Yirmiyahu

Yirmiyahu, the Hebrew form of Jeremiah, is a major prophet in the Hebrew Bible. The name means “Yahweh will exalt” or “the Lord exalts.” It is used for the biblical book(s) and as a modern Hebrew given name.

He prophesied in the Kingdom of Judah during the late 7th and early 6th centuries BCE, especially during the reigns of Josiah, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah, and witnessed the siege and destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BCE.

The Book of Jeremiah (and the Book of Lamentations, traditionally linked to him) presents oracles, narratives, and biographical material. Central themes include covenant fidelity, social justice, rejection of idolatry, and calls to repentance, with an emphasis on exile and restoration. It contains the promise of a new covenant in Jeremiah 31–33, writing the law on hearts.

Authorship is traditionally attributed to Jeremiah, though the book shows later compilers and editors; Baruch ben Neriah, his scribe, is described in the text. The work blends prophetic oracles with biographical episodes and symbolic actions.

In Judaism, Jeremiah is one of the major prophets; in Christianity, his writings are part of the canonical prophetic books. The figure has influenced theology, liturgy, and art, and in modern Hebrew, Yirmiyahu is a common given name.