Jeremiah 36:17-19 Meaning: Why the Princes Hid the Prophet
17They asked Baruch, saying, “Tell us now, how did you write all these words at his mouth?”
18Then Baruch answered them, “He dictated all these words to me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.”
19Then the princes said to Baruch, “You and Jeremiah go hide. Don’t let anyone know where you are.”
17And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?
18Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.
19Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be.
17And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?
18Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.
19Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye are.
17And they asked Baruch, saying, `Declare, we pray thee, to us, how didst thou write all these words--from his mouth?'
18And Baruch saith to them, `From his mouth, he pronounceth unto me all these words, and I am writing on the book with ink.'
19And the heads say unto Baruch, `Go, be hidden, thou and Jeremiah, and let no one know where ye are .'
17And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words from his mouth?
18And Baruch said unto them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote [them] with ink in the book.
19And the princes said unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; that none may know where ye are.
Meaning in one sentence
Why did the officials ask Baruch how he wrote Jeremiah’s words? Their question reveals fear, respect for God’s word, and a hidden belief that it was true.
Context
King Jehoiakim ruled Judah, and Jeremiah had been prophesying judgment for years. God told Jeremiah to write all the words He had spoken into a scroll. Since Jeremiah was shut up and could not go to the temple, he dictated the words to his scribe Baruch, who wrote them down. Baruch read the scroll to the people during a fast, and then the officials heard it and were terrified. They asked Baruch directly: how did you write these words? Was it from Jeremiah himself, or from your own mind? Their question was not curiosity. They needed to know if the message was truly from God before they reported it to the king. After Baruch confirmed it was from Jeremiah’s own mouth, the officials warned both men to hide. They knew the king would be furious and likely kill them. So these princes, though afraid, acted to protect the prophet and his scribe.
Key Words
Three words here carry weight. First, when Baruch says Jeremiah pronounced (or proclaimed, from the Hebrew qara) all these words to him, the verb suggests a loud, clear recitation, not a quiet dictation from a manuscript. It makes you picture Jeremiah speaking with the urgency of a herald. There was no time for editing or second drafts. Second, the word ink (deyo) appears only here and in verse 23. Baruch points to the ink to emphasize his own role: he supplied only the pen and the hand. The words themselves came straight from Jeremiah’s mouth, and so, from God. Third, the verb hide yourselves (sathar in the Niphal form, meaning to conceal oneself) is the same word used of David hiding from Saul. It is not cowardice. It is wise preservation for the sake of the message. These officials understood: when God’s words threaten a powerful king, the messenger may need to disappear.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians have read these verses with different emphases. John Calvin saw the princes as terrified but ultimately insensitive: they acknowledged God’s word but quickly returned to their usual indifference, letting the king burn the scroll. Matthew Henry, on the other hand, believed these princes had real respect for the prophet and wished to save his life, seeing in their warning an act of hidden faith. John Gill called some of them good men who believed what they heard. The Cambridge Bible notes that the princes probably had the fate of the prophet Uriah in mind, who was killed by the same king. So the passage invites us to hold both realities together: the princes acted with courage to protect the messenger, but they did not yet have the courage to obey the message. Their question exposed a divided heart.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is that the princes asked Baruch out of idle curiosity or simply to satisfy a procedural detail. In fact, their question was urgent. They needed to know whether Baruch had written the words from memory after hearing Jeremiah preach, or whether it was direct dictation. If it was memory, the words might be Baruch’s own summary. If it was dictation, the words carried the prophet’s, and God’s, full authority. Baruch’s clear answer left no doubt. The princes then had to decide what to do with an unmistakable divine message.
Living This Out
Perhaps this week a friend, a sermon, or a passage of Scripture will challenge you in a way you did not ask for. Your first reaction may be like the princes: you want to verify the source. Is this really from God? That question is not wrong. But after you confirm it, the real test comes. Will you only protect the messenger, or will you also let the message change you? The princes hid Baruch and Jeremiah but could not bring themselves to stop the king from burning the scroll. You might find yourself in a similar middle ground, concerned for truth yet afraid to act on it completely. Ask God for the courage to do both: to honor the messenger and to obey the words.
Main takeaway: God’s word can unsettle even those who respect it; protecting the prophet is not the same as receiving the prophecy.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
Baruch wrote down what God told Jeremiah. The king was angry, so some good leaders told Baruch and Jeremiah to hide. They helped keep God’s message safe.
For ages 9, 12
The princes asked Baruch how he got the words because they needed to know if God really said them. When they found out Jeremiah had spoken directly, they knew it was true. But instead of obeying, they just helped Jeremiah and Baruch hide. They wanted to protect the men, but they were still too scared to stand up to the king when he burned the scroll. Knowing God’s word is important, but living it takes real courage.
Questions People Ask
Why did the princes ask Baruch how he wrote the words?
They wanted to know whether Baruch wrote from memory or wrote exactly what Jeremiah said. If it was from memory, the words could be Baruch’s own summary and less authoritative. But if it was direct dictation from Jeremiah’s mouth, then the message carried full prophetic authority. Their question was about trustworthiness.
Did the princes believe Jeremiah’s prophecy?
At least some of them seemed convinced it was from God. They showed this by warning Baruch and Jeremiah to hide from the king. However, their belief did not lead them to stop the king from burning the scroll. They were caught between fear of God and fear of the king.
Was Baruch just a secretary or did he add his own words?
Baruch insisted he added nothing. He wrote exactly what Jeremiah pronounced with his mouth. The word 'ink' in verse 18 emphasizes that his role was strictly mechanical, only the pen and the ink were his. The content came from Jeremiah, and ultimately from God.
What happened after the princes went to the king?
They told the king about the scroll. The king sent for it and had it read aloud. As soon as he heard a few columns, he cut the scroll with a penknife and threw it into the fire until it was completely burned. He also ordered the arrest of Jeremiah and Baruch, but the Lord hid them.
Why didn’t the princes stop the king from burning the scroll?
Three princes, Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah, did beg the king not to burn it, but he ignored them. The others may have been too afraid to speak. The passage shows that even those who respect God’s word may lack the courage to oppose earthly power. Their faith was real but incomplete.
For pastors & researchers
Hebrew interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study