The Book of Jeremiah
in a Nutshell

The Book of Jeremiah is a prophetic account of one of the most difficult periods in Judah’s history, the years leading up to the Babylonian exile. Jeremiah, known as the “weeping prophet,” was called by Jehovah from a young age to deliver a deeply unpopular message: that Jerusalem would fall because of the nation’s stubborn idolatry, injustice, and covenant unfaithfulness. Despite rejection, imprisonment, and sorrow, Jeremiah remained faithful in proclaiming Jehovah’s word.

The early chapters contain passionate calls for repentance. Jehovah, through Jeremiah, exposes Judah’s spiritual adultery, warning that their trust in the temple and external religion could not shield them from judgment. The prophet uses vivid metaphors, cracked cisterns, unfaithful spouses, and diseased wounds, to show the depth of the nation’s sin and the futility of false worship.

As the book unfolds, Jeremiah not only warns of the coming Babylonian invasion but also pleads with the people to submit to it as Jehovah’s discipline. This message provokes fierce opposition from false prophets and political leaders, yet Jeremiah insists that judgment is certain unless the nation repents. Despite the dark tone, there are glimpses of hope: Jehovah promises a “new covenant” not written on stone, but on the hearts of His people, pointing to a future restoration through the Messiah.

Jeremiah’s personal struggles are also central to the book. He wrestles with deep grief, isolation, and moments of doubt, giving voice to the pain of being faithful in a faithless generation. His laments are raw and honest, showing that Jehovah welcomes sincere questions from His servants.

Jeremiah is both a warning and a promise. It calls readers to take Jehovah’s holiness seriously, to repent from empty religion, and to trust in His plans for restoration. Though judgment came, the book leaves us with the assurance that Jehovah’s mercy will prevail, and a new covenant relationship will one day be established through the coming Redeemer.

JJ Bowks, ©CDMI

The Bible in a Nutshell Series

Hebrew Scriptures

(Old Testament Books)

Outline of the Book of Jeremiah

I. The Call and Commission of the Prophet (1:1–1:19)A. Introduction and background – 1:1–3
B. Jeremiah’s divine call and objections – 1:4–10
C. Visions and assurance from Jehovah – 1:11–19

II. Prophecies of Judgment Against Judah and Jerusalem (2:1–25:38)

A. Accusation of spiritual unfaithfulness – 2:1–3:5
B. Call to repentance and promises of return – 3:6–4:4
C. Warning of imminent judgment – 4:5–6:30

Disaster from the north – 4:5–31
Corruption of leadership and people – 5:1–31
Siege and destruction prophesied – 6:1–30

D. Condemnation of false religion – 7:1–10:25

Temple sermon: empty rituals rebuked – 7:1–34
Idolatry and false prophets – 8:1–9:26
Jehovah vs. the idols – 10:1–25

E. Broken covenant and coming disaster – 11:1–13:27
F. Warnings and symbolic acts – 14:1–17:27

Drought and rejection of false prophets – 14:1–22
Jeremiah's personal struggles – 15:1–21
Symbol of the unmarried prophet – 16:1–21
Judah’s sin engraved – 17:1–27

G. Lessons through signs and symbols – 18:1–20:18

The potter and the clay – 18:1–23
The broken jar – 19:1–15
Persecution of Jeremiah by Pashhur – 20:1–18

H. Confrontations with kings and leaders – 21:1–24:10

Judgment on Zedekiah – 21:1–14
Warnings to Davidic kings – 22:1–30
The righteous Branch promised – 23:1–8
False prophets denounced – 23:9–40
Vision of good and bad figs – 24:1–10

I. Summary of 23 years of preaching – 25:1–38

Call to heed past messages – 25:1–14
The cup of wrath to all nations – 25:15–38

III. Conflicts and Symbolic Acts (26:1–29:32)

A. Trial in the temple courtyard – 26:1–24
B. Yoke of Babylon and warning to submit – 27:1–22
C. Confrontation with false prophet Hananiah – 28:1–17
D. Letter to exiles in Babylon – 29:1–32

IV. Book of Consolation: Hope for the Future (30:1–33:26)

A. Restoration and return from captivity – 30:1–31:40

Jehovah will save Jacob – 30:1–24
New covenant with Israel and Judah – 31:1–40

B. Purchase of a field as a sign of future restoration – 32:1–44
C. Covenant with David and Levitical priesthood reaffirmed – 33:1–26

V. Final Warnings Before the Fall of Jerusalem (34:1–39:18)

A. Judgment on Zedekiah – 34:1–22
B. Jeremiah and the Rechabites’ example – 35:1–19
C. Jehoiakim burns the scroll – 36:1–32
D. Jeremiah imprisoned and rescued – 37:1–38:28
E. Fall of Jerusalem and Zedekiah’s fate – 39:1–18

VI. Events After the Fall: Flight and Exile (40:1–45:5)

A. Jeremiah’s freedom and life among survivors – 40:1–41:18
B. Warning against fleeing to Egypt – 42:1–43:13
C. Condemnation of idolatry in Egypt – 44:1–30
D. Comfort to Baruch – 45:1–5

VII. Oracles Against the Nations (46:1–51:64)

A. Egypt – 46:1–28
B. Philistia – 47:1–7
C. Moab – 48:1–47
D. Ammon – 49:1–6
E. Edom – 49:7–22
F. Damascus – 49:23–27
G. Kedar and Hazor – 49:28–33
H. Elam – 49:34–39
I. Babylon – 50:1–51:64