Jeremiah 36 29

Jeremiah 36:29 kjv

And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast?

Jeremiah 36:29 nkjv

And you shall say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, 'Thus says the LORD: "You have burned this scroll, saying, 'Why have you written in it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and cause man and beast to cease from here?' "

Jeremiah 36:29 niv

Also tell Jehoiakim king of Judah, 'This is what the LORD says: You burned that scroll and said, "Why did you write on it that the king of Babylon would certainly come and destroy this land and wipe from it both man and beast?"

Jeremiah 36:29 esv

And concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah you shall say, 'Thus says the LORD, You have burned this scroll, saying, "Why have you written in it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and will cut off from it man and beast?"

Jeremiah 36:29 nlt

Then say to the king, 'This is what the LORD says: You burned the scroll because it said the king of Babylon would destroy this land and empty it of people and animals.

Jeremiah 36 verses

Jeremiah 36 29 Meaning

This verse proclaims a severe and divine judgment upon Jehoiakim, king of Judah. God declares that he will have no descendant to sit on the throne of David, his burial will be ignominious like that of a donkey, and his body will be cast out, exposed to the elements during the day and night. This prophecy signifies the absolute end of Jehoiakim's line and his personal disgrace, reflecting the gravity of his actions in disrespecting God's word.

Jeremiah 36 29 Context

Jeremiah chapter 36 details how King Jehoiakim attempted to destroy a scroll containing prophecies from God, read by Baruch the scribe. This act of defiance and rejection of God's word angered the Lord. Consequently, God pronounces a severe judgment upon Jehoiakim and his house, indicating the end of his dynasty and a dishonorable death and burial. The prophecy in verse 29 is a direct consequence of Jehoiakim's rejection of Jeremiah's message and his violent response to it, signifying the ultimate doom awaiting him and his lineage.

Jeremiah 36 29 Word Analysis

• כֹּה (koh): Thus; so.
  • Significance: Introduces a declaration, signifying a direct word from God.
• אָמַר (amar): says, declares, speaks.
  • Significance: Emphasizes that this is God's authoritative pronouncement.
• יְהוָה (Yahweh): The LORD (personal name of God).
  • Significance: Points to the divine origin and authority behind the judgment.
• אֶל (el): concerning, against.
  • Significance: Specifies the target of God's decree.
• יְהוֹיָקִים (Yehoyaqim): Jehoiakim (king of Judah).
  • Significance: The direct recipient of this prophecy due to his actions.
• מֶלֶךְ (melekh): king.
  • Significance: Highlights his royal status and the gravity of his sin against his divine mandate.
• יְהוּדָה (Yehudah): Judah.
  • Significance: Indicates the kingdom he ruled.
• לֹא (lo): no, not.
  • Significance: Emphatic negation of any succession.
• יִהְיֶה (yihiyeh): there shall be.
  • Significance: Future tense, declaring an absolute absence of continuance.
• לְךָ (lecha): to you.
  • Significance: Directly addresses Jehoiakim.
• יוֹשֵׁב (yoshev): sitter, inhabitant.
  • Significance: Refers to reigning from the throne.
• עַל (al): upon.
  • Significance: Specifies the place of dominion.
• כִּסֵּא (kisse): throne.
  • Significance: Symbol of royal authority and the Davidic line.
• דָּוִד (David): David (king of Israel).
  • Significance: Connects the promise and forfeiture to the Davidic covenant.
• וְאֶל (ve'el): and concerning.
  • Significance: Links the throne issue to the burial issue.
• קֶבֶר (qever): grave, burial.
  • Significance: Refers to his final resting place, significant in ancient Near Eastern culture.
• יִזָּרַק (yizzarak): shall be cast out, thrown.
  • Significance: Implies a violent and dishonorable expulsion from proper burial rites.
  • Further research indicates the root meaning relates to scattering or sprinkling, underscoring a complete disregard for his remains.
• שָׁמָּה (shammah): thither, there.
  • Significance: Referring to the place of disgrace.
• וְאֶל (ve'el): and.
  • Significance: Continuation of the dire consequences.
• שְׁאָר (she'ar): remainder, rest.
  • Significance: Denotes what is left of him.
• עַצְמוֹתָיו (atsmotav): his bones.
  • Significance: Even his bones will not receive proper interment.
• מִצְּדָּתוֹ (mitzdedah): on his side.
  • Significance: Emphasizes exposure, possibly a common burial practice if disrespect was intended.
  • Hebrew scholarship suggests "midday" or "noon" (like Hebrew מצד itself often implies strength or stronghold). However, within the context of exposure and lack of burial, "from his side" implying being cast aside as refuse fits the overwhelming theme of ignominy, more so than exposure at a specific time of day, which is already covered by day and night.
• מִבֹּכַר (mivkhor): during the day.
  • Significance: Specifies a time of exposure to public view.
• וְלַיְלָה (v'laylah): and by night.
  • Significance: Another period of exposure, ensuring no period of privacy or honor.
  • The phrasing implies total exposure under all conditions.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "you shall not have a descendant to sit on the throne of David": This phrase is a direct refutation of the Davidic covenant promises of an everlasting dynasty (2 Sam 7:16). Jehoiakim's rebellion and destruction of God's word has cut off his line from inheriting this promised legacy.
• "his burial will be like that of a donkey, cast out": The imagery of a donkey's burial is a powerful insult. Donkeys were animals of burden and not afforded respect in death. Being "cast out" or "thrown" speaks of extreme disrespect and abandonment, lacking even basic burial rites considered essential for honoring the dead.
• "exposed to the heat of day and the frost of night": This describes a complete lack of proper burial and protection from the elements. It signifies ultimate disgrace, shame, and the absence of any reverence or commemoration, leaving him utterly vulnerable and forgotten by men.

Jeremiah 36 29 Bonus Section

The fate of Jehoiakim's physical remains serves as a potent symbol of his spiritual state and his severed connection to God's covenant. In ancient Israelite culture, proper burial was a sign of God's favor and a critical aspect of maintaining honor and memory within the community. The opposite – exposure and dishonor – symbolized complete abandonment and judgment. This prophecy contrasts sharply with the hoped-for resurrection and eternal life experienced by believers, as spoken of in passages like Isaiah 25:8 or 1 Corinthians 15:54, illustrating the immense difference between obedience and defiance before God. The very mention of David connects this judgment to a broken covenant promise for an enduring dynasty, a promise ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is from the lineage of David, highlighting that Jehoiakim's lineage could not usurp God's ultimate plan of redemption.

Jeremiah 36 29 Commentary

The prophecy against Jehoiakim in Jeremiah 36:29 is a stark illustration of divine retribution for contempt of God's revealed word. His violent act of destroying Jeremiah's scroll, containing God's pronouncements, seals his doom. The threefold judgment – no successor on the Davidic throne, ignominious burial like an animal, and complete exposure of his remains – emphasizes the absolute finality of God's pronouncement against him. It underscores the sacredness of God's word and the severe consequences of its rejection, particularly by those in positions of authority. This verse highlights that disobedience and rebellion against God's truth lead not only to personal ruin but also to the devastation of one's legacy. The broken promise of the Davidic line is a key theological point, showing how sin can sever a people from their divine heritage.