Then 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.
Read it in contextThe Burning of Jeremiah's First Scroll
Start reading at Jeremiah 36:1 (Jeremiah 36:1 to Jeremiah 36:32).
The entire chapter details the command to write, the writing, the reading, the burning, and the rewriting of Jeremiah's scroll, forming a complete narrative unit.
36:1And 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,
36:2Take 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.
36:3It 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.
36:4Then 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.
36:5And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD:
36:6Therefore 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.
36:7It 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.
36:8And 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.
36:9And 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.
36:10Then 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.
36:11When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of the LORD,
36:12Then 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.
36:13Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people.
36:14Therefore 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.
36:15And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears.
36:16Now 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.
36:17And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?
36:18Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.
36:19Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be.
36:20And 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.
36:21So 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.
36:22Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.
36:23And 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.
36:24Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.
36:25Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them.
36:26But 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.
36:27Then 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,
36:28Take 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.
36:29And 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?
36:30Therefore 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.
36:31And 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.
36:32Then 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.
Study content, not yet reviewed.
Who
Who wrote the book? Jeremiah son of Hilkiah is the prophet behind the book, with Baruch serving as his scribe. The complete collection includes narrative and a historical appendix as well as Jeremiah's dictated words. Biblical references: Jeremiah 1:1; Jeremiah 36:4; Jeremiah 36:32. stated in the text
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Jeremiah 36:1–36:32): Jeremiah dictates to Baruch; Baruch reads to the people and officials, and the scroll reaches Jehoiakim and his court. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Judah and Jerusalem before and during the Babylonian crisis, exiles in Babylon, and later readers of the preserved prophetic collection. Individual oracles name additional recipients. Biblical references: Jeremiah 2:2; Jeremiah 29:1; Jeremiah 46:1. stated in the text
What
What is the main event or theme? The main event is Jeremiah dictating the words of the LORD to his scribe Baruch, who then wrote them upon a scroll. The theme is the recording and preservation of God's prophetic word.
What is God revealing? God is revealing His words of judgment and a call to repentance to Israel, Judah, and other nations through His prophet Jeremiah. He is also demonstrating His method of delivering and preserving His divine message through human agents.
What is the literary style? The literary style is prophetic narrative, detailing a specific event in the life and ministry of the prophet Jeremiah concerning the transmission of God's word.
When
When was it written? The events described in this passage occurred in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, which falls within the period of c. 626 to 580 B.C. when the book of Jeremiah was written. stated in the text
When does the event take place? The event takes place in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah. stated in the text
Where
Where did it happen? The event happened in Judah, likely in Jerusalem, as Jeremiah was 'shut up' and Baruch was commanded to read the scroll in the LORD's house in Jerusalem. stated in the text
Where was the author located? Jeremiah was located in Judah, likely Jerusalem, as he stated, 'I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD'. stated in the text
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in The Burning of Jeremiah's First Scroll (Jeremiah 36:1 to Jeremiah 36:32).
Start reading at Jeremiah 36:1. The entire chapter details the command to write, the writing, the reading, the burning, and the rewriting of Jeremiah's scroll, forming a complete narrative unit.
How
How does it fit the broader context? This passage describes the initial compilation of Jeremiah's prophecies, which were later burned by King Jehoiakim and then rewritten and expanded. It highlights the resistance to God's word by the leadership of Judah and God's determination to preserve His message despite human opposition. It sets the stage for the ongoing conflict between Jeremiah and the unrepentant nation. interpretation
How does it point to Christ? Just as Jeremiah faithfully delivered the words of the LORD, and Baruch faithfully recorded them, Christ perfectly embodied and delivered the Father's message of salvation and judgment. The preservation of God's word despite human opposition (the burning of the scroll) foreshadows the ultimate triumph and eternal nature of Christ's message, which cannot be destroyed or silenced. interpretation
How do I apply it today? We are called to receive God's word with reverence and obedience, unlike King Jehoiakim who defiantly burned the scroll. We should value and preserve the written Word of God, recognizing its divine origin and its power to call us to repentance and offer forgiveness. We are also called to be faithful messengers and scribes of God's truth, sharing it with others. interpretation
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Jeremiah 36
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Jeremiah records words associated with his prophetic ministry and accounts surrounding Judah's fall. The book is not arranged as one continuous dated diary. Read each oracle's audience, occasion, and conditions rather than assigning every promise to every reader. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. The accounts follow conflicts around the prophetic word, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the choices of survivors, with a word to Baruch.
Connection to the wholeThe accounts follow conflicts around the prophetic word, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the choices of survivors, with a word to Baruch.
Connection to the wholeThe accounts follow conflicts around the prophetic word, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the choices of survivors, with a word to Baruch.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. The accounts follow conflicts around the prophetic word, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the choices of survivors, with a word to Baruch.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Jeremiah
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Jeremiah records words associated with his prophetic ministry and accounts surrounding Judah's fall. The book is not arranged as one continuous dated diary. Read each oracle's audience, occasion, and conditions rather than assigning every promise to every reader.
Connection to the wholeNarratives and letters contrast competing claims about the LORD's word and address life under Babylonian power, including the exiles' situation.
Connection to the wholeWords of restoration appear amid announced judgment, including the new covenant promise; their wording and named audience must remain visible.
Connection to the wholeThe accounts follow conflicts around the prophetic word, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the choices of survivors, with a word to Baruch.
Connection to the wholeThe historical appendix recounts the disaster and closes with Jehoiachin's release, placing the preceding messages beside their historical aftermath.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.