Jeremiah 36 18

Jeremiah 36:18 kjv

Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.

Jeremiah 36:18 nkjv

So Baruch answered them, "He proclaimed with his mouth all these words to me, and I wrote them with ink in the book."

Jeremiah 36:18 niv

"Yes," Baruch replied, "he dictated all these words to me, and I wrote them in ink on the scroll."

Jeremiah 36:18 esv

Baruch answered them, "He dictated all these words to me, while I wrote them with ink on the scroll."

Jeremiah 36:18 nlt

So Baruch explained, "Jeremiah dictated them, and I wrote them down in ink, word for word, on this scroll."

Jeremiah 36 verses

Jeremiah 36 18 meaning

Jeremiah 36:18 reveals the meticulous process of recording divine prophecy. Baruch, Jeremiah's faithful scribe, clarifies to the assembled officials that Jeremiah directly dictated the precise words, and he, Baruch, then diligently transcribed them onto the scroll using ink. This confirms the direct, authoritative source of the message and its deliberate, physical inscription for permanence.

Jeremiah 36 18 Context

Jeremiah 36 recounts a pivotal event during the reign of King Jehoiakim (c. 605 BC), five years after the Battle of Carchemish and three years before Nebuchadnezzar's first siege of Jerusalem. God commands Jeremiah, who is restricted from entering the temple, to write down all the prophecies of judgment against Israel, Judah, and other nations that he had received since Josiah's reign. This command underscores God's persistent desire for repentance and provides a clear warning. Jeremiah dictates these prophecies to his faithful scribe, Baruch, who then inscribes them onto a scroll.

This scroll is initially read publicly by Baruch in the temple during a fast, causing great consternation among the people and officials. The officials, realizing the gravity of the message, bring Baruch to them to recount the manner of its creation. Jeremiah 36:18 is Baruch's direct testimony to these officials, explaining that the words were indeed Jeremiah's and not his own fabrication or interpretation, emphasizing their divine authority. The scroll's ultimate fate, being cut and burned by King Jehoiakim (Jer 36:23), highlights the profound human rejection of God's word, yet paradoxically, it leads to its re-inscription and expansion (Jer 36:32), reinforcing its indestructible nature.

Jeremiah 36 18 Word analysis

• Then Baruch answered them,

  • Baruch (בָּרוּךְ, Barukh): Meaning "blessed." He was Jeremiah's devoted scribe and companion. His testimony here is crucial; as the direct agent of transcription, his witness lends credibility and authenticity to the written words.
  • answered them: Refers to the officials (e.g., Jehudi, Gemariah) who had heard the scroll and recognized its serious implications. Their inquiry highlights the immediate need for validation of the message's origin and authority.

• 'He dictated all these words to me,'

  • He: Refers unequivocally to Jeremiah the prophet. This establishes Jeremiah as the direct human channel of divine revelation.
  • dictated (אֹמֵר, omer): Literally means "saying" or "speaking." This signifies an oral transmission process where Jeremiah spoke the words directly as received from God, and Baruch accurately recorded them. It underscores the verbal and specific nature of prophecy, not a summary or paraphrase.
  • all these words: Emphasizes the completeness and specificity of the message. Baruch transcribed every word Jeremiah uttered, not selectively, confirming the full scope and intent of the divine message.

• 'and I wrote them in the book with ink.'

  • I wrote (וַאֲנִי כּוֹתֵב, wa'ani kotev): Baruch affirms his direct role as the scribe. This active statement confirms his literal transcription, reinforcing the message's authenticity through a faithful human agent.
  • in the book (עַל־הַסֵּפֶר, 'al-ha-sefer): "Upon the scroll/book." This denotes the physical scroll as the medium for recording the divine words, transitioning them from fleeting sound to enduring written form. In ancient Near Eastern culture, writing bestowed authority and permanence.
  • with ink (בַּדְּיוֹ, baddeyō): The specific mention of ink emphasizes the tangible, deliberate, and formal nature of the inscription. It's a real document, carefully crafted for a serious purpose, not a casual note.

• Words-group by words-group analysis

  • "Baruch answered them, 'He dictated all these words to me,'": This phrase directly addresses the concern of authenticity. It establishes a clear chain of communication from divine source (through Jeremiah) to human recorder (Baruch). It rejects any notion of Baruch's own composition, affirming the divine origin and accuracy of the prophetic scroll.
  • "and I wrote them in the book with ink.": This group of words emphasizes the materiality and intentionality of the scripture's creation. The act of writing "in the book with ink" makes God's spoken word a permanent, verifiable, and transportable record, crucial for its preservation and dissemination, even in the face of anticipated resistance.

Jeremiah 36 18 Bonus section

The scene in Jeremiah 36, particularly Baruch's meticulous transcription of Jeremiah's prophecies, prefigures the larger process of biblical canonization. It highlights the early stages of Scripture's formation, where inspired words from a prophet were recorded by a dedicated scribe, thereby transforming oral revelation into a fixed, tangible text. This provides a foundational understanding for how much of the Old Testament (and indeed, New Testament) came to be, emphasizing careful recording, the role of human agents guided by God, and the sacred regard for "every word" that proceeds from the mouth of God (Deut 8:3). The explicit detail "with ink" also connects to the ancient scribal traditions, where accuracy, clarity, and durability were paramount concerns in religious texts. This stands in stark contrast to the casual disregard and destructive act of King Jehoiakim, solidifying the idea that the written word carries a weight of authority that transcends human will and attempts at suppression. The re-creation of the scroll (with additions) after its burning underscores the ultimate indestructibility of God's revealed truth.

Jeremiah 36 18 Commentary

Jeremiah 36:18 serves as a vital testimony to the integrity of divine revelation, underscoring both the accurate transmission and the deliberate preservation of God's word. Baruch's explicit account verifies that the prophecies contained in the scroll are not his own interpretations but Jeremiah's precise words, dictated under divine inspiration. This precise "dictation" model ensures that what is written directly reflects what was spoken by the prophet. The transition from oral prophecy to a physically inscribed "book with ink" highlights the intentionality of God in providing an enduring, authoritative record for His people. This act gives permanence to a message that might otherwise be lost or altered through oral tradition, demonstrating God's sovereign plan for His word to confront human disobedience, endure through time, and eventually judge those who reject it, as seen in Jehoiakim's futile attempt to destroy the scroll.