Jeremiah 36:9-10 Meaning: Why the People Proclaimed a Fast
9Now in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, all the people in Jerusalem and all the people who came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem, proclaimed a fast before Yahweh.
10Then Baruch read the words of Jeremiah from the book in Yahweh’s house, in the room of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court, at the entry of the new gate of Yahweh’s house, in the ears of all the people.
9And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the Lord to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem.
10Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the Lord, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the Lord’s house, in the ears of all the people.
9Now it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, that all the people in Jerusalem, and all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem, proclaimed a fast before Jehovah.
10Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of Jehovah, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court, at the entry of the new gate of Jehovah’s house, in the ears of all the people.
9And it cometh to pass, in the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, proclaimed a fast before Jehovah have all the people in Jerusalem, and all the people who are coming in from cities of Judah to Jerusalem;
10and Baruch readeth in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of Jehovah, in the chamber of Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the opening of the new gate of the house of Jehovah, in the ears of all the people.
9And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, the king of Judah, in the ninth month, [that] they proclaimed a fast before Jehovah, for all the people in Jerusalem, and for all the people that came from the cities of Judah to Jerusalem.
10And Baruch read in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of Jehovah, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper court, at the entry of the new gate of the house of Jehovah, in the ears of all the people.
Meaning in one sentence
In Jeremiah 36:9-10, a fast proclaimed by the people sets the stage for Baruch to read Jeremiah's urgent prophecy in the temple.
Context
The scene is a nation holding its breath. It is the fifth year of King Jehoiakim, around December of 605 BC. Babylonian forces have already begun to press against Judah. In response, the people of Jerusalem and those who had come from surrounding towns for safety proclaimed a fast before Yahweh. This was not the prescribed Day of Atonement in the seventh month but an extraordinary fast, a cry for help. Jeremiah, constrained and unable to enter the temple himself, sent his scribe Baruch to read the scroll of his prophecies from an upper chamber belonging to Gemariah, a scribe’s son who likely sympathized with the prophet. The people gathered in the court below, listening to words that could save them if they would only turn.
Key Words
Three Hebrew words stand out in this passage. The first is tsom, meaning “fast.” In the Old Testament, a fast meant more than skipping meals; it was a physical sign of humbling oneself before God, acknowledging need and dependence. The people were not just hungry; they were desperate for mercy.
The second word is qara, translated “proclaimed.” It carries the force of a public cry or summons. The fast was not a private decision; it was declared publicly, calling everyone to join in seeking God together. The same verb is used later for Baruch reading aloud, it is an act of open declaration.
The third word is ozen, “ear.” The text says Baruch read “in the ears of all the people.” In Hebrew thought, the ear is the gateway to the heart. Hearing God’s word is not passive; it is the beginning of obedience. The people placed themselves in a position to receive what they desperately needed to hear.
How Christians Read This Verse
Commentators across traditions note the significance of this fast being proclaimed by the people, not the king. Calvin observed that Jehoiakim was ungodly and took no part, so the people acted out of necessity. Matthew Henry saw it as a hopeful sign: even under a wicked king, ordinary people could still humble themselves and seek God.
The location also draws attention. The chamber of Gemariah, son of Shaphan the scribe, belonged to a family with a history of protecting God’s word (Shaphan had read the book of the law to King Josiah). Lange’s Commentary suggests this chamber may have been large enough to accommodate listeners, or Baruch read from a window overlooking the court. All agree: God’s word found a way to reach the people despite opposition.
A common misunderstanding
A common mistake is to assume this fast was the annual Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:27), which falls in the seventh month. In fact, this was a special fast in the ninth month (December), likely called in response to the growing Babylonian threat. It was an extraordinary act of desperation, not a scheduled ritual.
Living This Out
This week, think about what it means to humble yourself before God when circumstances feel out of control. You may not need to fast from food, but you can set aside distractions to listen for His voice. Notice also how God’s word reached the people through a faithful servant when the prophet himself was restrained. If you feel shut in or limited, ask God how He wants to use you anyway, perhaps to read Scripture to someone else, or to support another who speaks His truth. The people gathered with open ears; try to start each day this week by asking God for ears ready to hear what He is saying to you.
Main takeaway: When people humble themselves before God and gather to hear His word, He can speak urgently into their crisis and offer a way back.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
The people were scared because bad things were happening. They decided to have a special day to pray and say sorry to God. Baruch read God’s words to them so they could hear what He wanted them to do.
For ages 9, 12
Jeremiah was not allowed to go into the temple, so he asked his friend Baruch to read his scroll for him. The people had called a fast because they knew they were in trouble and needed God’s help. Baruch stood in a room above the courtyard and read so everyone could hear. It shows that even when someone can’t speak, God’s message can still get through.
Questions People Ask
Why was the fast in the ninth month instead of the seventh?
The seventh month had the Day of Atonement, a regular fast commanded in the Law. But this fast in the ninth month was a special fast called during a crisis. The Babylonians were threatening Judah, and the people felt desperate enough to call an extraordinary day of humbling before God.
Who was Gemariah, and why did Baruch read from his chamber?
Gemariah was the son of Shaphan the scribe. Shaphan had been a faithful official under King Josiah who helped bring the Book of the Law to the king's attention. Gemariah likely shared his father's respect for God's word. His chamber in the temple gave Baruch a safe place to read where many people could hear from the upper court.
What does it mean that the people ‘proclaimed a fast’?
It means the call to fast was made publicly to everyone in Jerusalem and to people coming from the towns of Judah. It was not a private decision but a community-wide act of repentance and seeking God. The people themselves initiated it, not the king, showing their urgency and dependence on God.
Why couldn't Jeremiah go to the temple himself?
Jeremiah says in verse 5, 'I am restricted. I can’t go into Yahweh’s house.' The exact reason is not given, but he may have been under some form of house arrest or prevented by the authorities because his prophecies were unpopular. This is why he sent Baruch as his messenger.
What happened after Baruch read the scroll?
The following verses tell us that Micaiah, Gemariah's son, heard the reading and reported it to the king's officials. The officials then sent for Baruch to read it to them as well, and they were afraid. Eventually the scroll was read to King Jehoiakim, who cut it up and burned it, but Jeremiah and Baruch hid, and God told Jeremiah to write it all again.
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