Jeremiah 36 16

Jeremiah 36:16 kjv

Now 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.

Jeremiah 36:16 nkjv

Now it happened, when they had heard all the words, that they looked in fear from one to another, and said to Baruch, "We will surely tell the king of all these words."

Jeremiah 36:16 niv

When they heard all these words, they looked at each other in fear and said to Baruch, "We must report all these words to the king."

Jeremiah 36:16 esv

When they heard all the words, they turned one to another in fear. And they said to Baruch, "We must report all these words to the king."

Jeremiah 36:16 nlt

When they heard all the messages, they looked at one another in alarm. "We must tell the king what we have heard," they said to Baruch.

Jeremiah 36 verses

Jeremiah 36 16 meaning

Jeremiah 36:16 depicts the immediate and profound reaction of the king's officials upon hearing Jeremiah's prophetic words read by Baruch. Their response is characterized by a deep sense of dread and mutual consternation. Recognizing the grave implications of the divine message for themselves and the kingdom, particularly given King Jehoiakim's disposition, they unanimously decide it is their duty, albeit a perilous one, to convey the entirety of this chilling prophecy to the king. This verse captures a pivotal moment of tension and decision-making by those caught between God's authoritative word and the ruling power.

Jeremiah 36 16 Context

Jeremiah 36 records a significant event during the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah (around 605/604 BCE). After more than two decades of prophesying, Jeremiah is divinely commanded to write down all the words God has spoken to him concerning Israel, Judah, and all nations, hoping that Judah would hear and turn from their evil ways. Because Jeremiah is confined or prevented from entering the Temple, he instructs his scribe, Baruch, to read the scroll publicly in the Lord's house.

Chapter 36:16 falls after Baruch has read the scroll twice – first in the Temple courtyard (v. 10) to the people, and then again to a group of influential officials assembled in the secretary's chamber (vv. 14-15). These officials, having heard the pronouncements of judgment, are depicted here in their immediate and intense reaction before they themselves bring the matter before King Jehoiakim, setting the stage for the dramatic burning of the scroll in the verses that follow. The historical backdrop is Judah's precarious position between the declining Egyptian power and the rising Babylonian empire, with King Jehoiakim exhibiting defiance towards both God's warnings and Babylonian suzerainty.

Jeremiah 36 16 Word analysis

• Now when they had heard (וַיְהִי֙ כְּשָׁמְעָ֣ם - wayehî k'šām'ām):

  • heard: The Hebrew šāma' (שָׁמַע) often means more than just perceiving sound; it implies an active listening and an understanding or heeding of the message. In this context, it suggests they fully grasped the gravity and implications of Jeremiah's prophecy.
  • Significance: This is not casual listening but a reception that deeply impacts them.

• all the words (אֶת־כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֔ים - ’et-kol-hadd'ḇārîm):

  • all: Emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the prophecy read from the scroll. No part was omitted or softened; they received the full, unvarnished message of impending judgment and the call to repentance.
  • words: Refers directly to the divinely inspired prophecies recorded by Baruch. These are God's pronouncements, not human opinions.

• they turned in fear (חָרְד֣וּ אִֽישׁ־אֶל־רֵעֵ֗הוּ - ḥār'ḏû ’îš-’el-rê‘êhû):

  • turned in fear: The Hebrew chārad (חרד) denotes a strong physical and emotional response: trembling, shaking, being terrified or alarmed. It's not just intellectual apprehension but a visceral dread. This word implies a fear rooted in recognition of a powerful, impending threat, in this case, from God.
  • one to another: ’îš ’el-rē‘ēhû. This indicates a shared, collective experience of fear. Their glances and reactions confirm for each other the horrifying truth of what they had just heard. It suggests mutual agreement on the direness of the situation.
  • Significance: Their fear points to a partial acknowledgment of the message's divine origin and authority. It reveals that the prophecy successfully disturbed their complacency.

• and said to Baruch (וַיֹּֽאמְר֖וּ אֶל־בָּר֣וּךְ - wayyō'mərû ’el-bārûḵ):

  • said to Baruch: Baruch is the direct channel through whom these words were spoken and delivered, making him the immediate point of contact.
  • Significance: Addressing Baruch suggests they acknowledge his role as the conveyor of the message and likely hold him accountable, perhaps also seeing him as a link to Jeremiah.

• We will surely tell (הַגֵּ֤יד נַגִּיד֙ - haggêḏ naggîḏ):

  • surely tell: This is an emphatic construction in Hebrew, using the infinitive absolute before the finite verb (a type of intensifier). It conveys determination, certainty, and an undeniable necessity. It can also imply a strong obligation or a resolute decision.
  • Significance: This reflects their realization that they cannot simply ignore or suppress such a momentous message. They feel compelled to report it, perhaps out of duty to the king, self-preservation, or genuine concern for the kingdom, even if it might lead to unpleasant consequences.

• the king (לַמֶּ֑לֶךְ - lammeleḵ):

  • the king: Specifically, King Jehoiakim. They know his character and potential volatile reaction. Their decision to tell him carries a distinct element of risk for themselves.
  • Significance: The king holds ultimate authority, and their loyalty is tested. They recognize that only he can ultimately decide the kingdom's response, however futile that might seem given his history.

• of all these words (אֶת־כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵֽלֶּה - ’et-kol-hadd'ḇārîm hā'ēlleh):

  • all these words: A reiteration emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the report they intend to give the king, ensuring no details are missed, underscoring the severity.

Jeremiah 36 16 Bonus section

• The officials in Jeremiah 36:16 embody an important theological concept: that God's word often elicits an undeniable, compelling force, even from those who may not ultimately obey it. Their fear is a testament to the word's inherent power (Heb. 4:12), proving that it is not merely human opinion.
• This verse provides a subtle characterization of these officials. While not righteous enough to persuade the king, nor courageous enough to defend the scroll later, their initial fear and sense of duty elevate them above King Jehoiakim's outright scorn and defiance. They recognize a boundary that Jehoiakim willingly transgresses.
• The incident highlights the inherent danger of being God's messenger in times of apostasy. Baruch's presence, addressed directly by the officials, underscores his vulnerability as the conduit of such a potent, uncomfortable truth.

Jeremiah 36 16 Commentary

Jeremiah 36:16 serves as a powerful illustration of the initial impact of God's uncompromised word. The officials, experienced in the royal court, are depicted as reacting not with mere intellectual assent, but with visceral fear, a shaking dread (chārad), which acknowledges the formidable source of the message. This fear distinguishes them from the king who later dismisses and destroys the scroll without such internal tremor. While their fear is significant, indicating that God's word had pierced their sensibilities, it is not depicted as leading to repentance. Instead, it leads to a recognition of their administrative duty to inform the king.

Their mutual exchange of fearful glances, "one to another," highlights the shared burden and gravity of the prophecy. They are not isolated in their apprehension; their shared response validates the dire interpretation of the words. The emphatic declaration, "We will surely tell the king," indicates their resolute decision to deliver the message, despite undoubtedly knowing King Jehoiakim's volatile nature and previous persecution of prophets like Uriah. They correctly assess that such an extraordinary pronouncement cannot be suppressed or hidden; it demands the king's direct attention. This places them in a difficult position, as they are now couriers of a potentially treasonous or offensive message to a king known for his ruthlessness, demonstrating a tension between human authority and divine mandate. This scene sets the stage for the unfolding conflict between God's truth and human resistance.