Jeremiah 36 31

Jeremiah 36:31 kjv

And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not.

Jeremiah 36:31 nkjv

I will punish him, his family, and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring on them, on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and on the men of Judah all the doom that I have pronounced against them; but they did not heed." ' "

Jeremiah 36:31 niv

I will punish him and his children and his attendants for their wickedness; I will bring on them and those living in Jerusalem and the people of Judah every disaster I pronounced against them, because they have not listened.'?"

Jeremiah 36:31 esv

And I will punish him and his offspring and his servants for their iniquity. I will bring upon them and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem and upon the people of Judah all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, but they would not hear.'"

Jeremiah 36:31 nlt

I will punish him and his family and his attendants for their sins. I will pour out on them and on all the people of Jerusalem and Judah all the disasters I promised, for they would not listen to my warnings.'"

Jeremiah 36 verses

Jeremiah 36 31 meaning

Jeremiah 36:31 declares God's solemn decree of judgment against King Jehoiakim, his lineage, and his officials. This severe punishment is specifically attributed to their "iniquity," highlighting their moral failure and rebellion. The verse then extends this divine retribution to the entire population of Jerusalem and Judah, asserting that God will bring upon them "all the disaster" previously proclaimed through Jeremiah. The crucial reason cited for this impending catastrophe is their persistent and unrepentant refusal to listen to God's warnings.

Jeremiah 36 31 Context

Jeremiah chapter 36 centers on God's command to Jeremiah to record all the prophecies given against Israel, Judah, and all nations. Jeremiah dictates these words to Baruch, who then reads the scroll in the Lord's temple during a fast. Upon hearing the alarming words of impending disaster, the officials relay the message to King Jehoiakim. The king, however, reacts with extreme contempt: he takes the scroll, cuts it with a scribe's knife, and throws it into the fire, effectively burning God's word. This act of brazen defiance and disregard for divine authority is the immediate backdrop for verse 31. God immediately instructs Jeremiah to dictate a new scroll, with the explicit pronouncement of severe, irreversible judgment specifically directed at Jehoiakim, who dared to destroy the divine message. Historically, Jehoiakim's reign was characterized by apostasy, injustice, and alliance-shifting with foreign powers, resisting Jeremiah's warnings even as Babylonian power grew.

Jeremiah 36 31 Word analysis

• And I will punish (וּפָקַדְתִּי - u-faqad'ti) him:
  • Paqad carries the sense of "visit," "inspect," "appoint," but frequently means to "visit with consequences" or "punish." Here, it signifies divine, deliberate intervention for judgment, emphasizing accountability and not simply an unfortunate event.
  • This is an active, volitional act by God, not merely passive allowance of consequences.
• him (אֹתוֹ - 'oto):
  • Directly refers to King Jehoiakim, who demonstrated profound contempt for God's word by burning the scroll.
• and his offspring (וְזַרְעוֹ - v'zar'o):
  • Zera' refers to his seed, descendants, or progeny. This targets his royal line, indicating the cessation of his dynasty. Jer 22:30 predicts that none of his offspring will sit on the throne of David.
  • This aspect of judgment challenges the perception of dynastic stability and often had profound implications for royal succession and legitimacy in ancient Near Eastern monarchies.
• and his servants (וַעֲבָדָיו - va'avadav):
  • Aḇadāyw (plural of 'eved, "servant") refers to his officials, advisors, and those who executed his will or supported his defiance. They are implicated in the corporate sin and face collective punishment.
• for their iniquity (עֲוֹנָם - 'avonam):
  • Avon refers to guilt, moral perversity, sin that is weighed and incurs punishment. It often emphasizes the consequences and deviation from God's standard, rather than just the act itself. This is the direct cause for the divine intervention.
• And I will bring (וְהֵבֵאתִי - v'heve'ti) upon them (עֲלֵיהֶם - 'alehem):
  • Heve'ti (Hiphil of bo', "come, bring") again signifies a causative, decisive, and active role of God in enacting the judgment.
  • "Upon them" collectively refers back to Jehoiakim, his offspring, and his servants, further solidifying the scope of direct impact.
• and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem (וְעַל-יֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלַם - v'al-yosh'vei Y'rushalayim):
  • Expands the scope of judgment beyond the royal house to the wider urban population, emphasizing their shared guilt and fate with the king.
• and upon the men of Judah (וְעַל-אִישׁ יְהוּדָה - v'al-ish Y'hudah):
  • Further widens the scope to the entire nation of Judah, indicating widespread culpability and impending national catastrophe.
• all the disaster (כָּל-הָרָעָה - kol-hara'ah):
  • Ha-ra'ah means evil, calamity, or misfortune. Kol (all, every) signifies the full extent and comprehensive nature of the judgment previously announced. It will be precisely as God said.
• that I have pronounced against them (אֲשֶׁר דִּבַּרְתִּי עֲלֵיהֶם - 'asher dibbarti 'alehem):
  • Highlights the connection between the divine word (prophecy) and its certain fulfillment. God’s spoken word is the precursor to the unfolding judgment. Dibbarti (Piel of davar, "speak") refers to intentional, forceful utterance.
• but they have not listened (וְלֹא שָׁמֵעוּ - v'lo' shamē'u):
  • Shamē'u (Qal imperfect of shama', "hear, listen, obey") indicates not merely hearing sounds, but an active heeding and obeying. Their failure to listen or obey is the primary sin that triggered this severe consequence.

Jeremiah 36 31 Words-group analysis

• "And I will punish him and his offspring and his servants for their iniquity": This phrase details the direct and targeted nature of God's judgment. It meticulously includes not just the defiant king (Jehoiakim) but also extends punishment to his future line (his offspring) and those who assisted or were complicit in his rule (his servants). The foundational cause for this comprehensive judgment is their shared "iniquity," underscoring the moral and religious culpability that brought about divine reckoning. This suggests both a personal and a corporate accountability within the hierarchy of the kingdom.
• "And I will bring upon them and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem and upon the men of Judah": This group of words emphasizes the expanded reach of the disaster. While the initial focus is on Jehoiakim's immediate circle, the consequences of his rebellion and the nation's complicity spill over to encompass "all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the men of Judah." This highlights the communal aspect of sin and judgment in the covenant relationship, where the leadership's actions and the people's collective attitude bring consequences upon the entire land.
• "all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, but they have not listened": This concluding phrase provides the definitive link between God's prophetic warnings and their eventual execution. It stresses the certainty that the full measure of divine judgment ("all the disaster") will be delivered precisely as declared. The final clause, "but they have not listened," explicitly states the primary reason for this inescapable judgment: persistent, willful, and unrepentant disobedience to God's revealed word, turning deaf ears to the very message that could have offered repentance and averted calamity.

Jeremiah 36 31 Bonus section

The fulfillment of the judgment against Jehoiakim was quite specific and swift. After he burned the scroll, Jeremiah dictated a new scroll, which not only repeated the warnings but added specific details about Jehoiakim's end. Instead of being buried with honor like a king, Jer 22:18-19 states he would receive "the burial of a donkey," unceremoniously thrown outside Jerusalem's gates. While historical accounts indicate his body might have been thrown outside the city after being captured by Babylon or later during an uprising, the essential prophecy of his disgraceful end was fulfilled, highlighting the power and precision of God's pronouncements. His son, Jehoiachin, did reign for a very short period (three months and ten days) before being taken into Babylonian captivity (2 Kgs 24:8-15), further illustrating the disruption to Jehoiakim's line from truly sitting "on the throne of David" and consolidating power. This shows God's control even in the specifics of history and human actions.

Jeremiah 36 31 Commentary

Jeremiah 36:31 is a powerful declaration of God's unyielding justice and the inevitability of His word. It serves as God's direct and stern response to King Jehoiakim's brazen act of burning the scroll containing divine warnings. This act was not merely political defiance but an overt and blasphemous rejection of God's authority and His attempt to call His people to repentance. Consequently, the judgment pronounced is specific and comprehensive, striking at Jehoiakim himself, his lineage—ensuring no descendant would effectively succeed him on David’s throne (Jer 22:30)—and his supporting officials who facilitated or failed to oppose his defiance.

Beyond the royal house, the verse highlights the ripple effect of sin and unresponsiveness: the disaster extends to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and Judah. This signifies a collective guilt, indicating that the people, through their inaction, complacency, or participation in the prevalent idolatry and injustice, also shared responsibility for their fate. God is portrayed as the active agent, deliberately bringing upon them the entire judgment previously proclaimed. This demonstrates that God's warnings are not empty threats; they are prophecies of what will occur if repentance does not follow. The ultimate reason for this calamitous fate is their hardened hearts and refusal to heed God's voice, encapsulating the central message of Jeremiah's ministry: hear and obey, or face destruction.

Practically, this verse reminds us that:

• Disregard for God's word invites severe consequences.
• Leadership has a profound impact on the spiritual and physical well-being of a nation or community.
• There are both individual and corporate consequences for sin.
• God's patience has limits, and unrepentant rebellion ultimately leads to deserved judgment.