Jeremiah 36 21

Jeremiah 36:21 kjv

So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe's chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king.

Jeremiah 36:21 nkjv

So the king sent Jehudi to bring the scroll, and he took it from Elishama the scribe's chamber. And Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king and in the hearing of all the princes who stood beside the king.

Jeremiah 36:21 niv

The king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and Jehudi brought it from the room of Elishama the secretary and read it to the king and all the officials standing beside him.

Jeremiah 36:21 esv

Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the secretary. And Jehudi read it to the king and all the officials who stood beside the king.

Jeremiah 36:21 nlt

The king sent Jehudi to get the scroll. Jehudi brought it from Elishama's room and read it to the king as all his officials stood by.

Jeremiah 36 verses

Jeremiah 36 21 meaning

Jeremiah 36:21 describes the pivotal moment when King Jehoiakim, intending to assess Jeremiah's written prophecy, dispatches his official Jehudi to retrieve the scroll from the chamber of Elishama the secretary. Jehudi then publicly reads the scroll, containing God's condemnations and warnings, to the king and all his attending officials, marking the direct confrontation between divine revelation and the unrepentant Judean leadership.

Jeremiah 36 21 Context

Jeremiah chapter 36 is situated during the turbulent reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, specifically in his fifth year (around 605-604 BC). This period followed Babylon's decisive victory over Egypt at the Battle of Carchemish, marking a shift in regional power. Judah was under increasing pressure from Babylon. God commanded Jeremiah to dictate all the prophecies He had spoken against Israel, Judah, and other nations since the time of Josiah to his scribe, Baruch. This "scroll" was intended to be read publicly during a fast in the temple, aiming to stir repentance and avert the looming Babylonian invasion and exile. Verse 21 occurs after the scroll had already been read to the people in the temple and privately to several officials who were troubled by its severe contents. These officials reported the message to the king, leading to Jehoiakim's demand to hear the divine pronouncements directly. Jehoiakim's rule was marked by spiritual apostasy, injustice, and a reversal of the reforms instituted by his father, Josiah. This incident highlights the escalating tension between God's prophetic warnings and the corrupt, unheeding leadership of Judah.

Jeremiah 36 21 Word analysis

• So the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll,

  • "king" (מֶלֶךְ, melekh): Refers to Jehoiakim. His regal office underscores his authority, which he used not for leading his people toward God, but in direct confrontation with God's message. His response dramatically contrasts with his father King Josiah's humility (2 Kgs 22) when faced with divine law.
  • "sent" (שָׁלַח, shalakh): Denotes a deliberate and formal directive issued by the highest authority. The act signifies Jehoiakim's proactive engagement with the scroll, whether out of genuine curiosity, a desire to dismiss it, or to take action against it.
  • "Jehudi" (יְהוּדִי, Yehudi): The name means "a Judean" or potentially "my praise (of Yahweh)." He is identified as a royal official and acts as a messenger, playing a critical role in bringing God's word directly before the king. His involvement is that of an agent following royal command.
  • "to get" (לָקַח, laqakh): To take, fetch, or retrieve. While the action itself is mundane, the object being retrieved is of monumental spiritual and national importance—the direct word of the LORD.
  • "the scroll" (הַמְּגִלָּה, ha-megillah): This refers specifically to the written compilation of Jeremiah's prophecies, dictated by God and transcribed by Baruch (Jer 36:2). This physical object carried the weight of divine revelation, conveying both judgment and a final call to repentance.

• and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the secretary.

  • "he took it": Jehudi successfully carries out the king's order, ensuring the scroll's transmission to the royal court.
  • "chamber" (לִשְׁכַּת, lishkat): A private office or official room, likely within the royal palace or an adjacent administrative complex. The storage of the scroll here, rather than being hidden or destroyed, implies it was being preserved in an official, albeit sensitive, context.
  • "Elishama the secretary" (אֱלִישָׁמָע הַסּוֹפֵר, Elishama ha-sofer): Elishama held a high-ranking position within the royal court, functioning as a scribe or chief secretary. Such officials were educated, literate, and typically held considerable trust and influence. His chamber being the temporary resting place for the scroll signifies its recognition as an important document, even before Jehoiakim's direct confrontation.

• And Jehudi read it to the king and to all the officials who stood beside the king.

  • "And Jehudi read it" (וַיִּקְרָאֶהָ יְהוּדִי, va-yiqra'eha Yehudi): To "read" (qara') implies an audible, public recitation. This was not a silent perusal, but a proclamation designed to ensure that the divine message was fully communicated and undeniably heard by its intended audience, removing any doubt of their awareness.
  • "to the king": The primary target of this reading. The message was brought directly to Jehoiakim, underscoring his ultimate accountability and responsibility for the nation's spiritual state.
  • "and to all the officials who stood beside the king": The entire court assembly and the political elite of Judah. Their presence made them direct witnesses to God's word and equally responsible to heed its warnings. This formal, public setting amplified the gravity of the message and ensured that the subsequent royal reaction would be seen by all.

Jeremiah 36 21 Bonus section

This incident serves as a stark historical precursor to the enduring reality of God's Word being presented to leaders and societies across time. Like Jehoiakim, all individuals and those in authority face a critical choice when confronted with divine truth. The specific setting in the royal court highlights the particular responsibility that leaders bear in receiving or rejecting divine revelation for their people. It's a foundational illustration that physical destruction of the messenger or the message cannot silence God. As subsequent verses show (Jer 36:23, 32), while Jehoiakim could burn that scroll, God's word was immutable, unyielding, and would be reissued, often with even greater clarity and condemnation, reinforcing its ultimate invincibility against human defiance. This narrative profoundly differentiates righteous leadership, such as Josiah's humble reverence for the Law, from the contemptuous rejection exemplified by Jehoiakim, underlining the eternal consequences of responding to God's directives.

Jeremiah 36 21 Commentary

Jeremiah 36:21 depicts the culmination of God's patient yet firm attempt to convey His word of judgment and an urgent call to repentance to Judah's leadership. King Jehoiakim's explicit demand for the scroll marked a shift from mere rumor or secondary reports to a direct encounter with divine revelation. The scroll, transcribed at God's command, made its way from safe keeping to the highest seat of power. Jehudi's audible reading before the king and his entire court was a pivotal moment, affirming God's steadfast commitment to offer His message unequivocally. This public proclamation removed all pretense of ignorance, holding Jehoiakim and his advisors fully accountable for their response. This verse profoundly illustrates that God's word, though delivered through human instruments and vulnerable to human contempt, will invariably confront those to whom it is sent, bringing either opportunity for redemption or a heightened state of judgment based on their reaction.