Jeremiah 36:1
In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The phrase "this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD" is crucial here. It emphasizes that Jeremiah isn't just sharing his own opinions, but is a direct mouthpiece for God, conveying a divine message that carries immense authority. This divine origin is the very reason the message must be preserved and delivered, even in the face of potential danger.
The Lord commands Jeremiah to compile all his prophetic messages into a scroll, covering warnings against Judah, Jerusalem, and the surrounding nations, from the time of King Josiah to the present. This directive comes at a pivotal moment, after Judah had already experienced initial invasions by the Babylonians, highlighting the urgency of God's word in the face of impending judgment. This written message is intended to be read aloud to the people, offering one last opportunity for repentance before ultimate destruction.
The Bible isn't just a collection of ancient stories. It's the living Word of God, speaking with divine authority.
Divine Urgency
Jeremiah 36 opens with a specific date: "In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD." This isn't accidental. It pinpoints a crucial moment when God's message needed to be preserved and delivered with utmost urgency.
More Than Just Words
God didn't just tell Jeremiah things; He commanded him: "Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations..." (Jeremiah 36:2). This wasn't a suggestion, but a divine directive. The message was too important to remain only in spoken prophecy, vulnerable to being forgotten or distorted. God Himself ordained that His words be written down, compiled, and made permanent.
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In a world of fleeting messages and instant opinions, why does God preserve His word in writing?
Preservation and Clarity
The act of writing down God's prophecies wasn't just about making them permanent; it was about ensuring they wouldn't be lost or altered by human memory. Before scrolls and books, spoken words could fade or be twisted.
A Witness Against Apathy
God commanded Jeremiah to write "all the words" He had spoken, from the days of King Josiah until that very moment. This comprehensive collection served as a powerful witness. It wasn't a new message, but a compilation of everything God had revealed through Jeremiah over the years. This written record was intended to confront the people and their king with the unchanging truth of God's judgment and His persistent calls to repentance, making their disregard inexcusable.
Understand the original words
dabar · Hebrew Noun
A divinely revealed message or communication from God, often functioning as a formal declaration of His will, judgment, or promise. It is inherently authoritative and active, possessing the power to accomplish the purpose for which it is sent.
This passage unfolds during a time of immense political upheaval for Judah, as they transition from Egyptian to Babylonian dominance. The act of writing and reading the scroll, and its subsequent destruction, highlights the people's and king's rejection of God's warnings amidst this volatile geopolitical landscape.
609 BC
Josiah Dies in Battle
King Josiah, a righteous ruler, is killed fighting the Egyptians. His death plunges Judah into political instability.
609-605 BC
Jehoiakim's Reign Begins
Jehoiakim, Josiah's son, is installed as king by Pharaoh Necho. He rules as a vassal to Egypt, not an independent Judah.
605 BC
Battle of Carchemish
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon decisively defeats the Egyptian army, shifting the balance of power in the region. Judah becomes subject to Babylon.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar begins deporting Judean citizens, including prominent figures like Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the start of the Babylonian Exile.
c. 604 BC— this verse
Jeremiah Dictates Prophecies
In the fourth year of Jehoiakim's reign, Jeremiah is commanded by God to have his prophecies against Judah and the nations written down by Baruch on a scroll.
c. 604 BC
Scroll Read and Burned
The scroll is read publicly and then before King Jehoiakim, who contemptuously burns it. Jeremiah is later commanded to write a new scroll with additional prophecies.
Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel was commanded to eat a scroll containing God's message, symbolizing the internalizing and delivery of God's word, even when it's difficult.
Luke 1:1-4This passage shows a similar process of carefully compiling and recording events and teachings, emphasizing the importance of written testimony for understanding God's work.
Isaiah 58:1This verse directly precedes Isaiah's powerful message about true fasting and righteousness, echoing Jeremiah's prophetic call to repentance and the people's often superficial responses.
Romans 10:14-17This passage highlights the necessity of hearing God's word for faith to develop, underscoring the importance of Jeremiah's scroll being written and read, even in the face of opposition.
barnesJeremiah 36:1: "And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,"
In the fourth year of Jehoiakim - See Jeremiah 25:1 note. The present chapter belongs to the very end of that year. The capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar took place early in Jehoiakim's fourth year, long before the writing of Jehoiakim's scroll. The humiliation seems to have sunk deeply into the heart of Jehoiakim, and when Jeremiah…
calvinJeremiah 36:1-2: "And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,"
Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.
Sume tibi volumen libri, et scribe in eo cunctos sermones quos loquutus sum ad to contra Israel et co…
The phrase "this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD" is crucial here. It emphasizes that Jeremiah isn't just sharing his own opinions, but is a direct mouthpiece for God, conveying a divine message that carries immense authority. This divine origin is the very reason the message must be preserved and delivered, even in the face of potential danger.
The Lord commands Jeremiah to compile all his prophetic messages into a scroll, covering warnings against Judah, Jerusalem, and the surrounding nations, from the time of King Josiah to the present. This directive comes at a pivotal moment, after Judah had already experienced initial invasions by the Babylonians, highlighting the urgency of God's word in the face of impending judgment. This written message is intended to be read aloud to the people, offering one last opportunity for repentance before ultimate destruction.
The Lord commands Jeremiah to compile all his prophetic messages into a scroll, covering warnings against Judah, Jerusalem, and the surrounding nations, from the time of King Josiah to the present. This directive comes at a pivotal moment, after Judah had already experienced initial invasions by the Babylonians, highlighting the urgency of God's word in the face of impending judgment. This written message is intended to be read aloud to the people, offering one last opportunity for repentance before ultimate destruction.
"In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD:" — The phrase "this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD" is crucial here. It emphasizes that Jeremiah isn't just sharing his own opinions, but is a direct mouthpiece for God, conveying a divine message…
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