“Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God’s instruction to Jeremiah isn't just to write down prophecies, but to gather all the words spoken against every nation, spanning from Josiah's reign until that very day. This command emphasizes that God's message wasn't solely for Judah, but encompassed a broader scope, and that Jeremiah's ministry had been consistently focused on God's judgment for a significant period.
“Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God commands Jeremiah to have his prophecies, spoken over many years against Judah and other nations, written down on a scroll. This is a pivotal moment where God's message, previously spoken and potentially forgotten or ignored, is to be preserved in a permanent form. The writing of this scroll, entrusted to Jeremiah's scribe Baruch, is the first step in a dramatic confrontation with King Jehoiakim and the people of Judah.
Imagine being God's messenger, with a message so vital it must be preserved. That’s Jeremiah’s call here.
God doesn't just speak; He commands His words to be written. This isn't a suggestion; it's a direct order: 'Take a scroll and write… all the words.' This act of writing isn't just about preserving history; it's about creating an authoritative, tangible testimony of God's dealings and judgments.
Preserving the Unchangeable
Ancient scrolls, made of stitched skins, were the books of the day. God's command to Jeremiah meant gathering everything He had spoken, from the early days of King Josiah right up to that moment. This ensured that God's message wouldn't be lost to time or faulty memory. It was meant to be a lasting record, a testament that would endure.
God’s message wasn't just for one nation, or one person, but for everyone listening – then and now.
The scroll Jeremiah was commanded to write wasn't limited in scope. It contained God’s words 'against Israel and Judah and all the nations.' This shows the universal reach and relevance of God's message.
Beyond Borders
While Jeremiah primarily ministered to Judah, God's warnings and judgments extended to surrounding nations. This emphasizes that no one is outside God's sovereign plan or His call for justice. The message was comprehensive, covering the full scope of God's communication from the beginning of Jeremiah's prophetic ministry until that very day.
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Understand the original words
megillah · Hebrew Noun
A common material for writing in the ancient Near East, consisting of a continuous sheet of papyrus or parchment rolled into a cylinder. In a biblical context, it frequently signifies a permanent, authoritative record of God’s covenant, prophecy, or law.
This command to write all the words spoken over roughly 23 years highlights God's persistent faithfulness in warning His people, even as their leaders and nation grew increasingly resistant to His message. It underscores the importance of preserving God's word as a tangible witness.
c. 627 BC
Jeremiah begins prophesying
Jeremiah receives his initial call from God to prophesy, beginning a ministry that would span decades and witness immense turmoil for Judah.
627-609 BC
Josiah's Reforms
During King Josiah's reign, significant religious reforms were implemented, including the rediscovery of the Law and a centralization of worship. Jeremiah likely delivered many prophecies during this period.
609 BC
Death of Josiah
King Josiah is killed in battle at Megiddo while attempting to stop the Egyptian army's advance. This event marked a turning point, leading to increased political instability and foreign influence.
609 BC
Jehoiakim becomes King
Jehoiakim, Josiah's son, is installed as king by the Egyptians. His reign was characterized by corruption, idolatry, and defiance of God's word, setting the stage for further judgment.
605 BC
First Babylonian Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar, prince of Babylon, defeats the Egyptians at Carchemish and begins deporting Judean nobles and skilled workers, including figures like Daniel, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's exile.
605-604 BC— this verse
Jeremiah's scroll dictated
God commands Jeremiah to dictate all his prophecies, spoken since the days of Josiah, onto a scroll. This collection was intended as a powerful testimony and a final warning to the people and their leaders.
604 BC
Scroll read in the Temple
Jeremiah's scribe, Baruch, reads the scroll publicly in the Temple. Despite attempts to warn the people and leaders, the scroll is ultimately destroyed by King Jehoiakim, leading to further judgment.
This passage also depicts God commanding a prophet to eat a scroll filled with words, emphasizing the divine origin and importance of the message entrusted to the prophet.
Luke 1:1-4Like Jeremiah writing down God's words, Luke carefully investigated and recorded events to provide an orderly account, showing the value of written testimony for historical and spiritual understanding.
Psalm 40:7This psalm speaks of writing God's law in the heart, paralleling Jeremiah's task of transcribing God's spoken words onto a scroll to preserve and make them accessible.
John 1:1This verse speaks of the Word being with God and being God, highlighting the profound nature of the 'words' God spoke to Jeremiah, which were not mere human utterances but divine truth.
Hebrews 4:12The powerful and living nature of God's Word is described here, underscoring why it was so crucial for Jeremiah to meticulously record every word spoken by the Lord, as they held divine authority and life-transforming power.
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…
pooleJeremiah 36:2: "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."
By a roll of a book is to be understood parchments , which anciently were their books, the art of binding books being not then known. The precept is for recording all the revelations he had from God for twenty-two years last past; for he began to proph…
God’s instruction to Jeremiah isn't just to write down prophecies, but to gather all the words spoken against every nation, spanning from Josiah's reign until that very day. This command emphasizes that God's message wasn't solely for Judah, but encompassed a broader scope, and that Jeremiah's ministry had been consistently focused on God's judgment for a significant period.
God commands Jeremiah to have his prophecies, spoken over many years against Judah and other nations, written down on a scroll. This is a pivotal moment where God's message, previously spoken and potentially forgotten or ignored, is to be preserved in a permanent form. The writing of this scroll, entrusted to Jeremiah's scribe Baruch, is the first step in a dramatic confrontation with King Jehoiakim and the people of Judah.
God commands Jeremiah to have his prophecies, spoken over many years against Judah and other nations, written down on a scroll. This is a pivotal moment where God's message, previously spoken and potentially forgotten or ignored, is to be preserved in a permanent form. The writing of this scroll, entrusted to Jeremiah's scribe Baruch, is the first step in a dramatic confrontation with King Jehoiakim and the people of Judah.
"“Take a scroll and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and Judah and all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today." — God’s instruction to Jeremiah isn't just to write down prophecies, but to gather all the words spoken against every nation, spanning from Josiah's reign until that very day. This command emphasiz…
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Last reviewed October 2026