We can immediately see that the Zaccaria of the libretto is intended as a dramatic representation of the biblical Jeremiah, because there are a close parallel between the language of this character and the prophet's utterances in the Bible; and this is curious, since in the economy of Verdi's libretto Zaccaria has a very precise function and characterization, one that has nothing to do with that of Jeremiah, the biblical prophet.
We can immediately see that the Zaccaria of the libretto is intended as a dramatic representation of the biblical Jeremiah, because there is a close parallel between the language of this character and the prophet's utterances in the Bible; and this is curious, since in the economy of Verdi's libretto Zaccaria has a very precise function and characterization, one that has nothing to do with that of Jeremiah, the biblical prophet.