Jeremiah 36:20-26 Meaning: When We Fear Man More Than God
20They went in to the king into the court, but they had laid up the scroll in the room of Elishama the scribe. Then they told all the words in the hearing of the king.
21So the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it out of the room of Elishama the scribe. Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king, and in the hearing of all the princes who stood beside the king.
22Now the king was sitting in the winter house in the ninth month, and there was a fire in the brazier burning before him.
23When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.
24The king and his servants who heard all these words were not afraid, and didn’t tear their garments.
25Moreover Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the scroll; but he would not listen to them.
26The king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to arrest Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet; but Yahweh hid them.
20And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king.
21So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king.
22Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him.
23And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.
24Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.
25Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them.
26But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the Lord hid them.
20And they went in to the king into the court; but they had laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe; and they told all the words in the ears of the king.
21So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll; and he took it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes that stood beside the king.
22Now the king was sitting in the winter-house in the ninth month: and there was a fire in the brazier burning before him.
23And it came to pass, when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, that the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.
24And they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.
25Moreover Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll; but he would not hear them.
26And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet; but Jehovah hid them.
20And they go in unto the king, to the court, and the roll they have laid up in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and they declare in the ears of the king all the words.
21And the king sendeth Jehudi to take the roll, and he taketh it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and Jehudi readeth it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the heads who are standing by the king;
22and the king is sitting in the winter-house, in the ninth month, and the stove before him is burning,
23and it cometh to pass, when Jehudi readeth three or four leaves, he cutteth it out with the scribe's knife, and hath cast unto the fire, that is on the stove, till the consumption of all the roll by the fire that is on the stove.
24And the king and all his servants who are hearing all these words have not been afraid, nor rent their garments.
25And also Elnathan, and Delaiah, and Gemariah have interceded with the king not to burn the roll, and he hath not hearkened unto them.
26And the king commandeth Jerahmeel son of Hammelek, and Seraiah son of Azriel, and Shelemiah son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Jehovah doth hide them.
20And they went in unto the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe; and they told all the words in the ears of the king.
21And the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll, and he fetched it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes that stood beside the king.
22Now the king was sitting in the winter-house in the ninth month, and with the fire-pan burning before him.
23And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four columns, he cut it with the scribe's knife, and cast it into the fire that was in the pan until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was in the pan.
24And they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, [neither] the king nor any of his servants that heard all these words.
25Moreover, Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll; but he would not hear them.
26And the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet; but Jehovah hid them.
Meaning in one sentence
Why did the princes hide the scroll from the king?
Context
Jeremiah had done what God told him. He dictated every warning word to Baruch, who wrote them on a scroll. When the princes heard it, they turned to one another in fear. They knew the king would not like it. So they told Baruch and Jeremiah to hide. Then they went to report to the king. But notice what they did first: they left the scroll in Elishama the scribe's room. They carried the message in their memory, not in their hands. That small decision sets up everything that follows. The king calls for the scroll to be read. As Jehudi reads, the king cuts off each column with a scribe's knife and throws it into the fire. He does not tremble. He does not tear his clothes. He burns the whole scroll, then sends men to arrest the prophet. But the Lord hid them.
Key Words
The Hebrew word for told here is nagad, to make known, to announce plainly. The princes did tell the king the words, but they did not bring the scroll. They reported the message while keeping the scroll itself at a distance. It is a picture of partial obedience: speaking truth, but not letting it fully arrive in the king's presence. The word for read aloud is qara, the same word used when God calls to people. Jehudi reads in the king's ears, the phrase points to close, unavoidable hearing. Yet the king's response is to cut, using a word that normally describes tearing a garment in grief or repentance. He tears the scroll instead of his clothes. And hid in verse 26 is sathar, to conceal carefully. Not just that Jeremiah and Baruch found a good spot, but that God Himself actively covered them. The same God whose words were burned became their shelter.
How Christians Read This Verse
Across Christian traditions, this passage stirs the same question: what do we do when God's word confronts us? Many Reformed teachers, like Calvin, point to the king's hardened heart as a warning against resisting the Spirit. Catholic commentators often highlight the three princes, Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah, who interceded for the scroll. Their courage to speak up, even when the king would not listen, stands as a model. In Orthodox tradition, the scroll's destruction yet survival (God tells Jeremiah to write it all again) speaks to the enduring power of God's word. Evangelical readers frequently contrast King Jehoiakim with his father Josiah, who tore his clothes when he heard the Book of the Law. The same Scriptures, two very different hearts.
A common misunderstanding
It is easy to read this and think the king lost his temper in a moment of rage. In fact, the text stresses he was not afraid. He cut the scroll deliberately, column by column, as it was read. He had time to stop. Three princes begged him not to burn it. He refused. Then he ordered the arrest of Jeremiah and Baruch. This was not a rash outburst. It was a calculated rejection of God's authority, carried out in cold defiance.
Living This Out
This week, you will likely read something in Scripture that stings. A command you would rather skip. A warning that feels heavy. The temptation is to cut it off mentally, to say, that part doesn't apply to me, that was for another time, that is too hard. That is the same impulse that fed the fire. Instead, let the whole scroll land in your ears. Let it sit. The princes partially obeyed, they spoke truth but held back the scroll. Don't hold back. Let God's word arrive fully, and trust Him to shelter you as you do.
Main takeaway: Rejecting God's word does not silence it; it only hardens the heart of the one who refuses to listen.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The king did not like what God said, so he burned the scroll. But God's words did not go away. God told Jeremiah to write them again. You can't burn God's words away.
For ages 9, 12
The king heard God's warning and got angry. He cut up the scroll and burned it piece by piece. He thought that would make the problem go away. But God's word is not that easy to destroy. God told Jeremiah to write it all again, the same words. This shows us that when we refuse to listen to God, we are only hurting ourselves. The king tried to arrest Jeremiah, but God hid him. Nobody can stop God from speaking.
Questions People Ask
Why did the princes leave the scroll in Elishama's chamber?
They likely wanted to protect the scroll from the king's anger, but also to keep it from being immediately available. By depositing it with the scribe, they could tell the king the message without the scroll being in the room. It was a cautious move, they obeyed their duty to report, but they held back the physical evidence of God's word, perhaps hoping to soften the confrontation.
Did the king ever listen to God after this?
The Bible does not record Jehoiakim repenting. He died in disgrace, and his son Jehoiachin reigned only three months before being taken captive to Babylon. The judgment Jeremiah warned about came true. The king's burning of the scroll did not change God's plan.
What does 'the Lord hid them' mean?
It does not say how God hid Jeremiah and Baruch. The phrase is simple and powerful: God Himself concealed them. They had already been advised by the princes to hide (verse 19). But the text credits God as the one who hid them, meaning He guided events and people so the messengers could not be found.
Is it significant that the king sat by a fire in the winter house?
Yes. The ninth month (November-December) was cold and rainy in Judah. The king was warm and comfortable, and the fire was right there. When Jehudi read, the king used that fire to destroy the scroll. The details remind us he was not caught off guard, he had a heated room and a knife at hand, and he chose to burn God's words intentionally.
Why didn't the king tear his clothes?
Tearing clothes was a sign of grief, repentance, or horror at blasphemy. When King Josiah heard the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes (2 Kings 22:11). Jehoiakim heard even more severe warnings and felt nothing. The absence of that gesture shows a heart completely hardened against God.
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