Jeremiah 36 13

Jeremiah 36:13 kjv

Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people.

Jeremiah 36:13 nkjv

Then Michaiah declared to them all the words that he had heard when Baruch read the book in the hearing of the people.

Jeremiah 36:13 niv

After Micaiah told them everything he had heard Baruch read to the people from the scroll,

Jeremiah 36:13 esv

And Micaiah told them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the scroll in the hearing of the people.

Jeremiah 36:13 nlt

When Micaiah told them about the messages Baruch was reading to the people,

Jeremiah 36 verses

Jeremiah 36 13 meaning

Jeremiah 36:13 details a pivotal moment in Judah's spiritual and political landscape. It describes the unified decision of "all the officials" or princes, after hearing a report of its public reading, to send a designated messenger named Jehudi to Baruch. The purpose of this urgent summons was for Baruch to physically bring the scroll containing Jeremiah's divine prophecies, which he had previously read before the general populace, so that the officials could hear its message firsthand. This act signifies an official and serious intent to examine the words of the Lord conveyed through Jeremiah, indicating an initial phase of inquiry before judgment.

Jeremiah 36 13 Context

Jeremiah chapter 36 is set during the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah (around 605 BC), a period marked by significant international political upheaval and spiritual decline within Judah. The chapter details God's command to Jeremiah to record all his prophecies given since the beginning of his ministry, as a final, urgent call for repentance before impending judgment. Baruch, Jeremiah's faithful scribe, meticulously writes these words on a scroll.

This specific verse, Jeremiah 36:13, follows the public reading of this scroll by Baruch in the temple during a fast. Michaiah, a witness to this event, reported the contents of the scroll and Baruch’s reading to "all the officials" (princes) who were gathered in the king’s house. Upon hearing Michaiah's account (Jer 36:11-12), the officials do not immediately dismiss the message. Instead, their collective action in verse 13 indicates a measure of concern or at least serious curiosity. They seek to hear the direct message for themselves from the primary source, Baruch, underscoring the gravity with which they initially regarded the prophecies. This response contrasts sharply with King Jehoiakim's subsequent hostile rejection (Jer 36:23), marking a crucial step in the scroll's journey to those in power.

Jeremiah 36 13 Word analysis

• So all the officials (וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ כָל־הַשָּׂרִים - vayišlĕḥû ḵōl-haśśārîm):

  • vayišlĕḥû: "and they sent." The verb implies a formal and authoritative sending.
  • ḵōl: "all," emphasizing the collective and unified decision of the governing body.
  • haśśārîm: "the officials," "princes," "leaders." These were high-ranking members of the court or government, holding political authority. Their collective action gives weight to the summons. This highlights that the prophetic message was entering the political arena of the nation.

• sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi (יְהוּדִי בֶּן־נְתַנְיָהוּ בֶּן־שֶׁלֶמְיָהוּ בֶן־כּוּשִׁי - yĕhûḏî ben-nĕṯanyāhû ben-šelĕmyāhû ben-kûšî):

  • yĕhûḏî: A proper name meaning "my Jew" or "Jewish." This identifies a specific messenger.
  • The detailed lineage provided (son of Nethaniah, etc.) serves to clearly identify the individual as someone known to the court and to Baruch, emphasizing his credibility as a designated envoy from "all the officials." It's not a random person but an officially appointed messenger, signifying the seriousness of the errand.

• to Baruch (אֶל־בָּרוּךְ - ʾel-bārûḵ):

  • bārûḵ: Baruch, the son of Neriah, Jeremiah's faithful scribe and companion. He was the one who had physically written and publicly read the prophecies, making him the direct and known bearer of the message. The officials were seeking the message directly from its current custodian.

• saying (לֵאמֹר - lēʾmōr):

  • "to say," or "saying." Introduces the direct speech of the officials.

• “Take in your hand the scroll (קַח־בְּיָדְךָ אֶת־הַמְּגִלָּה - qaḥ-bĕyāḏḵā ʾeṯ-hammegillâ):

  • qaḥ: "take" (imperative), a direct command.
  • bĕyāḏḵā: "in your hand," physically demanding that Baruch brings the scroll. This confirms their desire for the physical text itself, not just another report. It implies authenticity and a direct encounter with the written word.
  • hammegillâ: "the scroll." Refers to the specific roll of parchment or papyrus on which Jeremiah's words were written. This written form gave permanence and authority to the prophecies beyond spoken words.

• that you have read in the hearing of the people (אֲשֶׁר קָרָאתָ בְּאׇזְנֵי הָעָם - ʾăšer qārāʾtā bĕʾoznê hāʿām):

  • ʾăšer qārāʾtā: "that you read" or "which you have read." Refers to the specific public event mentioned in Jer 36:10.
  • bĕʾoznê hāʿām: "in the ears of the people," meaning in their hearing or publicly. This verifies their awareness of the public event and confirms it's the very scroll that caused such a stir, underscoring its significant contents.

• and come!” (וָבוֹא - wāvōʾ):

  • "and come!" (imperative). An urgent and direct instruction for Baruch to present himself, and the scroll, before them without delay. The simplicity of the command underscores its urgency and the expectation of immediate compliance.

Words-group analysis:

• "So all the officials sent Jehudi...to Baruch": This signifies an official, formal, and collective action. It demonstrates that the report by Michaiah was taken seriously enough to warrant a direct inquiry from the highest political levels in Judah, beyond mere gossip.
• "Take in your hand the scroll that you have read in the hearing of the people, and come!": This complete instruction is precise. It demands the specific, authentic physical scroll that caused the public stir, not just a summary. The officials want to engage directly with the divinely inspired words as they were originally presented, seeking personal verification and confrontation with the message. The urgency implicit in "and come!" shows their eagerness to confront the text.

Jeremiah 36 13 Bonus section

• The elaborate genealogical identifier for Jehudi is notable. In ancient cultures, one's lineage was crucial for establishing identity and credibility. For an official messenger carrying such an important summons, this detailed introduction authenticated him as a legitimate representative of the highest judicial or executive body, preventing any dismissal based on his person.
• The fact that Baruch, not Jeremiah, read the scroll publicly and was subsequently summoned by the officials underscores the role of faithful intermediaries. Jeremiah was divinely restricted from appearing in the Temple (Jer 36:5), making Baruch his essential voice and hand in communicating God's word to a defiant generation. Baruch’s courage in delivering this unpopular message before a potentially hostile crowd is commendable.
• This verse illustrates a divine principle of seeking out those in authority to deliver the prophetic message directly. God orchestrates circumstances (Michaiah's reporting) so that His word has the chance to penetrate the corridors of power, offering a last opportunity for the nation's leadership to change course.
• The phrase "in the hearing of the people" implies the power of public testimony and its potential to ripple through society, eventually reaching the elite. What begins as a public act by Baruch evolves into a private summons to the officials, demonstrating the penetrative nature of God's revealed truth.

Jeremiah 36 13 Commentary

Jeremiah 36:13 encapsulates a critical juncture where God’s written word, after public proclamation, is poised to directly address the political leadership of Judah. The officials' decision to summon Baruch with the scroll demonstrates an initial level of engagement with the divine message. Unlike an immediate hostile reaction or indifference, they displayed an urgent desire to personally ascertain the prophecies' content. This was a unique opportunity, a "day of grace" for the officials to hear, reflect, and potentially respond obediently to God’s warnings of impending judgment and the call for national repentance. It highlights God's persistent efforts to reach every level of society with His truth, providing opportunity for conversion. However, their subsequent reactions (Jer 36:16 - fear, but 36:25 - attempting to dissuade the king) would show their own struggle between conviction and compromise. The incident underscores that mere hearing is insufficient; the ultimate impact depends on the heart's response to God's word, as later demonstrated by King Jehoiakim's outright defiance.