Jeremiah 36:28 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Jeremiah 36:28 kjv
Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.
Jeremiah 36:28 nkjv
"Take yet another scroll, and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned.
Jeremiah 36:28 niv
"Take another scroll and write on it all the words that were on the first scroll, which Jehoiakim king of Judah burned up.
Jeremiah 36:28 esv
"Take another scroll and write on it all the former words that were in the first scroll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah has burned.
Jeremiah 36:28 nlt
"Get another scroll, and write everything again just as you did on the scroll King Jehoiakim burned.
Jeremiah 36 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Divine Command to Record | ||
| Isa 8:1 | Then the LORD said to me, "Take a large tablet and write on it..." | God commands writing prophecies. |
| Hab 2:2 | And the LORD answered me: "Write the vision; make it plain..." | Divine instruction to record clearly. |
| Rev 1:19 | Write therefore the things that you have seen... | John is commanded to record revelations. |
| Rev 21:5 | ...And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." | Emphasizes trustworthiness of written divine words. |
| Immutability and Endurance of God's Word | ||
| Ps 119:89 | Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. | God's word is eternally established. |
| Isa 40:8 | The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. | God's word transcends all earthly decay. |
| Matt 24:35 | Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. | Jesus declares His words' permanence. |
| 1 Pet 1:24-25 | ...All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass; the grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever. | Echoes Isa 40 on the eternal nature of God's word. |
| Consequences of Rejecting/Suppressing God's Word | ||
| Jer 26:20-23 | Uriah, who prophesied in the name of the LORD, was killed by Jehoiakim. | Jehoiakim's history of silencing prophets. |
| Jer 36:29-31 | You shall say concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah, 'Thus says the LORD: You have burned this scroll... and you shall have none to sit on the throne of David... | Direct judgment against Jehoiakim for burning. |
| 2 Kgs 24:1-4 | Jehoiakim became Nebuchadnezzar’s vassal for three years... Surely this came upon Judah at the command of the LORD... for the sins of Manasseh... and also for the innocent blood that he shed... | Divine judgment unfolding upon Jehoiakim's reign. |
| 2 Chr 36:15-16 | ...but they kept mocking the messengers of God, despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy. | Universal pattern of rejecting God's messengers. |
| Lk 11:49-51 | Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute'... | Persecution of God's messengers throughout history. |
| Acts 7:51-53 | You always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you... | Stephen's indictment of Israel's persistent rejection of prophets. |
| Increased Revelation/Judgment due to Rebellion | ||
| Jer 36:32 | Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch the scribe, who wrote on it at the dictation of Jeremiah all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned; and many similar words were added to them. | The new scroll contained more words. |
| Isa 5:24-25 | Therefore, as the tongue of fire devours the stubble... so their root will be as rottenness... Because they have rejected the law of the LORD... Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people... | Rejection leading to intensified judgment. |
| Prov 29:1 | He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing. | Increased warnings met with defiance lead to irreversible judgment. |
| Rom 1:20-22 | For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities... have been clearly seen... so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor thanked him, but their thinking became futile... | Rejection of revealed truth leads to spiritual darkening. |
| Preservation of Scripture | ||
| John 10:35 | If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken— | Scripture cannot be annulled or set aside. |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. | Inspiration and authority of all Scripture. |
Jeremiah 36 verses
Jeremiah 36 28 meaning
This verse is a direct divine command to Jeremiah, delivered through Baruch, instructing them to produce a second scroll containing all the prophecies that King Jehoiakim had burned. It signifies God's absolute determination that His word will be preserved and declared, regardless of human opposition. It underscores the futility of attempting to suppress divine truth, as such actions only serve to provoke further, often intensified, divine pronouncements.
Jeremiah 36 28 Context
Jeremiah chapter 36 details the writing and destruction of Jeremiah’s first scroll of prophecies. God commands Jeremiah, through Baruch, to compile all the prophecies given against Israel, Judah, and all nations up to that point, in the hope that the people might repent. Baruch writes the scroll and reads it in the Temple, leading to it being brought before King Jehoiakim. In an act of open defiance and contempt, Jehoiakim listens to three or four columns of the scroll, then cuts it with a scribe’s knife and burns it piece by piece in a brazier, despite the pleas of his officials. This act is not merely destroying paper; it's a symbolic rejection of God’s authority and His imminent judgment. Verse 28 is God's immediate and sovereign response to this rebellion, ensuring His word prevails and indeed, will be amplified. Historically, Jehoiakim reigned from 609-598 BC, a period marked by political turmoil with the decline of Assyria, the rise of Babylon, and continued Egyptian influence. Jehoiakim consistently showed disregard for God’s commands, seeking political alliances over divine wisdom. His actions in this chapter represent the pinnacle of Judah's unrepentant sin leading to inevitable Babylonian captivity.
Jeremiah 36 28 Word analysis
- Take (לְקַח – leqaḥ): An imperative verb, signaling a direct, non-negotiable command from God. It conveys urgency and divine authority.
- another scroll (מְגִלָּה אַחֶרֶת – megillāh aḥeret): "Another" highlights replacement and divine provision. The Hebrew megillah (מְגִלָּה) refers specifically to a rolled document, typical of ancient writings. This signifies that God's message requires a new vessel after the first was destroyed. It implies more than mere transcription, setting the stage for additions.
- and write on it (וְכָתַבְתָּ עָלֶיהָ – vekhātavtā `āleyhā): Continues the divine mandate for inscription and preservation. Writing was crucial for permanent record and transmission in ancient Israel, safeguarding against distortion.
- all the former words (כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים הָרִאשֹׁנִים – kol-haďvarim hāriʼšonim): "All" emphasizes completeness and accuracy. The Hebrew dvarim (דְּבָרִים), translated as "words," frequently carries the deeper meaning of divine pronouncements, messages, or decrees, underscoring their sacred origin. "Former" refers directly to the content that was incinerated.
- that were in the first scroll (אֲשֶׁר הָיוּ עַל־הַמְּגִלָּה הָרִאשֹׁנָה – ašer hāyū `al-ha'megillāh hāriʼšonāh): Explicitly identifies the content with the destroyed original. It validates the destroyed message as genuinely God's and provides clear instruction for the content of the new scroll.
- which Jehoiakim the king burned (אֲשֶׁר שָׂרַף יְהוֹיָקִים מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה – ašer sārap yehoyāqim meleḵ yehuḏāh): Directly names the perpetrator, emphasizing his responsibility and accountability. The verb śārap (שָׂרַף), "burned," denotes an act of deliberate and destructive contempt, contrasting sharply with the reverence due to God's word. Jehoiakim's full title, "king of Judah," further highlights the egregious nature of his defiance—a leader of God's covenant people turning against God's direct message.
- Words-group analysis:
- "Take another scroll... and write on it": This phrase demonstrates God's sovereignty over the material means of communication. He does not lament the lost scroll but commands a replacement, showcasing divine resilience and control.
- "all the former words... that were in the first scroll": This combination ensures that the full, uncompromised divine message, previously revealed, will be restored. It thwarts any attempt to selectively filter or diminish God's counsel.
- "which Jehoiakim the king burned": This closing statement directly addresses and implicitly condemns the king's act, highlighting that his futile attempt to erase truth will not only fail but will be permanently etched into the new record as an act of rebellion.
Jeremiah 36 28 Bonus section
- The re-writing of the scroll is an example of divine dictation and the role of human scribes (like Baruch) in preserving inspired Scripture. This process underscores the reliability of the written Word despite challenges.
- Jehoiakim's action reflects a profound spiritual blindness, viewing a divinely inspired text merely as an unwelcome political pamphlet. This typifies those who suppress truth not because of intellectual disagreement, but because its content clashes with their self-serving desires or comfort.
- This event has polemical significance against any belief system that presumes human authority, whether political or religious, can ultimately override or silence divine revelation. God's word is autonomous and self-authenticating, not dependent on human acceptance for its truth or power.
Jeremiah 36 28 Commentary
Jeremiah 36:28 is a profound testament to the ultimate sovereignty and indefatigable nature of God’s word. King Jehoiakim, by burning the scroll, aimed to annul divine judgment and silence Jeremiah, but in reality, his defiance provoked a greater and more comprehensive revelation. God does not allow His truth to be extinguished by human rebellion. The command to create "another scroll" signals a divine counter-move, ensuring not just restoration, but often augmentation (as confirmed in Jer 36:32, where "many similar words were added"). This episode serves as a powerful assurance that despite every human effort to suppress, corrupt, or destroy God’s message, it will endure and accomplish its divine purpose. It warns that rejecting divine truth only escalates the gravity of sin and invites a more severe, clarified judgment.