Jeremiah is traditionally attributed to the prophet Jeremiah, who ministered in the southern kingdom of Judah from approximately 627 BC through the turbulent years leading up to and following Jerusalem’s destruction in 586 BC. His ministry began under King Josiah (640–609 BC), a righteous reformer who sought to bring the people back to proper worship, and continued under subsequent kings such as Jehoiakim (609–598 BC) and Zedekiah (597–586 BC). Jeremiah was from Anathoth, a small town northeast of Jerusalem in the territory of Benjamin, a location that placed him close to events in the capital but also set him apart as he proclaimed God’s message of judgment.

Throughout the book, Jeremiah warns Judah that their unfaithfulness and idolatry would lead to disaster at the hands of the Babylonians. He specifies that the nation’s failure to heed God’s commands would bring about destruction and exile, urging the people to repent and return to God. When referring to his calling, Jeremiah recounts, “Now the word of the LORD came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.’” (Jeremiah 1:4–5) Despite his clear mandate from God, Jeremiah endured ridicule and persecution for his somber prophecies, often lamenting the stubbornness of his nation.

In addition to pronouncing judgment, Jeremiah also foretells future hope, emphasizing that the exile will not spell the end for God’s people. He describes a time of restoration when the exiles would return to the land and live under a renewed covenant: “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Jeremiah 31:33) This promise portrays a shift from external codes of law toward an internal transformation of the heart.

Despite Jeremiah’s strong denunciations of sin, he offers comfort and encouragement as he intercedes for the people, appealing for God’s mercy. It is this mix of warnings and hope, along with the prophet’s personal anguish, that characterizes the Book of Jeremiah and underscores its timeless messages of repentance, judgment, and redemptive promise. Jeremiah’s life and words remain a warning against complacency and a powerful invitation to trust God even in the midst of national and personal crisis.