Jeremiah 36 10

Jeremiah 36:10 kjv

Then 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 36:10 nkjv

Then Baruch read from 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 upper court at the entry of the New Gate of the LORD's house, in the hearing of all the people.

Jeremiah 36:10 niv

From the room of Gemariah son of Shaphan the secretary, which was in the upper courtyard at the entrance of the New Gate of the temple, Baruch read to all the people at the LORD's temple the words of Jeremiah from the scroll.

Jeremiah 36:10 esv

Then, in the hearing of all the people, Baruch read the words of Jeremiah from the scroll, in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the secretary, which was in the upper court, at the entry of the New Gate of the LORD's house.

Jeremiah 36:10 nlt

Baruch read Jeremiah's words on the scroll to all the people. He stood in front of the Temple room of Gemariah, son of Shaphan the secretary. This room was just off the upper courtyard of the Temple, near the New Gate entrance.

Jeremiah 36 verses

Jeremiah 36 10 meaning

Jeremiah 36:10 describes the fulfillment of God's command through Jeremiah, where Baruch the scribe publicly read the scroll containing Jeremiah's prophecies of judgment and a call to repentance. This pivotal event took place within the sacred and public confines of the Lord's Temple, specifically in the chamber of Gemariah, which was accessible in the upper court near a prominent gate, ensuring that the message was heard by all the assembled people. It highlights the strategic dissemination of God's urgent message during a time of national crisis and widespread apostasy.

Jeremiah 36 10 Context

Jeremiah 36 recounts a pivotal moment during the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah (around 605/604 BC), a time characterized by moral decline, idolatry, and political instability as Judah was caught between the rising Babylonian empire and a declining Egypt. God had instructed Jeremiah, who was likely restricted from entering the Temple himself (Jer 36:5), to write down all the words he had spoken against Israel, Judah, and other nations, from Josiah's reign to that day. The purpose was clear: that the people might hear the severe warnings of judgment and repent (Jer 36:3). Baruch, Jeremiah's faithful scribe, took dictation and inscribed the prophecies onto a scroll. Verse 10 describes Baruch's obedient act of reading this scroll aloud. The location, the Temple, was chosen for its public visibility, especially during a time of fasting declared throughout Judah, which drew many people from cities into Jerusalem (Jer 36:6-7). This ensured a large and diverse audience for the divine message, amplifying the potential for repentance or confrontation. Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, came from an influential and apparently more sympathetic family (Shaphan, Ahikam, Gedaliah had all been involved with righteous acts or supported Jeremiah in the past). His chamber within the Temple compound provided an officially recognized, yet publicly accessible, space for this proclamation.

Jeremiah 36 10 Word analysis

• Then: This temporal connector signals the sequence of events, immediately following Baruch's arrival in Jerusalem from a prior instruction. It implies an awaited and timely action.
• Baruch: (Heb. בָּרוּךְ, Barukh, meaning "blessed") Jeremiah's faithful scribe and personal assistant. His role was crucial in preserving and delivering Jeremiah's prophecies. He was a trusted associate who risked his life for God's word.
• read: (Heb. קָרָא, qārāʾ) To call out, proclaim, or read aloud. This word emphasizes not just deciphering text, but an audible, public declaration. It implies an act of proclamation meant for a live audience, consistent with ancient reading practices.
• from the scroll: (Heb. מִמְּגִלָּה, mimmĕgillâ) Refers to the written document prepared under Jeremiah’s dictation. The physical scroll represents the authoritative, divinely inspired written word. The scroll, not just an oral tradition, preserved the exact message for posterity and further validation.
• the words of Jeremiah: This phrase clarifies the content: divine messages delivered through the prophet. It stresses the prophetic origin and authority, despite being spoken through Baruch. These are not Baruch's words but God's through Jeremiah.
• in the house of the LORD: Refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, the spiritual and communal center of Judah. This location signified a sacred, authoritative space, lending gravity and visibility to the message, especially during a fast day when many would gather there.
• in the chamber of Gemariah: (Heb. לִשְׁכַת גְּמַרְיָהוּ, liškath Gemaryahu) A specific room or office within the Temple precincts. Gemariah was the son of Shaphan the scribe, a family known to be influential and supportive of God's law (cf. 2 Kgs 22). This implies a degree of official, albeit perhaps passive, sanction or protection for Baruch's controversial act.
• the son of Shaphan: Identifies Gemariah and links him to a prominent scribal family that had served King Josiah during religious reforms. This lineage would have added credibility or at least a measure of familiarity to Gemariah’s chamber as a recognized location for public address.
• in the upper court: Refers to an elevated or outer area of the Temple complex, accessible to a broader public. This location facilitated hearing for a large crowd and indicates an area of high foot traffic and public gathering, away from the more restricted inner courts.
• at the entrance of the New Gate: (Heb. פֶּתַח שַׁעַר הַחָדָשׁ, petaḥ shaʿar heẖādāš) A specific architectural feature of the Temple, indicating a well-known, high-traffic point of entry. Placing the reading there ensured maximum public exposure for the message. Gates were common places for public announcements and judgments.
• of the LORD’s house: Reiteration of the Temple's identity, emphasizing its divine ownership and sanctity, contrasting with the desecration often occurring within its walls.
• in the hearing of all the people: (Heb. בְּאָזְנֵי כָּל הָעָם, bəʾāznē khol hāʿām) Literally "in the ears of all the people." This phrase is crucial; it underscores the widespread dissemination and intended impact of the message. The divine aim was for everyone present to be fully aware of God's word.

• Baruch read from the scroll the words of Jeremiah: This grouping highlights the proxy act of proclamation. Jeremiah, constrained, commissioned his trusted scribe Baruch to articulate the divinely inspired prophecies recorded on the scroll. It's a chain of divine revelation to prophet, to scribe, to the public.
• in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah... in the upper court, at the entrance of the New Gate: This phrase group meticulously details the location, moving from the general (Temple) to the specific (Gemariah's chamber), then placing it within a larger accessible area (upper court), and pinpointing its exact position (entrance of the New Gate). This precision underscores the public and strategic nature of the reading, ensuring visibility and audibility for the assembled populace.
• in the hearing of all the people: This concludes the verse by affirming the direct audience and the effectiveness of the location choice. It stresses the importance of widespread accessibility to God's urgent message of judgment and repentance, making every listener personally accountable.

Jeremiah 36 10 Bonus section

The "New Gate" is often identified by scholars with the "Upper Gate" (Jer 20:2), a significant entrance that faced north and was likely located within the broader upper court of the Temple complex. This gate could have served as an accessible location for official business or public announcements, reinforcing the strategic choice for Baruch's reading. The Shaphan family played a pivotal role in Judah's religious life. Shaphan the scribe was instrumental in Josiah's reform, discovering the Book of the Law (2 Kgs 22). His sons, including Gemariah, continued to hold prominent positions and some, like Ahikam, supported Jeremiah (Jer 26:24), suggesting a continuing respect for prophetic counsel, or at least a willingness to facilitate the public proclamation of God's word, even when it might be perceived as subversive by the ruling king, Jehoiakim. The timing during a public fast further intensified the atmosphere. Fasts were times of national solemnity and introspection, meant for repentance and seeking God's favor. Baruch's reading tapped into this somber mood, providing the specific divine revelation for which the people ostensibly gathered, thus magnifying its potential impact or rejection.

Jeremiah 36 10 Commentary

Jeremiah 36:10 encapsulates a moment of profound courage and prophetic obedience in a time of national apostasy. Baruch's public reading of Jeremiah's scroll in the Temple was not a casual act but a strategic and dangerous declaration of divine judgment and a call for national repentance, mandated by God Himself. The choice of location—the Temple, specifically an officially connected chamber near a main gate and in an upper, accessible court during a public fast—ensured maximum exposure for the message to "all the people." This underlines the critical importance God places on the wide dissemination of His word, even when it is unpopular or challenging. The verse highlights Baruch's faithful, even daring, execution of his prophetic commission and the inherent power of the divinely inspired written and spoken word to confront a rebellious nation. It reminds believers of the necessity of making God's truth accessible and audible to all, despite potential personal cost.