Jeremiah 1:6
"Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child."

Commentary

Gill's Exposition

Then said I, Ah, Lord God!.... The word "Ah", or "Ahah", is used in distress and grief, as Kimchi observes; and is expressive of mourning and complaint, as Jarchi notes; and shows that the prophet was troubled and uneasy at his call, and would

gladly have been excused on the following account: behold, I cannot speak; or, "I know not how to speak" (r); properly and pertinently, politely and eloquently, especially before great personages, kings and princes, and the citizens of Jerusalem, being brought up in a rustic manner in the country. A like excuse Moses made, Exo 4:10 . The Targum is, "I know not to prophesy: for I am a child"; meaning either in knowledge and understanding, or in years; not a mere child, but a "junior", as the Septuagint version renders the word; or a "young man", as the Arabic version; so Samuel and Zechariah were young men, when they first ministered in their office, Sa1 3:1 . Abarbinel supposes that Jeremiah was now twelve or fifteen years of age; but it should seem rather that he was more, perhaps twenty years of age; since he seems to have prophesied to the men of Anathoth before he was sent to Jerusalem, Jer 11:21 . (r) "uescio loqui", V. L. Munster, Vatablus, Junius & Tremellius; "non novi loqui", Pagninus, Montanus.

Source: Gill's Exposition (Public Domain)

Hebrew Word Studies (11 words)

H0559 אָמַר
Definition:

1+, etc.;ImperfectיאֹמַרGenesis 31:8+;וַיּאֹ֫מֶרGenesis 1:3+;וַיּאֹמַ֑רGenesis 14:19+; in Job alwaysוַיּאֹ֑מַרJob 3:2+; 3 feminine singularתּאֹמַרGenesis 21:12+;תּאֹמֵר֑Proverbs 1:21; 1singularאֹמַרGe 1+, etc.;ImperfectיאֹמַרGenesis 31:8+;וַיּאֹ֫מֶרGenesis 1:3+;וַיּאֹמַ֑רGenesis 14:19+; in Job alwaysוַיּאֹ֑מַרJob 3:2+; 3 feminine singularתּאֹמַרGenesis 21:12+;תּאֹמֵר֑Proverbs 1:21; 1singularאֹמַרGe

Possible Meanings:
  • lamb (semantic_range)
H0162 אֲהָהּ
Definition:

35;2 Kings 3:10;2 Kings 6:5,15; withלJoel 1:15אֲהָהּ לַיּוֺםalas for the day! foretc. In the combinationאֲהָהּ אֲדֹנָי יֱהוִֺהJoshua 7:7;Judges 6:22;Jeremiah 1:6;Jeremiah 4:10;Jeremiah 14:13;Jeremiah 35;2 Kings 3:10;2 Kings 6:5,15; withלJoel 1:15אֲהָהּ לַיּוֺםalas for the day! foretc. In the combinationאֲהָהּ אֲדֹנָי יֱהוִֺהJoshua 7:7;Judges 6:22;Jeremiah 1:6;Jeremiah 4:10;Jeremiah 14:13;Jeremiah

Possible Meanings:
  • alas! (semantic_range)
H0136 אֲדֹנָי
Definition:

Key first appearances in patriarchal narratives (for example,Genesis 15:2,Genesis 18:27).• Historical Books: Appeals for guidance and deliverance (for example,Joshua 7:8,2 Samuel 7:18–20).• Wisdom Lit Key first appearances in patriarchal narratives (for example,Genesis 15:2,Genesis 18:27).• Historical Books: Appeals for guidance and deliverance (for example,Joshua 7:8,2 Samuel 7:18–20).• Wisdom Lit

H3069 יְהוִֹה
Definition:

A variation ofYhovah(used after'Adonay, and pronounced by Jews as'elohiym, in order to prevent the repetition of the same sound, since they elsewhere pronounceYhovahas'Adonay) -- God.see HEBREWYhovahs A variation ofYhovah(used after'Adonay, and pronounced by Jews as'elohiym, in order to prevent the repetition of the same sound, since they elsewhere pronounceYhovahas'Adonay) -- God.see HEBREWYhovahs

Possible Meanings:
  • Yahweh (semantic_range)
  • the one bringing into being (semantic_range)
  • life-giver (semantic_range)
H2009 הִנֵּה
Definition:

2,demonstrative particlelo! behold!(certainly, surely, literallylo !), with suffix (the pronoun being conceived as accusative, Ew§ 262 c.; compare,, which takes an accusative, whether of a noun or pro 2,demonstrative particlelo! behold!(certainly, surely, literallylo !), with suffix (the pronoun being conceived as accusative, Ew§ 262 c.; compare,, which takes an accusative, whether of a noun or pro

Possible Meanings:
  • hither (semantic_range)
H3808 לֹא
Definition:

11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. Negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows) -- X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, 11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. Negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows) -- X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay,

H3045 יָדַע
Definition:

1+;יָדָ֑עLeviticus 5:1+; suffixיְדָעוֺDeuteronomy 34:10;Job 28:7;יְדָעָהּGenesis 24:16;1 Kings 1:4;יְדָעָ֫נוּIsaiah 63:16; 3feminine singularיָָֽדְעָהJudges 11:394t.; 2 masculine singularיָדַעְתָּGene 1+;יָדָ֑עLeviticus 5:1+; suffixיְדָעוֺDeuteronomy 34:10;Job 28:7;יְדָעָהּGenesis 24:16;1 Kings 1:4;יְדָעָ֫נוּIsaiah 63:16; 3feminine singularיָָֽדְעָהJudges 11:394t.; 2 masculine singularיָדַעְתָּGene

Possible Meanings:
  • know (semantic_range)
  • know (semantic_range)
  • cause to know (semantic_range)
  • inform (semantic_range)
H1696 דָבַר
Definition:

— (1) Arabicdepart, perish, IV.retreat, figurativeretrograde, decline;passing away, death; Assyriandabâru, Pi`eldrive away, BezOrient. Diplom, Vocab.,Dibbara, pest-god, Hpt. in KAT2. 500,דֶּבֶרpestile — (1) Arabicdepart, perish, IV.retreat, figurativeretrograde, decline;passing away, death; Assyriandabâru, Pi`eldrive away, BezOrient. Diplom, Vocab.,Dibbara, pest-god, Hpt. in KAT2. 500,דֶּבֶרpestile

Possible Meanings:
  • speaking (semantic_range)
H3588 כִּי
Definition:

Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic, Phoenicianכ. Probably from the same demonstrative basis found inhere, and in certain pronouns, as Aramaicדֵּךְthis(WSG 110 f.); perhaps also ultimately akin withthat, in order that, andthen, enclitic,

Possible Meanings:
  • for (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
  • when (semantic_range)
H5288 נַעַר
Definition:

16, but text corrupt, see We Now.Topical LexiconGeneral Sense and Range of Meaningנַעַר designates a male from infancy through early adulthood, emphasizing vitality, teachability, and subordinate stat 16, but text corrupt, see We Now.Topical LexiconGeneral Sense and Range of Meaningנַעַר designates a male from infancy through early adulthood, emphasizing vitality, teachability, and subordinate stat

Possible Meanings:
  • youth (semantic_range)
  • early life (semantic_range)
H0595 אָנֹכִי
Definition:

9אָֽנֹכִ֑יpronoun 1 singular commonI;Genesis 3:10;Genesis 7:4;Genesis 15:1,2;Genesis 16:5#NAME?הֲהֶאָנֹכִיNumbers 11:12;Job 21:4. (Assyriananâku, Phoenician & Moabiteאנך: not in Arabic, Aramaic, Ethio 9אָֽנֹכִ֑יpronoun 1 singular commonI;Genesis 3:10;Genesis 7:4;Genesis 15:1,2;Genesis 16:5#NAME?הֲהֶאָנֹכִיNumbers 11:12;Job 21:4. (Assyriananâku, Phoenician & Moabiteאנך: not in Arabic, Aramaic, Ethio

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