'-notH3808
יָדַ֖עְתִּיya.Da'.tiI knowH3045
דַּבֵּ֑רda.Berto speakH1696
כִּי\־ki-forH3588
נַ֖עַרNa.'ar[am] a youthH5288
אָנֹֽכִי\׃\ \פ'a.No.khiIH595

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Jeremiah 1:6

  • Exodus 4:10-16

    And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say. And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt send. …

  • Exodus 6:12

    And Moses spake before the Lord, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?

  • 1 Kings 3:7-9

    And now, O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?

  • Jeremiah 32:17

    Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

  • Jeremiah 14:13

    Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, the prophets say unto them, Ye shall not see the sword, neither shall ye have famine; but I will give you assured peace in this place.

  • Exodus 4:1

    And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.

  • Exodus 6:30

    And Moses said before the Lord, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips, and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me?

  • Jeremiah 4:10

    Then said I, Ah, Lord God! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.

  • Isaiah 6:5

    Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Ah, Lord.
4:10; 14:13; 32:17
I cannot.
Ex 4:1,10-16; 6:12,30; Isa 6:5
for I am.
1Ki 3:7-9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Jeremiah 1:5

    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.

  • Jeremiah 1:6

    Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

  • Jeremiah 1:7

    But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

Read all of Jeremiah 1

Jeremiah 1:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y yo dije: ¡Ah! ¡ah! ¡Señor Jehová! He aquí, no sé hablar, porque soy niño.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et je dis: Ah, Seigneur Éternel! voici, je ne sais pas parler; car je suis un enfant.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und ich sprach: Ach, Herr, Jehova! Siehe, ich weiß nicht zu reden, denn ich bin jung
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et dixi: A, a, a, Domine Deus, ecce nescio loqui, quia puer ego sum.