Jeremiah 1:10
New International Version
See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.”

New Living Translation
Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”

English Standard Version
See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Berean Standard Bible
See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant.”

King James Bible
See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

New King James Version
See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.”

New American Standard Bible
“See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to tear down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant.”

NASB 1995
“See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant.”

NASB 1977
“See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To pluck up and to break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant.”

Legacy Standard Bible
See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To uproot and to tear down, To cause to perish and to pull down, To build and to plant.”

Amplified Bible
“See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To uproot and break down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant.”

Christian Standard Bible
See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and demolish, to build and plant.

American Standard Version
see, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.

Contemporary English Version
and I am sending you with authority to speak to the nations for me. You will tell them of doom and destruction, and of rising and rebuilding again."

English Revised Version
see, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, and to destroy and to overthrow; to build, and to plant.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Today I have put you in charge of nations and kingdoms. You will uproot and tear down. You will destroy and overthrow. You will build and plant."

Good News Translation
Today I give you authority over nations and kingdoms to uproot and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."

International Standard Version
See, today I've appointed you to prophesy about nations and kingdoms, to pull up and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."

Majority Standard Bible
See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant.?

NET Bible
Know for certain that I hereby give you the authority to announce to nations and kingdoms that they will be uprooted and torn down, destroyed and demolished, rebuilt and firmly planted."

New Heart English Bible
Look, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."

Webster's Bible Translation
See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

World English Bible
Behold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
See, I have charged you this day concerning the nations, and concerning the kingdoms, to pluck up, and to break down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.”

Young's Literal Translation
See, I have charged thee this day concerning the nations, and concerning the kingdoms, to pluck up, and to break down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.'

Smith's Literal Translation
See, I appointed thee this day over the nations and over the kingdoms to pluck up and to tear down, and to destroy, and to overthrow, to build and to plant.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Lo, I have set thee this day over the nations, and over the kingdoms, to root up, and to pull down, and to waste, and to destroy, and to build, and to plant.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Behold, today I have appointed you over nations and over kingdoms, so that you may root up, and pull down, and destroy, and scatter, and so that you may build and plant.”

New American Bible
Today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, To uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.

New Revised Standard Version
See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, and to overthrow and to destroy, to build and to plant.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
See that I have authorized you today over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to break down and to overturn and to destroy and to build and to plant"
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, And to destroy and to overthrow; To build, and to plant.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Behold, I have appointed thee this day over nations and over kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to rebuild, and to plant.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Call of Jeremiah
9Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10See, I have appointed you today over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant.” 11And the word of the LORD came to me, asking, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” “I see a branch of an almond tree,” I replied.…

Cross References
2 Corinthians 10:4-5
The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the flesh. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. / We demolish arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Matthew 16:19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Isaiah 6:9-10
And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”

Ezekiel 3:17
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me.

Daniel 2:21
He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

Hosea 6:5
Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth, and My judgments go forth like lightning.

Amos 3:7
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.

Matthew 18:18
Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Luke 10:19
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.

Acts 26:16-18
‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you. / I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them / to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’

Isaiah 44:26-28
who confirms the message of His servant and fulfills the counsel of His messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited,’ and of the cities of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, and I will restore their ruins,’ / who says to the depths of the sea, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up your currents,’ / who says of Cyrus, ‘My shepherd will fulfill all that I desire,’ who says of Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and of the temple, ‘Let its foundation be laid.’”

Ezekiel 1:3
the word of the LORD came directly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Kebar. And there the LORD’s hand was upon him.

1 Kings 19:17
Then Jehu will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death whoever escapes the sword of Jehu.

Isaiah 55:11
so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

Ezekiel 33:7
As for you, O son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word from My mouth and give them the warning from Me.


Treasury of Scripture

See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

I have

Jeremiah 25:15-27
For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it…

Jeremiah 27:2-7
Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck, …

Jeremiah 46:1
The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles;

to root out

Jeremiah 18:7-9
At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; …

1 Kings 19:17
And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.

Ezekiel 31:18
To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.

to build

Jeremiah 18:9
And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;

Jeremiah 24:6
For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.

Jeremiah 31:4,5,28
Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry…

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Jeremiah 1
1. The time
4. And the calling of Jeremiah
11. His prophetical visions of an almond rod and a seething pot
15. His heavy message against Judah
17. God encourages him with his promise of assistance














See, I have appointed you today
This phrase marks the divine commissioning of Jeremiah as a prophet. The immediacy of "today" emphasizes the urgency and importance of his mission. Jeremiah's appointment is not self-initiated but divinely ordained, highlighting the sovereignty of God in choosing His messengers. This mirrors other biblical callings, such as Moses (Exodus 3) and Isaiah (Isaiah 6), where God directly appoints His prophets.

over nations and kingdoms
Jeremiah's prophetic ministry extends beyond Judah to include surrounding nations, indicating the universal scope of God's sovereignty. This reflects the biblical theme that God is not just the God of Israel but of all nations (Psalm 47:8). Historically, Jeremiah prophesied during a tumultuous period marked by the rise and fall of empires like Assyria, Babylon, and Egypt, underscoring the relevance of his message to these geopolitical shifts.

to uproot and tear down
These actions symbolize judgment and the removal of what is corrupt or sinful. The agricultural metaphor of "uprooting" suggests the complete eradication of deeply entrenched sin, while "tear down" implies the dismantling of structures, both literal and figurative, that oppose God's will. This aligns with the prophetic tradition of calling out idolatry and injustice (Isaiah 5:5-6).

to destroy and overthrow
These terms further emphasize the comprehensive nature of God's judgment. "Destroy" suggests total annihilation, while "overthrow" implies the toppling of established powers. This can be seen in the eventual fall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecies (Jeremiah 39). It also foreshadows the ultimate overthrow of evil through Christ's victory (Revelation 19:11-21).

to build and plant
In contrast to the preceding destructive actions, these terms convey hope and restoration. "Build" and "plant" suggest renewal and the establishment of a new order. This dual role of judgment and restoration is a common prophetic theme, seen in the promise of a new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34) and the future hope of the Messianic kingdom. The imagery of planting also connects to the parables of Jesus, where the kingdom of God is likened to a seed that grows (Mark 4:26-32).

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jeremiah
A prophet called by God to deliver His messages to the people of Judah and the surrounding nations. His ministry spanned over 40 years during a tumultuous period in Israel's history.

2. Nations and Kingdoms
Refers to the geopolitical entities surrounding Judah, including Babylon, Egypt, and others. Jeremiah's prophetic ministry was not limited to Judah but extended to these nations as well.

3. God's Appointment
The divine commissioning of Jeremiah as a prophet, emphasizing God's sovereignty in choosing and empowering His servants for specific tasks.

4. Uproot and Tear Down
Metaphors for God's judgment and the removal of sinful practices and structures. This reflects the Hebrew words "nathash" (to uproot) and "haras" (to tear down).

5. Build and Plant
Symbols of restoration and renewal, indicating God's intention to restore His people after judgment. The Hebrew words "banah" (to build) and "nata" (to plant) are used here.
Teaching Points
Divine Sovereignty in Calling
God chooses and appoints individuals for His purposes, equipping them for the tasks He sets before them. Reflect on how God might be calling you in your own life.

Judgment and Restoration
God's actions in uprooting and tearing down are not ends in themselves but are part of a larger plan that includes building and planting. Consider how God might be working in your life to remove the old and bring in the new.

Prophetic Responsibility
Like Jeremiah, believers are called to speak truth in love, even when it is difficult. Reflect on how you can be a voice for God's truth in your community.

Hope Amidst Destruction
Even in times of judgment, God provides hope and a promise of restoration. Trust in God's ultimate plan for renewal and redemption.(10) I have this day set thee . . .--With the gift, and therefore the consciousness, of a new power, there comes what would at first have been too much for the mortal vessel of the truth to bear--a prospective view of the greatness of the work before him. He is at once set (literally, made the "deputy," or representative, of God, as in Judges 9:28 and 2Chronicles 24:11, the "officer," or in Jeremiah 20:1, "chief governor") over the nations, i.e., as before, the nations external to Israel, and the "kingdoms" including it. The work at first seems one simply of destruction--to root out and ruin (so we may represent the alliterative assonance of the Hebrew), to destroy and rend asunder. But beyond that there is the hope of a work of construction. He is to "build up" the fallen ruins of Israel, to "plant" in the land that had been made desolate. The whole sequel of the book is a comment on these words. It passes through terror and darkness to the glory and the blessing of the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31).

Verse 10. - I have set thee; literally, I have made thee an overseer, or vicegerent (comp. Genesis 41:34; Judges 9:28, where the Authorized Version renders the cognate noun "officer"). To root out... to plant, viz. by pronouncing that Divine judgment which fulfils itself (comp. Jeremiah 5:14; Numbers 23:25; Isaiah 9:8, 9; Isaiah 55:11). As there is so much more threatening than promise in Jeremiah's writings, the destructive side of his activity is expressed by four verbs, the constructive only by two.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
See,
רְאֵ֞ה (rə·’êh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

I have appointed
הִפְקַדְתִּ֣יךָ ׀ (hip̄·qaḏ·tî·ḵā)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6485: To visit, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit

you today
הַיּ֣וֹם (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

over
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

nations
הַגּוֹיִם֙ (hag·gō·w·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1471: A foreign nation, a Gentile, a troop of animals, a flight of locusts

and kingdoms
הַמַּמְלָכ֔וֹת (ham·mam·lā·ḵō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 4467: Kingdom, sovereignty, dominion, reign

to uproot
לִנְת֥וֹשׁ (lin·ṯō·wōš)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5428: To pull or pluck up, root out

and tear down,
וְלִנְת֖וֹץ (wə·lin·ṯō·wṣ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5422: To pull down, break down

to destroy
וּלְהַאֲבִ֣יד (ū·lə·ha·’ă·ḇîḏ)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 6: To wander away, lose oneself, to perish

and overthrow,
וְלַהֲר֑וֹס (wə·la·hă·rō·ws)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 2040: To pull down, in pieces, break, & destroy

to build
לִבְנ֖וֹת (liḇ·nō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1129: To build

and plant.”
וְלִנְטֽוֹעַ׃ (wə·lin·ṭō·w·a‘)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5193: To strike in, fix, to plant


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 1:10 Behold I have this day set you (Jer.)
Jeremiah 1:9
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