Help on a Question regarding original Hebrew word in Jeremiah 1:5 (knew/chose)

December 3, 2014

Any one familiar with Hebrew want to help me out? The “knew” in Jeremiah 1:5 is sometimes translated as “chose.”

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

I get the impression that my questioner thinks we’re all walking around living life in heaven before we’re born as infants on this earth and I suspect this verse, and in particular this word, might be the culprit. What does that original word really mean?

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Ed Chait likes this.
Robert Pristoop A literal translation of verse 5 is: before formed, made, created (refers to both human and divine activity) you in (at, with) belly I knew (common and regular word for knew used) you and before you go out, come forth (born) from womb, I set you apart,…See More

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Sarah Van Baale Okay – that makes sense. I’m going to have to take an alternative route then when I explain this answer. Bummer. I was hoping that the word leaned toward ‘chose’ and I could take a short cut so to speak. I guess I’m going to have to go the long route. Thanks!!!

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Brad Warren I checked the LXX and it uses “epistamai” which seems to support Robert’s conclusions, too. I was wonderiing if it used a form of “ginosko” like Paul in Romans 8…

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