Jeremiah 36 6

Jeremiah 36:6 kjv

Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD's house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.

Jeremiah 36:6 nkjv

You go, therefore, and read from the scroll which you have written at my instruction, the words of the LORD, in the hearing of the people in the LORD's house on the day of fasting. And you shall also read them in the hearing of all Judah who come from their cities.

Jeremiah 36:6 niv

So you go to the house of the LORD on a day of fasting and read to the people from the scroll the words of the LORD that you wrote as I dictated. Read them to all the people of Judah who come in from their towns.

Jeremiah 36:6 esv

so you are to go, and on a day of fasting in the hearing of all the people in the LORD's house you shall read the words of the LORD from the scroll that you have written at my dictation. You shall read them also in the hearing of all the men of Judah who come out of their cities.

Jeremiah 36:6 nlt

So you go to the Temple on the next day of fasting, and read the messages from the LORD that I have had you write on this scroll. Read them so the people who are there from all over Judah will hear them.

Jeremiah 36 verses

Jeremiah 36 6 meaning

Jeremiah 36:6 instructs Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe, to take the scroll containing God’s messages—which Baruch had personally written at Jeremiah’s dictation—and publicly read these words of the LORD in the Temple during a designated fast day. This public reading was specifically directed to all the people of Judah present in Jerusalem and those who had traveled from their surrounding cities, ensuring widespread dissemination of the divine warning and call to repentance. The command underscores the urgency, authenticity, and public nature of the prophetic message, emphasizing that despite Jeremiah's inability to go to the temple himself, God's word must still be proclaimed.

Jeremiah 36 6 Context

Jeremiah 36 recounts a pivotal moment during the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah (609-598 BC), a period marked by political instability, spiritual apostasy, and looming judgment from Babylon. God commanded Jeremiah to record all the prophecies given since King Josiah’s reign on a scroll, hoping that the people, upon hearing them, would turn from their wickedness. Due to Jeremiah being confined or restricted from entering the Temple (v. 5), his faithful scribe, Baruch ben Neriah, was delegated this critical task. The setting of the proclamation "in the LORD's house, on a fast day," suggests a time when a large and attentive audience, including people from all parts of Judah, would be gathered for solemn spiritual observation, providing an optimal opportunity for the word to be heard. This entire chapter demonstrates God's persistent efforts to call His people to repentance, even through unusual means, before irrevocable judgment falls.

Jeremiah 36 6 Word analysis

• So you go (וְהָלַכְתָּ֣א - vehalakhta): An immediate imperative, signifying a direct command for action. This verb implies delegated responsibility and the urgency of the task. Baruch acts as Jeremiah's physical presence and voice, making the prophet's message accessible despite his confinement.
• and read (וְקָרָ֨אתָ - vekarata): Another imperative, specifically meaning to "read aloud" or "proclaim." It underscores the public and audible nature of the message, demanding attention from the audience, in contrast to silent reading. This was a common way to transmit official or sacred texts.
• from the scroll (בַּמְּגִלָּה֙ - bamməgillah): The specific physical object, a written roll of parchment or papyrus. The use of a megillah lent formal authority and permanence to the prophetic words, distinct from mere oral transmission. Its material form emphasized the message's reliability and intended preservation.
• which you have written (אֲשֶׁר־כָּתַ֣בְתָּ - ʾăšer-katavta): Affirms Baruch's personal involvement and confirms the scroll's authenticity. Baruch was not merely an observer but the direct transcriber, lending credence to the message's integrity. This also subtly highlights his trustworthiness as a scribe.
• at my dictation (מִפִּי֙ - mippi - lit. "from my mouth"): Crucial for establishing divine authority. Although Jeremiah spoke the words, and Baruch wrote them, the ultimate origin was God, spoken "from my [God's] mouth" through Jeremiah. This guarantees the divine inspiration and infallibility of the scroll's content.
• the words of the LORD (דִבְרֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה - divrey YHVH): An explicit declaration that the message originates directly from Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel. This phrase identifies the ultimate speaker and therefore the absolute authority of the pronouncements, rendering them non-negotiable and demanding of obedience.
• in the hearing of the people (בְּאָזְנֵ֥י הָעָם֙ - bəʾozney haʿam): Emphasizes the public nature and the intended accessibility of the message. It's not a private communication but a corporate challenge and warning, leaving no excuse for ignorance or claims of not being informed. Hearing was the primary means of receiving divine revelation in ancient Israel.
• in the LORD’s house (בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה - beyt YHVH): Refers to the Temple in Jerusalem. This sacred location lends solemnity and heightened spiritual significance to the proclamation. It signifies God's own domain where His word should be heard, in contrast to the desecration that was happening.
• on a fast day (בְּיֹ֣ום צֹ֔ום - bəyom tzom): A strategically chosen occasion. Fast days typically gathered large crowds, were characterized by solemnity, prayer, and introspection, often in response to national distress. This heightened spiritual atmosphere made the people more receptive, or at least attentive, to a message of judgment and repentance.
• and also you shall read them in the hearing of all the people who come from their cities: Broadens the target audience beyond the residents of Jerusalem to include those who traveled from Judah's regional towns. This indicates a desire for the message to reach the widest possible national audience, ensuring corporate responsibility and awareness.

Words-group analysis

• "read from the scroll, which you have written at my dictation, the words of the LORD": This sequence precisely details the entire process from inscription to proclamation, establishing an unbroken chain of divine authority from God's mouth (through Jeremiah) to Baruch's hand, and then to Baruch's voice, directly conveying "the words of the LORD." It confirms the integrity and the inspiration of the message.
• "in the hearing of the people in the LORD’s house, on a fast day": This phrase defines the specific context of the proclamation. The "hearing of the people" ensures public accountability, "the LORD's house" (Temple) confers sacred authority and solemnity, and "on a fast day" signifies an opportune moment for collective attention, potentially heightened emotional receptivity, and an implied call to repentance.
• "and also you shall read them in the hearing of all the people who come from their cities": This expands the scope, clarifying that the message was not just for Jerusalemites, but for all Judahites present. It underscores the comprehensive national warning and the breadth of the impending judgment, showing that God's message was universally applicable to His covenant people.

Jeremiah 36 6 Bonus section

The role of Baruch in this verse is paramount; he is not just a passive scribe but an active participant in divine communication. His obedience, despite potential personal danger given the king's hostility towards Jeremiah's prophecies, highlights the faithfulness required in serving as a bearer of God's word. The repeated emphasis on "reading" (קָרָא - qaraʾ) aloud in ancient Israel was more than mere verbalization; it involved dramatic delivery intended to engage the audience profoundly, moving them to a response. The very act of committing God's words to a megillah signifies God's commitment to His word—it is immutable and enduring, even if kings may try to destroy it, as Jehoiakim later did (Jer 36:23). This command from God also showcases the "passive voice" of Jeremiah, who, though the instrument of God's words, becomes restricted, and his voice must be physically embodied by Baruch, emphasizing the message over the messenger.

Jeremiah 36 6 Commentary

Jeremiah 36:6 is a testament to God's persistent grace and patience even amidst impending judgment. Despite Jeremiah's restriction from the Temple, God ensures His message reaches His people through Baruch, acting as a faithful messenger. The directive to read from the scroll in the Temple on a fast day was a calculated strategic move by divine wisdom, capitalizing on a heightened spiritual gathering. The scroll's physical presence confirmed the written authority of the message, distinguishing it from fleeting oral prophecy, and the act of public reading ensured no one could claim ignorance. This solemn public proclamation was intended to evoke corporate repentance, reminding the people of God's covenant, their sin, and the consequences. It underscored the vital role of hearing God's authentic word for salvation and demonstrated God's desire for all His people to heed His warnings before irreversible judgment fell, setting a precedent for the importance of public biblical literacy.