Jeremiah 36 14

Jeremiah 36:14 kjv

Therefore 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.

Jeremiah 36:14 nkjv

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 from which you have read in the hearing of the people, and come." So Baruch the son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and came to them.

Jeremiah 36:14 niv

all the officials sent Jehudi son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to say to Baruch, "Bring the scroll from which you have read to the people and come." So Baruch son of Neriah went to them with the scroll in his hand.

Jeremiah 36:14 esv

Then all the officials sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, son of Shelemiah, son of Cushi, to say to Baruch, "Take in your hand the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people, and come." So Baruch the son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and came to them.

Jeremiah 36:14 nlt

the officials sent Jehudi son of Nethaniah, grandson of Shelemiah and great-grandson of Cushi, to ask Baruch to come and read the messages to them, too. So Baruch took the scroll and went to them.

Jeremiah 36 verses

Jeremiah 36 14 meaning

Jeremiah 36:14 describes the command from King Jehoiakim's officials to Baruch, Jeremiah's scribe, to bring the prophetic scroll to them. Following Baruch's public reading of Jeremiah's words in the Temple, the officials, having heard reports, summoned him to present the full written prophecy to them directly. Baruch's immediate compliance highlights his obedience and the critical importance of the divine message contained within the scroll. This act serves as a pivotal moment in the public disclosure of God's judgment and warning to Judah.

Jeremiah 36 14 Context

Jeremiah 36:14 takes place during the tumultuous reign of King Jehoiakim (c. 609-598 BCE) in Judah, a period characterized by political instability and spiritual apostasy as the Babylonian threat loomed. Chapter 36 specifically details an instruction from God to Jeremiah to compile all his prophecies against Israel, Judah, and the nations into a written scroll. The purpose was that the people, upon hearing it read, might repent and turn from their evil ways, thus averting divine judgment. Jeremiah, being confined, dictated these prophecies to his scribe Baruch. Baruch publicly read the scroll in the temple court on a fast day, an event which drew the attention of Michaiah, who in turn informed the royal officials. Verse 14 initiates the sequence of events where the officials, demonstrating a mix of concern and political calculation, wish to hear the prophecies directly, setting the stage for their confrontation with the unrepentant King Jehoiakim. This entire episode highlights the enduring nature of God's word despite human resistance, culminating in Jehoiakim's rejection and the eventual rewriting of the scroll.

Jeremiah 36 14 Word analysis

• So: (waw conjunctive) Connects the officials' action to the preceding events of Michaiah informing them (v.13) and Baruch's public reading. It signals a consequence or progression in the narrative.
• all the officials: (Hebrew: כָל-הַשָּׂרִים, kāl-hašśārîm). Refers to high-ranking administrative and military leaders, likely those serving the king. Their collective action underscores the perceived significance of Baruch's reading and the message's impact on Jerusalem's power structure. Their position afforded them authority and influence, making their interest in the scroll particularly notable.
• sent: (Hebrew: וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ, wayyišlĕḥū). Indicates an official delegation or command. It conveys urgency and the weight of their collective authority behind the summons.
• Jehudi: (Hebrew: יְהוּדִי, yehūdî). The name itself means "Judahite" or "Jew," distinguishing him as a native Israelite rather than a foreigner, which was not uncommon in court. His specific lineage (son of Nethaniah, son of Shelemiah, son of Cushi) lends historical verisimilitude and emphasizes his established position and credibility as a messenger within the official structure.
• son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi: Provides a full lineage, typical for establishing identity and authority in ancient documents. The inclusion of a third-generation ancestor (Cushi) is less common in everyday narrative but may serve to solidify Jehudi's formal standing in this crucial embassy. Cushi means "Cushite" or "Ethiopian," indicating either his immediate family line had Cushite origins, or more likely that this was simply a name (e.g., perhaps his great-grandfather was an Ethiopian convert or immigrant long ago accepted into Judahite society).
• to Baruch: (Hebrew: אֶל-בָּרוּךְ, ʾel-Bārūḵ). The direct recipient, a specific individual known as Jeremiah's faithful scribe. Baruch is here addressed as one directly connected to Jeremiah's prophetic authority, elevating his standing in this interaction.
• saying: Introduces the direct imperative speech from the officials.
• "Take in your hand the scroll": (Hebrew: קַח-בְּיָדְךָ אֶת-הַמְּגִלָּה, qaḥ-bĕyādḵā ʾeṯ-hamməḡillāh). "Take" is a strong imperative. "In your hand" emphasizes personal possession and agency; Baruch is to be the bearer of the physical manifestation of God's word. The "scroll" (Hebrew: מְגִלָּה, məḡillāh) is central—it is the tangible embodiment of God's prophetic message and judgment. This word became common for sacred writings like Esther.
• "that you have read": (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר קָרָאתָ, ʾăšer qārāʾtā). Acknowledges Baruch's prior public act, indicating their awareness of his sermon in the temple court. It implies the fame and impact of his public reading.
• "in the hearing of the people": (Hebrew: בְּאָזְנֵי הָעָם, bĕʾoznê hāʿām). Highlights the wide dissemination of the message, signifying that it was not a private communication but a public proclamation.
• "and come.": (Hebrew: וָבוֹא, wābōʾ). An urgent, direct command, conveying their desire for Baruch's immediate presence with the scroll.
• So Baruch son of Neriah: (Hebrew: וַיִּקַּח בָּרוּךְ בֶּן-נֵרִיָּה, wayyiqqaḥ Bārûḵ ben-Nērîyāh). Reaffirms Baruch's identity and lineage, emphasizing his obedience by stating his response. The full name underscores the seriousness of his response and identity in relation to the events.
• took the scroll in his hand and went to them: Directly describes Baruch's obedient and immediate action, mirroring the officials' command. This emphasizes Baruch's faithfulness to his role and the message's journey from prophecy to confrontation with the authorities.

Words-group analysis:

• "all the officials sent Jehudi... to Baruch": This chain of command highlights the institutional interest in Jeremiah's prophecy. It's a formal and official request, not a casual inquiry, signifying that the word of God, even when seemingly delivered by an "insignificant" scribe, captures the attention of the ruling class. The detailed lineage given for Jehudi underscores the gravitas and formal nature of the summons, making him an unmistakable representative of the royal administration.
• "Take in your hand the scroll that you have read in the hearing of the people, and come.": This command captures the crux of the verse. It confirms the officials are aware of Baruch's previous actions (reading to the people), and they now demand a direct encounter with the source material—the very words of God recorded by Jeremiah. The "scroll" is paramount; it is the physical representation of divine communication that commands the attention and, implicitly, the obedience of those in power. Baruch's carrying of it "in his hand" indicates responsibility for delivering a potent message.
• "So Baruch son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and went to them.": Baruch's immediate and compliant response demonstrates his faithful execution of his duty and his submission to what he likely understood as a divinely guided process. His action provides a stark contrast to the later response of the king (Jeremiah 36:23), setting up the subsequent narrative tension concerning obedience versus defiance to God's word.

Jeremiah 36 14 Bonus section

The act of recording and publicly reading divine messages on a scroll (megillah) was not unique, but Jeremiah's case in Chapter 36 is particularly vivid due to the resistance it met. In the ancient Near East, written decrees carried immense weight. Scrolls were the primary medium for long texts, made from prepared animal skins or papyrus, allowing for durable and portable transmission of information. The phrase "in the hearing of the people" underscores that divine prophecy was not intended for an elite few, but for the collective, demanding a collective response. The detailed names of individuals involved, particularly the multi-generational lineage of Jehudi, suggest an emphasis on historical accuracy and the legal/official nature of these interactions within the royal court, further reinforcing the reliability and seriousness of the biblical narrative as a historical account of divine-human interaction.

Jeremiah 36 14 Commentary

Jeremiah 36:14 marks a critical juncture in the story of God's revealed word to Judah. Having heard about Baruch's public reading, the royal officials—those in positions of power and influence—summon the scribe, demanding he bring the very scroll containing Jeremiah's prophecies. Their actions, a formal request conveyed by a high-ranking messenger with specified lineage, illustrate the compelling power and the widespread impact of God's message. Even within a society that was largely resistant, the sheer gravity and potential consequences of Jeremiah's pronouncements forced a response from the authorities. Baruch's immediate obedience to their command, picking up the scroll and going to them, sets the stage for a confrontation between the divine word and human authority. This passage underscores the truth that God's word will be heard and brought before the leaders of the day, whether for repentance or for testimony against their disobedience.