Jeremiah

As the story concerning each character unfolds, we learn how closely connected is the name to the narrative, provided that we focus on the Hebrew name. English, Spanish, Greek and Latin, along with all other world languages fall short in demonstrating how: 1. The Biblical name foreshadows the life events of each personality, 2. The Hebrew name both mirrors and substantiates the truthfulness of biblical events and prophecies.

Although reading the bible in English is also perceived by believers as reading truth, the immediate sense of substantiation, as reflected in the mere Hebrew name, is missing from the non-Hebrew reading experience. This is just one reason why it is so important for every Bible follower to obtain some knowledge of Hebrew.

Critics distinguished between two main kinds of prophets in the Bible: Prophet of Wrath (or Reproof), and Prophet of Consolation. The second kind focused on comforting the people after disasters while the first rebuked ill conduct and warned of negative consequences, which were usually upcoming disasters.

The name Jeremiah attests to the difficult life of this prophet. Being mostly a Prophet of Wrath who constantly warned people of the nearing destruction and doom, Jeremiah suffered the fury of the people of Jerusalem and others to whom he prophesied. As a result of his wrathful prophecies, he was placed in jail for many days. He was depressed over his own prophecies and agonized over the inevitable disasters awaiting his people as a result of their sins. Jeremiah was also distressed from his personal fate of being despised and rejected and from the hardship of his life in jail. This is why Jeremiah, perhaps more than any other prophet, desperately needed God to lift him up both spiritually and physically. And this is exactly the meaning of the name Yir•mi•ya•hu, Jeremiah : ‘My Uplift is God.’