Introduction to Jeremiah 1:1
Jeremiah 1:1 introduces the prophetic book by identifying the prophet’s lineage, his priestly background, and his geographic origin. The verse employs construct chains (סְמִיכוּת), a common feature in Biblical Hebrew used to express relationships between nouns. In this passage, construct phrases such as דִּבְרֵי יִרְמְיָהוּ (“the words of Jeremiah”) and מִן־הַכֹּֽהֲנִים (“from the priests”) serve to establish genitive relationships, connecting Jeremiah to his words, his family, and his town.
This study will analyze the syntactic structure, noun relationships, and grammatical function of these construct phrases.
דִּבְרֵ֥י יִרְמְיָהוּ בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּ֑הוּ מִן־הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּעֲנָתֹ֔ות בְּאֶ֖רֶץ בִּנְיָמִֽן׃
Analysis of Key Words/Phrases
1. דִּבְרֵ֥י יִרְמְיָהוּ (divrei Yirmeyahu)
– Root: דָּבָר (“word, speech, matter”)
– Form: Masculine plural construct noun with a proper noun in the absolute state
– Translation: “The words of Jeremiah”
– Function: The construct chain links “words” with “Jeremiah,” showing possession or authorship.
2. בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּ֑הוּ (ben-Ḥilqiyahu)
– Root: בֵּן (“son”)
– Form: Masculine singular noun in construct with a proper noun
– Translation: “Son of Hilkiah”
– Function: Establishes genealogy, identifying Jeremiah’s father.
3. מִן־הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ (min-hakohanim)
– Root: כֹּהֵן (“priest”)
– Form: Masculine plural absolute noun preceded by מִן (“from”)
– Translation: “From the priests”
– Function: Identifies Jeremiah as part of the priestly class, specifying his heritage.
4. אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּעֲנָתֹ֔ות (asher ba’Anatot)
– Root: עֲנָתֹות (“Anathoth”)
– Form: Proper noun preceded by בְּ (“in”)
– Translation: “Who were in Anathoth”
– Function: Further clarifies the geographic origin of Jeremiah’s priestly lineage.
5. בְּאֶ֖רֶץ בִּנְיָמִֽן (b’eretṣ Binyamin)
– Root: אֶרֶץ (“land”)
– Form: Feminine singular absolute noun preceded by בְּ (“in”)
– Translation: “In the land of Benjamin”
– Function: Specifies regional location within Israel.
Explanation of Grammatical Function
The Construct Chain in דִּבְרֵי יִרְמְיָהוּ
The phrase דִּבְרֵי יִרְמְיָהוּ (“the words of Jeremiah”) is an example of a construct chain (סְמִיכוּת), where two nouns are joined together in a possessive or descriptive relationship.
– Construct Form:
– The plural noun דִּבְרֵי (“words”) appears in construct state, losing its definite article.
– The absolute noun יִרְמְיָהוּ (“Jeremiah”) remains unchanged.
– Together, they mean “the words of Jeremiah,” showing authorship or possession.
The Function of בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּ֑הוּ
– The noun בֶּן (“son”) in construct form links to חִלְקִיָּהוּ (“Hilkiah”), forming a genealogical construct phrase.
– This phrase is not just a biological relationship but a statement of identity, showing that Jeremiah comes from a known priestly lineage.
The Prepositional Phrase מִן־הַכֹּֽהֲנִים
– The preposition מִן (“from”) introduces a classification rather than a simple location.
– The noun הַכֹּֽהֲנִים (“the priests”) is definite, meaning a specific group of priests.
– The phrase “from the priests” clarifies Jeremiah’s social standing—he is not just a priest by descent but by community association.
The Relative Clause אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּעֲנָתֹ֔ות
– The relative pronoun אֲשֶׁר (“who, that”) introduces a subordinate clause.
– The phrase בַּעֲנָתֹ֔ות (“in Anathoth”) specifies where the priests lived.
– This relative clause modifies הַכֹּֽהֲנִים (“the priests”), narrowing the focus to a particular priestly family from Anathoth.
The Geographical Specification בְּאֶ֖רֶץ בִּנְיָמִֽן
– The preposition בְּ (“in”) marks a general location.
– The construct phrase אֶרֶץ בִּנְיָמִן (“land of Benjamin”) defines the tribal territory.
– This phrase serves two functions:
1. Locational: It situates Anathoth within Benjamin’s territory.
2. Theological: It connects Jeremiah to a specific covenantal lineage.
The Construct Chain as a Literary and Theological Device
1. Identity and Authority
– The construct phrases establish Jeremiah’s credibility as a prophet.
– His priestly lineage and tribal heritage confirm his divinely chosen role.
2. Precision in Hebrew Syntax
– Biblical Hebrew uses construct chains to create efficient, structured expressions of relationships.
– The phrase דִּבְרֵי יִרְמְיָהוּ highlights authorship, while בֶּן־חִלְקִיָּ֑הוּ marks genealogy.
3. Connection to Biblical Themes
– Jeremiah’s origin aligns him with previous prophetic traditions.
– His connection to Anathoth, a priestly city, reinforces the theme of divine election.
The Role of Construct Chains in Jeremiah’s Calling
Jeremiah 1:1 exemplifies the precise use of construct chains to establish the prophet’s identity, heritage, and location. These grammatical structures enhance the theological weight of the verse, confirming Jeremiah’s divine calling within Israel’s history.
