Jeremiah 36:1-8 · Bible study
Jeremiah 36:1-8 Commentary: Writing God’s Word
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why the fourth year of Jehoiakim? This study explores the historical crisis, the hope of repentance, and the formation of Scripture in the scroll of Jeremiah.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God commands Jeremiah to write all his prophecies in a scroll, to be read publicly so that Judah may repent and be forgiven.
- Key words: shûv (H7725, “turn back, repent”), ’ûlay (H0194, “perhaps”), ‘āṣar (H6113, “shut up, restrained”), meghillāh (H4039, “scroll”).
- Main debate: The nature of Jeremiah’s restriction, was he physically imprisoned, ceremonially unclean, or simply afraid to enter the temple?
- Theological theme: God’s written word as a means of grace, calling a rebellious people to repentance before judgment falls.
- Best use: A foundation for teaching the authority of Scripture, the urgency of repentance, and the faithful transmission of God’s word.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
1In the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
2“Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you during the reign of Josiah until today.
3Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about all the calamity I plan to bring upon them, each of them will turn from his wicked way. Then I will forgive their iniquity and their sin.”
4So Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah, and at the dictation of Jeremiah, Baruch wrote on a scroll all the words that the LORD had spoken to Jeremiah.
5Then Jeremiah commanded Baruch, “I am restricted; I cannot enter the house of the LORD;
6so you are to go to the house of the LORD on a day of fasting, and in the hearing of the people you are to read the words of the LORD from the scroll you have written at my dictation. Read them in the hearing of all the people of Judah who are coming from their cities.
7Perhaps they will bring their petition before the LORD, and each one will turn from his wicked way; for great are the anger and fury that the LORD has pronounced against this people.”
8So Baruch son of Neriah did everything that Jeremiah the prophet had commanded him. In the house of the LORD he read the words of the LORD from the scroll.
WEB World English Bible 2000
1In the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
2“Take a scroll of a book, and write in it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah even to this day.
3It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I intend to do to them, that they may each return from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.”
4Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all Yahweh’s words, which he had spoken to him, on a scroll of a book.
5Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, “I am restricted. I can’t go into Yahweh’s house.
6Therefore you go, and read from the scroll which you have written from my mouth, Yahweh’s words, in the ears of the people in Yahweh’s house on the fast day. Also you shall read them in the ears of all Judah who come out of their cities.
7It may be they will present their supplication before Yahweh, and will each return from his evil way; for Yahweh has pronounced great anger and wrath against this people.”
8Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book Yahweh’s words in Yahweh’s house.
KJV King James Version 1769
1And 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,
2Take 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.
3It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.
4Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.
5And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the Lord:
6Therefore 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.
7It may be they will present their supplication before the Lord, and will return every one from his evil way: for great is the anger and the fury that the Lord hath pronounced against this people.
8And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the Lord in the Lord’s house.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
1And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,
2Take 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.
3It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.
4Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of Jehovah, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.
5And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of Jehovah:
6therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of Jehovah in the ears of the people in Jehovah’s house upon the fast-day; and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.
7It may be they will present their supplication before Jehovah, and will return every one from his evil way; for great is the anger and the wrath that Jehovah hath pronounced against this people.
8And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of Jehovah in Jehovah’s house.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
1And it cometh to pass, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word hath been unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying:
2`Take to thee a roll of a book, and thou hast written on it all the words that I have spoken unto thee concerning Israel, and concerning Judah, and concerning all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day;
3if so be the house of Israel do hear all the evil that I am thinking of doing to them, so that they turn back each from is evil way, and I have been propitious to their iniquity, and to their sin.'
4And Jeremiah calleth Baruch son of Neriah, and Baruch writeth from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of Jehovah, that He hath spoken unto him, on a roll of a book.
5And Jeremiah commandeth Baruch, saying, `I am restrained, I am not able to enter the house of Jehovah;
6but thou hast entered--and thou hast read in the roll that thou hast written from my mouth, the words of Jehovah, in the ears of the people, in the house of Jehovah, in the day of the fast, and also in the ears of all Judah who are coming in from their cities thou dost read them;
7if so be their supplication doth fall before Jehovah, and they turn back each from his evil way, for great is the anger and the fury that Jehovah hath spoken concerning this people.'
8And Baruch son of Neriah doth according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, to read in the book the words of Jehovah in the house of Jehovah.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
1And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, the king of Judah, [that] this word came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,
2Take 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 spoke unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.
3It may be the house of Judah will hear all the evil that I purpose to do unto them, that they may return every man from his evil way, and that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.
4And Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Nerijah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of Jehovah, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.
5And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up, I cannot go into the house of Jehovah; but go thou in,
6and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of Jehovah in the ears of the people in the house of Jehovah upon the fast day; and thou shalt also read them in the ears of all Judah that come from their cities.
7It may be they will present their supplication before Jehovah, and that they will return every one from his evil way; for great is the anger and the fury that Jehovah hath pronounced against this people.
8And Baruch the son of Nerijah did according to all that the prophet Jeremiah commanded him, reading in the book the words of Jehovah in Jehovah's house.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
1And it came to pass in the fourth year of Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda, that this word came to Jeremiah by the Lord, saying:
2Take thee a roll of a book, and thou shalt write in it all the words that I have spoken to thee against Israel and Juda, and against all the nations from the day that I spoke to thee, from the days of Josias even to this day.
3If so be, when the house of Juda shall hear all the evils that I purpose to do unto them, that they may return every man from his wicked way: and I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin.
4So Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Nerias: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord, which he spoke to him, upon the roll of a book.
5And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying: I am shut up, and cannot go into the house of the Lord.
6Go thou in therefore, and read out of the volume, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the Lord, in the hearing of all the people in the house of the Lord on the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the hearing of all Juda that come out of their cities:
7If so be they may present their supplication before the Lord, and may return every one from his wicked way: for great is the wrath and indignation which the Lord hath pronounced against this people.
8And Baruch the son of Nerias did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet ,had commanded him, reading out of the volume the words of the Lord in the house of the Lord.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Jeremiah 36:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that in this passage God commands Jeremiah to gather all his prophecies into a single scroll. The stated goal is nothing short of repentance: “It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I intend to do to them, that they may each return from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin” (Jer. 36:3 WEB). The Hebrew particle ’ûlay (“perhaps”) signals a genuine possibility of repentance, not divine uncertainty. Calvin notes that God “makes another trial whether the Jews were healable.” Keil and Delitzsch add that the writing preserves the prophecies as a permanent witness, setting the stage for Baruch’s public reading. All major traditions see this as a final appeal before judgment falls, with the written word functioning as both a warning and an invitation to forgiveness.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: God commands the writing of the prophecies, with the specific hope that hearing them will lead Judah to repent and receive forgiveness. Baruch faithfully writes and reads the scroll.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah’s restriction (“I am shut up”) | All major commentators agree that Jeremiah was genuinely prevented from going to the temple to deliver the message himself. The verb ‘āṣar indicates being held back or restrained. | Some (Jarchi, cited in Gill) think Jeremiah was imprisoned; most (Cambridge, Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) argue for some other hindrance such as ceremonial uncleanness or fear of the king. The text does not specify which, so traditions respect the ambiguity. |
| Purpose of the scroll writing | The primary purpose is clear from the text: that Judah might hear, repent, and be forgiven. This is echoed by all commentators. | Christians from different traditions debate whether the writing was primarily for immediate oral reading (the event in vv. 6-8) or for preserving the prophecies as a permanent witness for future generations (as Keil and Delitzsch emphasize). Both uses are present, but the emphasis varies. |
| “Perhaps” and the sovereignty of God | The Hebrew ‘ûlay expresses contingency from a human perspective. The offer of forgiveness is genuine. | Some (Calvin, Gill) take ‘ûlay as rhetorical, God knows the outcome but uses language of possibility to highlight human responsibility. Others (Lange, modern interpreters) see it as reflecting the real causal structure of the covenant: repentance genuinely opens the door to forgiveness. Both views affirm God’s foreknowledge, but they differ on how to read the conditional language. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The fourth year of Jehoiakim (ca. 605 BC) is one of the most critical dates in Judah’s slide toward exile. That same year, according to Jeremiah 25:1, was also the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Babylon crushed Egypt at Carchemish and seized control of the region. Second Kings 24:1 records that “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years.” The capture of Jerusalem occurred early in Jehoiakim’s fourth year (Barnes). This external crisis forms the backdrop for God’s command to write the scroll.
The scroll itself was a standard “roll of a book”, several sheets of parchment or vellum sewn together and rolled around a wooden rod (Cambridge Bible). Writing was in columns, rolled up for storage and unrolled for reading. Jeremiah dictates, and Baruch writes. The prophet is “shut up” (Heb. ‘āṣûr, Qal passive participle of ‘āṣar, “to restrain”). Most commentators reject the idea of literal imprisonment here (since Jeremiah and Baruch later hide). Rather, the verb suggests some hindrance: possibly ceremonial uncleanness (Cambridge), a previous threat from the king (Gill), or self-restraint born of fear (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown). Whatever the cause, Jeremiah cannot enter the temple, so Baruch must go in his place.
The reading is to take place on a fast day. This is not the regular Day of Atonement (the seventh month), but an extraordinary fast likely called in the ninth month because of the national emergency (Lange; Jeremiah 36:9 confirms the ninth month). Such a gathering would draw people from all Judah, giving Baruch the largest possible audience. Jeremiah 36:8 records Baruch’s prompt obedience: “And Baruch son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book Yahweh’s words in Yahweh’s house.”
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Jeremiah 36:1, 8. The passage is stable across the major Hebrew manuscripts and the ancient versions. The only minor variation is the phrase “from the mouth of Jeremiah” (v. 4), which some Greek witnesses read as “from the mouth of the Lord”, but the Hebrew (מפי ירמיהו) is well supported and consistently translated “from the mouth of Jeremiah” in all supplied English versions.
Reception History
Jeremiah 36 has been read by the Church as a powerful example of how God commits His word to writing for the sake of His people. Early Christian writers (e.g., Jerome) saw in Baruch a type of the faithful scribe and teacher who transmits divine revelation. During the Reformation, the passage was used to argue for the public reading of Scripture in the vernacular: God commands the scroll to be read aloud so all can hear and understand. Puritan commentators highlighted Jeremiah’s perseverance despite opposition, and Baruch’s obedience as a model for lay readers and ministers alike. In modern liturgical contexts, the passage is often paired with readings about the Word of God and the call to repentance, especially during penitential seasons.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God preserves His word for a purpose. The command to gather all the prophecies into one scroll shows that God does not want His message lost or forgotten. He gives a written, accessible witness so that His people can hear and respond.
- God’s patience leaves room for repentance. The repeated phrase “it may be” (vv. 3, 7) reveals that even at the brink of judgment, God holds the door open. His anger and fury are real, but forgiveness is still on offer.
- Faithful messengers carry the word. Jeremiah, though restricted, delegates to Baruch. Baruch’s faithful obedience (v. 8) becomes a model for everyone who handles God’s word, read it aloud, in public, so people may hear and turn.
Five-point outline
- Date of crisis: the fourth year of Jehoiakim, when Babylon’s shadow falls over Judah.
- Command to write: God orders a comprehensive scroll covering from Josiah’s reforms to the present.
- Purpose stated: hearing leads to repentance, repentance leads to forgiveness.
- Jeremiah’s limitation: the prophet is “shut up” and cannot go to the temple.
- Baruch’s commission: he must read the scroll in the temple on a fast day, trusting that God may still relent.
Illustration hooks
- A teacher who, before the final exam, hands out a study guide covering everything from the first day of class. The purpose is not to overwhelm but to help students pass. The scroll is God’s last-minute study guide.
- A family member sends a letter (or recording) summing up years of warnings and pleas, hoping the recipient will finally listen. The scroll is God’s written plea to Judah.
- An employee barred from entering the head office sends a trusted coworker to read the company’s compliance policy at a mandatory meeting. The message matters more than the messenger’s presence.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why would God bother to write everything down if He already knew they would not repent?
- Is my situation still within the “it may be” window, or has judgment become certain?
- If I feel “shut up” (unable to speak or act), how can I still get God’s word to others?
Leading a Discussion
Read Jeremiah 36:1, 8 aloud together. Notice how much of the passage is taken up with the date, the command to write, and the chain of speakers: Yahweh to Jeremiah; Jeremiah to Baruch; Baruch to the people. This passage is about how God’s word travels from heaven to earth.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think God specifies the exact year (the fourth year of Jehoiakim)? What does this tell us about the connection between prophecy and history?
- The word “perhaps” appears twice (vv. 3, 7). How can a sovereign God use language that sounds like uncertainty? What does this teach us about prayer and repentance?
- Jeremiah says he is “shut up” and cannot go to the temple. How might you feel if you were given a life-saving message but could not deliver it yourself? How did Baruch become the solution?
- Baruch is not the prophet, but he is called to read the prophet’s words. What does this say about the role of those who teach, read Scripture, or distribute Bibles?
- The writing is meant to provoke a response: hearing, returning, and forgiveness. What does this passage suggest about how God’s word should affect us today?
- Compare verse 3 (“I will forgive their iniquity and their sin”) with the cross-references Jeremiah 26:3 and Exodus 17:14. How does the pattern of writing and reading connect to the broader biblical story?
- In what areas of your life might you need to “return from his evil way” this week? How can the group help you stay accountable?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| II Kings 24:1 | In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him. |
| II Kings 24:2 | Yahweh sent against him bands of the Chaldeans, bands of the Syrians, bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to Yahweh’s word which he spoke by his servants the prophets. |
| II Chronicles 36:5 | Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did that which was evil in Yahweh his God’s sight. |
| Jeremiah 25:1 | The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (this was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), |
| Jeremiah 35:1 | The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, |
| Jeremiah 45:1 | The message that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, |
| Exodus 17:14 | Yahweh said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under the sky.” |
| Deuteronomy 31:24 | When Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
5 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin stresses that God ordered the prophecies written down because spoken words vanish, but writing lets readers weigh them carefully at leisure. He notes that God chose a fast day for the reading, hoping the people's humble posture might make them teachable, though their obstinacy left little hope.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch argues that Jeremiah’s command to write the prophecies came not before but after Nebuchadnezzar’s first capture of Jerusalem. The fast-day was likely a memorial of that event, and Jeremiah’s public reading was a deliberate counter to Jehoiakim’s hopes of rousing the people to resist Babylon.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange points out that the fourth year of Jehoiakim was a political turning point: after the battle of Carchemish, the Chaldean threat became certain. God therefore commanded Jeremiah to gather twenty-three years of scattered warnings into one scroll, making a final concentrated appeal for repentance before judgment arrived.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights the contrast between this actual scroll and Ezekiel's visionary roll. Ezekiel's was for the prophet alone to receive and digest; this one was written in fact and read aloud to the people, showing how written Scripture benefits both ministers and hearers, with the hope that it would lead to repentance and forgiveness.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley notes that "for ever" in this context refers to the duration of the Jewish state or church, not literal eternity. He also observes that the prophet intentionally chose the fasting day for the reading because the temple would be crowded with people from all parts of Judah.