Jeremiah Chapter 36

Jeremiah's Scroll Read in the Temple

1And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day. 3It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.

4Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book. 5And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD: 6Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD'S house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities. 7It may be they will present their supplication before the LORD, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the LORD hath pronounced against this people. 8And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the LORD in the LORD'S house.

9And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem. 10Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD'S house, in the ears of all the people.

Jeremiah's Scroll Read in the King's House

11When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of the LORD, 12Then he went down into the king's house, into the scribe's chamber: and, lo, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes. 13Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people. 14Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thine hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them. 15And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears. 16Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and other, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words. 17And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth? 18Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book. 19Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be.

King Jehoiakim Burns the Scroll

20And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king. 21So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe's chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king. 22Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him. 23And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. 24Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words. 25Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them. 26But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.

Jeremiah Rewrites the Scroll

27Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, 28Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned. 29And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast? 30Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost. 31And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not.

32Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire: and there were added besides unto them many like words.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Jeremiah’s Scroll Read in the Temple

1 It happened in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that this word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, 2 Take a scroll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah, even to this day. 3 It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do to them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.

4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of Yahweh, which he had spoken to him, on a scroll of a book. 5 Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I can’t go into the house of Yahweh: 6 therefore you go, and read in the scroll, which you have written from my mouth, the words of Yahweh in the ears of the people in Yahweh’s house on the fast day; and also you shall read them in the ears of all Judah who come out of their cities. 7 It may be they will present their supplication before Yahweh, and will return everyone from his evil way; for great is the anger and the wrath that Yahweh has pronounced against this people. 8 Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of Yahweh in Yahweh’s house.

9 Now it happened in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, that all the people in Jerusalem, and all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem, proclaimed a fast before Yahweh. 10 Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of Yahweh, in the room of Gemariah the son of Shaphan, the scribe, in the upper court, at the entry of the new gate of Yahweh’s house, in the ears of all the people.

Jeremiah’s Scroll Read in the Palace

11 When Micaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of Yahweh, 12 he went down into the king’s house, into the scribe’s room: and behold, all the princes were sitting there, Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes. 13 Then Micaiah declared to them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people. 14 Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to Baruch, saying, Take in your hand the scroll in which you have read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand, and came to them. 15 They said to him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears. 16 Now it happened, when they had heard all the words, they turned in fear one toward another, and said to Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words. 17 They asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How did you write all these words at his mouth? 18 Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words to me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book. 19 Then the princes said to Baruch, Go, hide, you and Jeremiah; and let no man know where you are.

Jehoiakim Burns the Scroll

20 They went in to the king into the court; but they had laid up the scroll in the room of Elishama the scribe; and they told all the words in the ears of the king. 21 So the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll; and he took it out of the room of Elishama the scribe. Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes who stood beside the king. 22 Now the king was sitting in the winter house in the ninth month: and there was a fire in the brazier burning before him. 23 It happened, when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, that the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier. 24 They were not afraid, nor tore their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants who heard all these words. 25 Moreover Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the scroll; but he would not hear them. 26 The king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet; but Yahweh hid them.

Jeremiah Rewrites the Scroll

27 Then the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the scroll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying, 28 Take again another scroll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned. 29 Concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah you shall say, Thus says Yahweh: You have burned this scroll, saying, Why have you written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from there man and animal? 30 Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit on the throne of David; and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost. 31 I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring on them, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and on the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them, but they didn’t listen.

32 Then took Jeremiah another scroll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire; and there were added besides to them many like words.

Jeremiah’s Scroll Read in the Temple

1 In the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2 “Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you during the reign of Josiah until today. 3 Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about all the calamity I plan to bring upon them, each of them will turn from his wicked way. Then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.”

4 So Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah, and at the dictation of Jeremiah, Baruch wrote on a scroll all the words that the LORD had spoken to Jeremiah.

5 Then Jeremiah commanded Baruch, “I am restricted; I cannot enter the house of the LORD; 6 so you are to go to the house of the LORD on a day of fasting, and in the hearing of the people you are to read the words of the LORD from the scroll you have written at my dictation. Read them in the hearing of all the people of Judah who are coming from their cities.

7 Perhaps they will bring their petition before the LORD, and each one will turn from his wicked way; for great are the anger and fury that the LORD has pronounced against this people.”

8 So Baruch son of Neriah did everything that Jeremiah the prophet had commanded him. In the house of the LORD he read the words of the LORD from the scroll.

9 Now in the ninth month of the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, a fast before the LORD was proclaimed to all the people of Jerusalem and all who had come there from the cities of Judah. 10 From the chamber of Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe, which was in the upper courtyard at the opening of the New Gate of the house of the LORD, Baruch read from the scroll the words of Jeremiah in the hearing of all the people.

Jeremiah’s Scroll Read in the Palace

11 When Micaiah son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, heard all the words of the LORD from the scroll, 12 he went down to the scribe’s chamber in the king’s palace, where all the officials were sitting: Elishama the scribe, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials. 13 And Micaiah reported to them all the words he had heard Baruch read from the scroll in the hearing of the people.

14 Then all the officials sent word to Baruch through Jehudi son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, saying, “Bring the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people, and come here.”

So Baruch son of Neriah took the scroll and went to them.

15 “Please sit down,” they said, “and read it in our hearing.”

So Baruch read it in their hearing.

16 When they had heard all these words, they turned to one another in fear and said to Baruch, “Surely we must report all these words to the king.”

17 “Tell us now,” they asked Baruch, “how did you write all these words? Was it at Jeremiah’s dictation?”

18 “It was at his dictation,” Baruch replied. “He recited all these words to me and I wrote them in ink on the scroll.”

19 Then the officials said to Baruch, “You and Jeremiah must hide yourselves and tell no one where you are.”

Jehoiakim Burns the Scroll

20 So the officials went to the king in the courtyard. And having stored the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, they reported everything to the king.

21 Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king and all the officials who were standing beside him.

22 Since it was the ninth month, the king was sitting in his winter quarters with a fire burning before him. 23 And as soon as Jehudi had read three or four columns, Jehoiakim would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll had been consumed by the fire.

24 Yet in hearing all these words, the king and his servants did not become frightened or tear their garments. 25 Even though Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. 26 Instead, the king commanded Jerahmeel, a son of the king, as well as Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel, to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet. But the LORD had hidden them.

Jeremiah Rewrites the Scroll

27 After the king had burned the scroll containing the words that Baruch had written at Jeremiah’s dictation, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 28 “Take another scroll and rewrite on it the very words that were on the original scroll, which Jehoiakim king of Judah has burned.

29 You are to proclaim concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah that this is what the LORD says: You have burned the scroll and said, ‘Why have you written on it that the king of Babylon would surely come and destroy this land and deprive it of man and beast?’

30 Therefore this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim king of Judah: He will have no one to sit on David’s throne, and his body will be thrown out and exposed to heat by day and frost by night. 31 I will punish him and his descendants and servants for their iniquity. I will bring on them, on the residents of Jerusalem, and on the men of Judah, all the calamity about which I warned them but they did not listen.”

32 Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch son of Neriah, and at Jeremiah’s dictation he wrote on it all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them.

Jeremiah's Scroll Read in the Temple

1And it cometh to pass, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word hath been unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying: 2'Take to thee a roll of a book, and thou hast written on it all the words that I have spoken unto thee concerning Israel, and concerning Judah, and concerning all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day; 3if so be the house of Israel do hear all the evil that I am thinking of doing to them, so that they turn back each from is evil way, and I have been propitious to their iniquity, and to their sin.'

4And Jeremiah calleth Baruch son of Neriah, and Baruch writeth from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of Jehovah, that He hath spoken unto him, on a roll of a book. 5And Jeremiah commandeth Baruch, saying, 'I am restrained, I am not able to enter the house of Jehovah; 6but thou hast entered -- and thou hast read in the roll that thou hast written from my mouth, the words of Jehovah, in the ears of the people, in the house of Jehovah, in the day of the fast, and also in the ears of all Judah who are coming in from their cities thou dost read them; 7if so be their supplication doth fall before Jehovah, and they turn back each from his evil way, for great is the anger and the fury that Jehovah hath spoken concerning this people.' 8And Baruch son of Neriah doth according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, to read in the book the words of Jehovah in the house of Jehovah.

9And it cometh to pass, in the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, proclaimed a fast before Jehovah have all the people in Jerusalem, and all the people who are coming in from cities of Judah to Jerusalem; 10and Baruch readeth in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of Jehovah, in the chamber of Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the opening of the new gate of the house of Jehovah, in the ears of all the people.

Jeremiah's Scroll Read in the King's House

11And Michaiah son of Gemariah, son of Shaphan, heareth all the words of Jehovah from off the book, 12and he goeth down to the house of the king, unto the chamber of the scribe, and lo, there are all the heads sitting: Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan son of Acbor, and Gemariah son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the heads. 13And declare to them doth Micaiah all the words that he hath heard, when Baruch readeth in the book in the ears of the people; 14and all the heads send unto Baruch, Jehudi son of Nethaniah, son of Shelemiah, son of Cushi, saying, 'The roll in which thou hast read in the ears of the people take in thy hand, and come.' And Baruch son of Neriah taketh the roll in his hand and cometh in unto them, 15and they say unto him, 'Sit down, we pray thee, and read it in our ears,' and Baruch readeth in their ears, 16and it cometh to pass, when they hear all the words, they have been afraid one at another, and say unto Baruch, 'We do surely declare to the king all these words.' 17And they asked Baruch, saying, 'Declare, we pray thee, to us, how didst thou write all these words -- from his mouth?' 18And Baruch saith to them, 'From his mouth, he pronounceth unto me all these words, and I am writing on the book with ink.' 19And the heads say unto Baruch, 'Go, be hidden, thou and Jeremiah, and let no one know where ye are.'

King Jehoiakim Burns the Scroll

20And they go in unto the king, to the court, and the roll they have laid up in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and they declare in the ears of the king all the words. 21And the king sendeth Jehudi to take the roll, and he taketh it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and Jehudi readeth it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the heads who are standing by the king; 22and the king is sitting in the winter-house, in the ninth month, and the stove before him is burning, 23and it cometh to pass, when Jehudi readeth three or four leaves, he cutteth it out with the scribe's knife, and hath cast unto the fire, that is on the stove, till the consumption of all the roll by the fire that is on the stove. 24And the king and all his servants who are hearing all these words have not been afraid, nor rent their garments. 25And also Elnathan, and Delaiah, and Gemariah have interceded with the king not to burn the roll, and he hath not hearkened unto them. 26And the king commandeth Jerahmeel son of Hammelek, and Seraiah son of Azriel, and Shelemiah son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Jehovah doth hide them.

Jeremiah Rewrites the Scroll

27And there is a word of Jehovah unto Jeremiah -- after the king's burning the roll, even the words that Baruch hath written from the mouth of Jeremiah -- saying: 28'Turn, take to thee another roll, and write on it all the former words that were on the first roll, that Jehoiakim king of Judah burnt, 29and unto Jehoiakim king of Judah thou dost say: Thus said Jehovah, Thou hast burnt this roll, saying, Wherefore hast thou written on it, saying, The king of Babylon surely cometh in, and hath destroyed this land, and caused to cease from it man and beast? 30'Therefore, thus said Jehovah, concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He hath none sitting on the throne of David, and his carcase is cast out to heat by day, and to cold by night; 31and I have charged on him, and on his seed, and on his servants, their iniquity; and I have brought in on them, and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto the men of Judah, all the evil that I have spoken unto them, and they hearkened not.'

32And Jeremiah hath taken another roll, and giveth it unto Baruch son of Neriah the scribe, and he writeth on it from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book that Jehoiakim king of Judah hath burnt in the fire; and again there were added unto them many words like these.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Jeremiah 36?

1.1Introduction to Jeremiah 36

1.2Context of Jeremiah 36

1.3Ancient Key Word Study

1.4Compare & Contrast

1.5Jeremiah 36 Unique Insights

1.6Jeremiah 36 Connections to Yeshua

1.7Jeremiah 36 Scriptural Echoes

1.8Jeremiah 36 Devotional

1.9Did You Know

What is the meaning of Jeremiah 36?

Introduction to Jeremiah 36

In the dramatic narrative of Jeremiah 36, we encounter one of the most remarkable episodes in prophetic literature – the burning of God’s word by King Jehoiakim. This chapter presents a powerful demonstration of both human rebellion against divine authority and the indestructible nature of God’s word. The events described took place in 605 BCE, during a crucial period when Babylon was emerging as the dominant power in the ancient Near East, and Judah stood at a crossroads between submission to divine warning and stubborn resistance.

This chapter serves as a pivotal moment in Jeremiah’s ministry, highlighting the tension between divine revelation and human authority, while also showcasing the remarkable process of how God’s written word was preserved through human agency and divine oversight. The burning of the scroll becomes a powerful metaphor for humanity’s attempts to silence God’s truth, and its subsequent rewriting demonstrates the futility of such attempts.

Context of Jeremiah 36

The immediate context of Jeremiah 36 places us in the fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign (605 BCE), a critical juncture in Judah’s history. This was the same year that Nebuchadnezzar defeated Egypt at Carchemish, establishing Babylon as the new superpower in the region. Jeremiah had been prophesying for approximately twenty-three years at this point, consistently warning of impending judgment while calling for repentance.

Within the broader narrative of Jeremiah’s book, this chapter follows the prophet’s warnings about the coming Babylonian invasion and precedes the actual siege of Jerusalem. It serves as a crucial turning point, documenting the official rejection of God’s word by Judah’s leadership. This rejection would ultimately lead to the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecies concerning exile and destruction.

The chapter also fits into the larger biblical narrative of how God’s word has been preserved throughout history. It parallels other instances where divine revelation was recorded in written form, such as the giving of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 31:18) and the discovery of the Book of the Law during Josiah’s reign (2 Kings 22:8). This episode demonstrates God’s sovereignty over His word and its preservation, themes that resonate throughout Scripture.

Ancient Key Word Study

מְגִלָּה (megillah) – “scroll”: This term specifically refers to a rolled manuscript and appears 14 times in this chapter alone. Its repeated use emphasizes the physical nature of God’s written word and its significance as a tangible manifestation of divine revelation. The word later became associated with the five scrolls (Megillot) read during Jewish festivals.
שָׂרַף (saraph) – “to burn”: Used to describe King Jehoiakim’s destruction of the scroll, this word often appears in contexts of sacrifice or complete destruction. Its use here creates a tragic irony – what should have been used for divine service (burning sacrifices) is instead used in an act of rebellion.
קָרַע (qara) – “to tear”: Notably absent in this account, unlike the reaction of Jehoiakim’s father Josiah who tore his clothes upon hearing God’s word (2 Kings 22:11). This absence highlights the contrasting responses of father and son to divine revelation.
בָּרוּךְ (Baruch) – “blessed”: The name of Jeremiah’s scribe means “blessed,” creating an ironic contrast with his difficult task and persecution. His faithful service in recording and re-recording God’s word demonstrates the blessing of obedience despite circumstances.
דְּלָתוֹת (delatot) – “columns”: This technical term refers to the columns of text on the scroll, providing insight into ancient scribal practices. Each “door” (literal meaning) of text opened new understanding of God’s message.
הִסְתִּירֵם (histirem) – “hide them”: The word used for God’s protection of Jeremiah and Baruch carries the idea of being treasured or specially protected, suggesting divine preservation of both the messengers and the message.
חָדַשׁ (chadash) – “renew/rewrite”: The term used for rewriting the scroll suggests not just duplication but renewal and expansion, indicating how God’s word grows and develops while maintaining its essential truth.

Compare & Contrast

Verse 2: “Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you” – The Hebrew verb כְּתָב (katav) is used here rather than סָפַר (saphar), emphasizing the permanent nature of written revelation over oral tradition. This choice highlights the importance of preserving God’s word in written form.
Verse 3: “Perhaps when the house of Judah hears…” – The use of אוּלַי (ulay, “perhaps”) rather than a more definitive term reveals God’s genuine desire for repentance while respecting human free will. This grammatical choice preserves both divine sovereignty and human responsibility.
Verse 23: “He would cut them off with a scribe’s knife” – The specific mention of תַּעַר הַסֹּפֵר (ta’ar hasofer) provides a chilling detail about the methodical nature of the king’s rejection. The tool meant for preparing scrolls becomes an instrument of destruction.
Verse 26: “But יהוה hid them” – The use of the divine name here rather than the more common אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) emphasizes God’s personal involvement in protecting His servants. This choice reinforces the covenant relationship between God and His faithful ones.
Verse 28: “Take another scroll” – The Hebrew שׁוּב (shuv) implies not just replacement but return or restoration, suggesting God’s word always accomplishes its purpose despite human opposition.
Verse 32: “Many similar words were added to them” – The phrase וְנוֹסַף עֲלֵיהֶם (v’nosaf aleihem) implies organic growth rather than mere repetition, showing how opposition to God’s word often leads to its expansion and clarification.

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Jeremiah 36 Unique Insights

The chapter provides fascinating insight into ancient scribal practices and the process of divine inspiration. The relationship between Jeremiah (the prophet) and Baruch (the scribe) illustrates the human-divine partnership in preserving God’s word. This collaboration prefigures the later role of the Soferim (scribes) in maintaining textual accuracy and transmission of Scripture.

The timing of these events during the winter month of Kislev (November/December) carries symbolic significance in Jewish tradition. This period later became associated with the festival of Hanukkah, which celebrates another instance of God’s word triumphing over attempts to destroy it. The mention of the king sitting by his winter fire creates a powerful image of human comfort contrasting with spiritual coldness.

The Talmud (Moed Katan 26a) draws a parallel between Jehoiakim’s burning of the scroll and the later destruction of both Temples, suggesting that disregard for God’s word leads to physical destruction of holy things. This interpretation gains support from the chapter’s placement within Jeremiah’s larger prophecies about the Temple’s destruction.

The Midrash Rabbah notes that the rewriting of the scroll with additional content mirrors how persecution often leads to greater revelation and understanding of God’s truth. This pattern would repeat throughout Jewish history, where attempts to destroy God’s word led to its greater dissemination and deeper study.

Jeremiah 36 Connections to Yeshua

This chapter powerfully foreshadows the Messiah’s role as the living Word of God. Just as Jehoiakim could not destroy the written word through burning, death could not hold the living Word, Yeshua the Messiah. The parallel between the scroll’s destruction and resurrection with “many similar words” added points to how the Messiah’s death and resurrection would expand our understanding of God’s revelation.

The role of Baruch as a faithful scribe willing to risk his life to preserve God’s word prefigures the faithful witnesses who would later record and preserve the testimony of Yeshua. Just as God protected Jeremiah and Baruch from those who sought to silence them, He would also protect the early believers who preserved the Gospel message despite persecution. This protection ensures that God’s word, both written and incarnate, remains available to all who seek it.

Jeremiah 36 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates with numerous biblical passages dealing with the preservation and power of God’s word. It recalls Moses’ writing of the Torah (Exodus 24:4), the discovery of the Law under Josiah (2 Kings 22), and points forward to the New Testament’s emphasis on Scripture’s divine origin (2 Timothy 3:16).

The theme of divine protection for God’s servants echoes throughout Scripture, from Moses’ preservation as a baby to David’s protection from Saul, and ultimately to God’s protection of the early church. The addition of “many similar words” to the second scroll parallels how God’s revelation progressively unfolds throughout Scripture, reaching its climax in the Messiah (Hebrews 1:1-2).

The king’s attempt to destroy God’s word foreshadows similar attempts throughout history, from the Maccabean period to modern times, yet God’s word remains indestructible (Isaiah 40:8). This chapter also connects to New Testament themes about the living and active nature of God’s word (Hebrews 4:12).

Jeremiah 36 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to examine our own response to God’s word. Do we, like Jehoiakim, try to eliminate aspects of Scripture that make us uncomfortable? Or do we, like Baruch, faithfully preserve and proclaim God’s truth regardless of the cost? The king’s attempt to destroy God’s word reminds us that human opposition to divine truth ultimately proves futile.

We can find encouragement in God’s protection of His servants and His word. Just as He preserved Jeremiah and Baruch, He continues to protect His truth and those who faithfully proclaim it. The rewriting of the scroll with additional content reminds us that God can take our failures and opposition and use them to expand our understanding of His truth.

This narrative also teaches us about the importance of written Scripture. While God could have preserved His word through oral tradition alone, He chose to have it recorded in writing. This should motivate us to regularly engage with Scripture, knowing we have access to the same unchanging truth that Jeremiah proclaimed.

Did You Know

The scroll mentioned in this chapter would have been made of parchment rather than papyrus, as evidenced by the ability to cut and burn it section by section. Parchment was more durable but also more expensive, highlighting the significance of its destruction.
Baruch’s role as a scribe required extensive training in both writing and public reading. The traditional Jewish education for scribes took many years and included memorization of vast portions of text.
The “ninth month” mentioned in verse 9 refers to Kislev (November/December), and the king’s winter house would have been heated by a brazier, a common practice in ancient Middle Eastern architecture.
The reference to “columns” (delatot) in verse 23 provides one of the earliest descriptions of how ancient scrolls were formatted, with text written in parallel columns.
Jehudi’s reading of the scroll three or four “columns” before cutting them off suggests a methodical destruction that would have taken considerable time, emphasizing the deliberate nature of the king’s rejection.
Archaeological evidence from this period has uncovered several examples of scroll fragments showing similar columnar arrangements to what is described in this chapter.
The mention of “all the former words” being rewritten suggests that ancient scribes had methods for memorizing or otherwise preserving the content of important texts.
The “fourth year of Jehoiakim” (verse 1) corresponds to 605 BCE, the same year that Nebuchadnezzar became king of Babylon and defeated Egypt at Carchemish.
The practice of fasting mentioned in verse 9 was likely connected to the approaching Babylonian threat, showing how national crisis often led to religious observance.
The additional content added to the second scroll may explain why some of Jeremiah’s prophecies appear in non-chronological order in the final book.

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Bible Themes

Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. What is the F.O.G?

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