# Where is “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” in the Bible?

> “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” is Jeremiah 1:5.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/before-i-formed-you-in-the-womb-i-knew-you
By Andrew Kittridge · November 10, 2026

God says it to Jeremiah when he calls him to be a prophet.

## The verse

> “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you came out of the womb I set you apart; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
>
> — [Jeremiah 1:5](https://www.lumin.faith/read/jeremiah/1#5) (Lumin Translation)

These exact words are in the Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible.

## What it means there

Jeremiah answers that he is too young to speak (Jeremiah 1:6). God’s point is that the choice was made before Jeremiah was born, so his age does not matter.

## Common questions

### Where is “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” in the Bible?

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” is Jeremiah 1:5. These exact words are in the Lumin Translation, a modern English Bible. God says it to Jeremiah when he calls him to be a prophet.

### Is “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” in the Bible?

Yes. It is Jeremiah 1:5. In the Lumin Translation, Jeremiah 1:5 reads: ““Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you came out of the womb I set you apart; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.””

### Who said “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you”?

God says it to Jeremiah when he calls him to be a prophet.

### What does “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you” mean in the Bible?

Jeremiah answers that he is too young to speak (Jeremiah 1:6). God’s point is that the choice was made before Jeremiah was born, so his age does not matter.

## More

- [Where is “For God so loved the world” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/for-god-so-loved-the-world.md)
- [Where is “I am the good shepherd” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/i-am-the-good-shepherd.md)
- [Where is “My sheep hear my voice” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/my-sheep-hear-my-voice.md)
- [Where is “Immanuel, God with us” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/immanuel-god-with-us.md)
- [Where is “Seek first the kingdom of God” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/seek-first-the-kingdom-of-god.md)
- [Where is “Let the little children come to me” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/let-the-little-children-come-to-me.md)
- [Where is “To whom much is given, much will be required” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/to-whom-much-is-given-much-will-be-required.md)
- [Where is “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/while-we-were-still-sinners-christ-died-for-us.md)
- [Check any word or a whole song](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-verse-checker)