יִרְמְיָ֫הוּ (yir.me.yah)
yir.me.yah
Jeremiah
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 129 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Yirmeyahu means "Jah will rise" or, in some interpretations, "whom Jehovah has appointed." It appears 147 times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily identifying the major prophet who warned Judah of coming judgment. Beyond the famous prophet, the name belongs to several other figures, including priests who served under Nehemiah and warriors who fought alongside David.
Etymologically, the name combines the divine name Yah with a verb meaning to rise or be exalted. This suggests a destiny of elevation or prominence, fitting for the prophet whose book dominates the Latter Prophets. The variation Yirmeyah appears in genealogies and lists of leaders, showing it was a known family name among the priestly and military classes.
Translators consistently render this name as Jeremiah in English Bibles. The sources note that while the prophet is the most significant bearer, the name itself reflects a common practice of embedding God's name into personal identity. This usage underscores the belief that human roles and destinies are ultimately shaped by divine initiative.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Jeremiah carries a quiet promise: God will raise up what is needed. It means 'Yahweh shall build' or 'Jah will rise,' reminding us that our lives are shaped by divine initiative rather than our own strength. When we feel small or overlooked, this name points to a God who elevates His servants for specific purposes.
In the Bible, Jeremiah is known for his faithful witness even when it brought him suffering. He stood in the temple courts and spoke truth to kings, not because he was fearless, but because he trusted the One who called him. His story shows that obedience often costs us comfort, yet it never leaves us alone.
For your own walk, this name offers encouragement. You are known by God before you act for Him. Whether you face drought or political change, the same God who raised up Jeremiah is present in your season. He builds stability in our hearts when the world around us feels unstable.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 129 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Jeremiah130×
- and/ Jeremiah6×
- O Jeremiah2×
- <in>/ Jeremiah2×
- to/ Jeremiah1×
- of/ Jeremiah1×
- <to>/ Jeremiah1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ32×
- יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ21×
- יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙13×
- יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ11×
- יִרְמְיָ֥הוּ9×
- יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ9×
- יִרְמְיָ֑הוּ7×
- יִרְמְיָ֤הוּ4×
- יִרְמְיָ֛הוּ4×
- יִרְמְיָהוּ֮3×
- יִרְמְיָ֥ה3×
- יִרְמְיָ֣ה3×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 1:1
The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, one of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.
This opening verse establishes Jeremiah’s priestly lineage and divine commission, grounding his authority in both heritage and direct call from Yahweh.
-
Jeremiah 20:2
Then Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks that were in the upper gate of Benjamin, which was in Yahweh’s house.
Here the name appears in the context of physical persecution, highlighting the cost of prophetic obedience as Jeremiah is imprisoned for speaking God's word.
-
II Kings 23:31
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.
The reference to Jeremiah of Libnah as Hamutal’s father shows how this name identifies key family connections within Judah’s royal history, linking the prophet’s era to broader national events.
-
II Chronicles 36:21
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.
This verse explicitly ties the seventy-year exile to Jeremiah’s mouth, demonstrating how his words were seen as the definitive fulfillment of divine judgment.