King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
So 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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
The king sent Y'hudi to bring the scroll, and he took it from the room of Elishama the secretary. Y'hudi read it to the king and all the officials standing near the king.
Berean Standard Bible:
Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king and all the officials who were standing beside him.
American Standard Version:
So 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.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
So the king{H4428} sent{H7971} Jehudi{H3065} to fetch{H3947} the roll{H4039}: and he took{H3947} it out of Elishama{H476} the scribe's{H5608} chamber{H3957}. And Jehudi{H3065} read{H7121} it in the ears{H241} of the king{H4428}, and in the ears{H241} of all the princes{H8269} which stood{H5975} beside{H5921} the king{H4428}.
Cross-References (KJV):
2 Kings 22:10
- And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
Ezekiel 2:4
- For [they are] impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 2:5
- And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they [are] a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.
2 Chronicles 34:18
- Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king.
Jeremiah 26:2
- Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:
Jeremiah 36:15
- And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read [it] in their ears.
Jeremiah 23:28
- The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What [is] the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD.
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Commentary for Jeremiah 36:21
Jeremiah 36:21 is set within the broader context of the reign of King Jehoiakim of Judah, during a period of great political turmoil and spiritual decline in the southern kingdom of Judah. This verse is part of a narrative that describes the prophet Jeremiah's confrontation with the king and the ruling elite over their disregard for God's laws and their unwillingness to repent.
In this verse, King Jehoiakim is presented with a scroll containing the words of God as spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, which had been transcribed by Jeremiah's scribe, Baruch. The king is urged to heed the divine message, which calls for repentance and warns of impending judgment should the people and their leaders continue in their wicked ways. The scroll had initially been read aloud by Baruch in the temple courtyard, where it attracted the attention of a royal official who then reported its contents to the king.
The historical context of this verse is significant. It was a time when the kingdom of Judah was under threat from the expanding Babylonian Empire. Jeremiah's message was not only a call to spiritual fidelity but also a geopolitical warning that aligning with Egypt against Babylon would lead to disaster. The king's actions in this verse—sending Jehudi to fetch the scroll and then having it read to him and his court—demonstrate a degree of interest or curiosity. However, the subsequent verses reveal that Jehoiakim's response to the divine message was one of contempt; he cut the scroll and threw it into the fire, piece by piece, as it was being read to him, showing his rejection of Jeremiah's prophecies.
The themes present in Jeremiah 36:21 include divine judgment, the importance of God's word, the role of prophets in society, and the consequences of rejecting divine guidance. This verse underscores the tension between the prophetic call for repentance and the human tendency to reject uncomfortable truths, especially when they challenge those in power. It also highlights the courage of the prophet and his scribe, who risked their safety to convey God's message to an unreceptive audience. The king's destruction of the scroll foreshadowed the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, as well as the exile of the Judeans to Babylon, events that would unfold as a direct result of the people's and their leaders' disobedience to God's law.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H4428
There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: melek
Pronunciation: meh'-lek
Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. - Strong's Number: H7971
There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלַח
Transliteration: shâlach
Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out). - Strong's Number: H3065
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהוּדִי
Transliteration: Yᵉhûwdîy
Pronunciation: yeh-hoo-dee'
Description: the same as יְהוּדִי; Jehudi, an Israelite; Jehudi. - Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H4039
There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְגִלָּה
Transliteration: mᵉgillâh
Pronunciation: meg-il-law'
Description: from גָּלַל; a roll; roll, volume. - Strong's Number: H476
There are 50 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֱלִישָׁמָע
Transliteration: ʼĔlîyshâmâʻ
Pronunciation: el-ee-shaw-maw'
Description: from אֵל and שָׁמַע; God of hearing; Elishama, the name of seven Israelites; Elishama. - Strong's Number: H5608
There are 154 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: סָפַר
Transliteration: çâphar
Pronunciation: saw-far'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e. (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e. celebrate; commune, (ac-) count; declare, number, [phrase] penknife, reckon, scribe, shew forth, speak, talk, tell (out), writer. - Strong's Number: H3957
There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לִשְׁכָּה
Transliteration: lishkâh
Pronunciation: lish-kaw'
Description: from an unused root of uncertain meaning; a room in a building (whether for storage, eating, or lodging); chamber, parlour. Compare נִשְׁכָּה. - Strong's Number: H7121
There are 689 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָרָא
Transliteration: qârâʼ
Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
Description: a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say. - Strong's Number: H241
There are 652 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹזֶן
Transliteration: ʼôzen
Pronunciation: o'-zen
Description: from אָזַן; broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man); [phrase] advertise, audience, [phrase] displease, ear, hearing, [phrase] show. - Strong's Number: H8269
There are 368 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שַׂר
Transliteration: sar
Pronunciation: sar
Description: from שָׂרַר; a head person (of any rank or class); captain (that had rule), chief (captain), general, governor, keeper, lord,(-task-)master, prince(-ipal), ruler, steward. - Strong's Number: H5975
There are 495 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָמַד
Transliteration: ʻâmad
Pronunciation: aw-mad'
Description: a primitive root; to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive); abide (behind), appoint, arise, cease, confirm, continue, dwell, be employed, endure, establish, leave, make, ordain, be (over), place, (be) present (self), raise up, remain, repair, [phrase] serve, set (forth, over, -tle, up), (make to, make to be at a, with-) stand (by, fast, firm, still, up), (be at a) stay (up), tarry. - Strong's Number: H5921
There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עַל
Transliteration: ʻal
Pronunciation: al
Description: properly, the same as עַל used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications; above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with.