36:17 36:17

Jeremiah 36:18

36:19 36:19

Bible Versions

Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote [them] with ink in the book.
Then Baruch {H1263} answered {H559} them, He pronounced {H7121} all these words {H1697} unto me with his mouth {H6310}, and I wrote {H3789} them with ink {H1773} in the book {H5612}.
Barukh answered them, "He said all these words to me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the scroll."
“It was at his dictation,” Baruch replied. “He recited all these words to me and I wrote them in ink on the scroll.”
Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.

Context

Jeremiah 36:18 is part of a significant narrative detailing the first written scroll of Jeremiah's prophecies. In an act of divine instruction, God commanded the prophet Jeremiah to record all the words He had spoken concerning Israel, Judah, and all nations (Jeremiah 36:2). Since Jeremiah was imprisoned or restricted, he enlisted his faithful scribe, Baruch son of Neriah, to write down the prophecies as he dictated them.

This particular verse comes during a critical moment. After Baruch read the scroll to the people in the Temple, and later to the princes (officials) in the scribe's chamber, the princes were deeply concerned by the ominous messages. They sent for Baruch to explain how the scroll was created. Baruch's answer in verse 18 confirms that every word was directly from Jeremiah's mouth, emphasizing the prophetic origin and the meticulous process of transcription, setting the stage for the scroll's fateful encounter with King Jehoiakim (Jeremiah 36:23).

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Inspiration and Authority: Baruch's statement highlights that the words were not his own, nor merely Jeremiah's invention, but flowed directly from the prophet as God's mouthpiece. This underscores the divine origin and authority of the prophetic message.
  • The Role of the Scribe: Baruch exemplifies the crucial role of a faithful scribe in preserving and transmitting God's word. He was not merely a copyist but a diligent recorder of revelation, ensuring the message was accurately captured "with ink in the book."
  • Preservation of God's Word: Despite the subsequent destruction of this first scroll by King Jehoiakim, the meticulous recording by Baruch ensured that God's message would be preserved and eventually re-written, emphasizing God's determination for His word to reach His people.
  • Authenticity of Prophecy: Baruch's testimony serves as an attestation to the authenticity of the scroll's content, confirming that it was indeed Jeremiah's prophetic utterance, not a fabrication.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth" emphasizes the oral dictation process. The Hebrew verb for "pronounced" is qara' (קָרָא), which means "to call out," "to proclaim," or "to read." Here, it vividly describes Jeremiah's active role in speaking forth the prophecies. The term "book" (sepher, סֵפֶר) refers to a scroll, the common format for written documents in ancient Israel, indicating the physical medium on which Baruch recorded the divine message.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 36:18 reminds us of the meticulous care taken in the ancient world to record and preserve sacred texts. It reinforces our trust in the reliability and divine origin of the Bible we read today. Just as Baruch faithfully penned every word, we can have confidence that God's message has been accurately transmitted through generations.

This verse also highlights the importance of those who faithfully communicate God's truth, whether through writing, teaching, or preaching. Their role, like Baruch's, is to accurately convey the message, not to invent it. It encourages us to approach the scriptures with respect for their divine authority and to seek to understand and apply the words that God has revealed through His chosen servants.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 36:4

    Then 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.

  • Jeremiah 36:2

    Take 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.

  • Jeremiah 43:2

    Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there:

  • Jeremiah 43:3

    But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon.

  • Proverbs 26:4

    ¶ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

  • Proverbs 26:5

    Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
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