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.
Take {H3947} thee a roll {H4039} of a book {H5612}, and write {H3789} therein all the words {H1697} that I have spoken {H1696} unto thee against Israel {H3478}, and against Judah {H3063}, and against all the nations {H1471}, from the day {H3117} I spake {H1696} unto thee, from the days {H3117} of Josiah {H2977}, even unto this day {H3117}.
"Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you against Isra'el, Y'hudah and all the other nations, from the day I started speaking to you, back in the time of Yoshiyahu, until today.
“Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations, from the day I first spoke to you during the reign of Josiah until today.
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.
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Jeremiah 30:2
Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. -
Exodus 17:14
And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this [for] a memorial in a book, and rehearse [it] in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. -
Jeremiah 25:3
From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that [is] the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened. -
Jeremiah 1:10
See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant. -
Jeremiah 36:6
Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD'S house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities. -
Jeremiah 51:60
So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, [even] all these words that are written against Babylon. -
Jeremiah 25:9
Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.
Jeremiah 36:2 (KJV) records a direct command from God to the prophet Jeremiah, instructing him to compile all his prophecies into a written scroll. This pivotal moment underscores the importance of God's message being preserved and delivered to a rebellious nation.
Context
This divine instruction came to Jeremiah during the reign of King Jehoiakim, specifically in his fourth year (as indicated in Jeremiah 36:1). The command was to record all the words God had spoken to Jeremiah "from the days of Josiah, even unto this day." This period spanned over two decades, during which Jeremiah had faithfully delivered warnings against the widespread idolatry and moral corruption in Judah and Israel, as well as prophecies concerning surrounding nations. The act of writing was a desperate, final attempt by God to call His people to repentance before the impending Babylonian invasion and exile.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The phrase "roll of a book" translates the Hebrew megillat sepher (מְגִלַּת סֵפֶר), which literally means "scroll of a writing." This refers to the common medium for recording texts in ancient times—parchment or papyrus sheets sewn together and rolled up. The physical act of writing on a scroll, rather than simply speaking, gave the message a tangible, permanent form, making it accessible for public reading and future reference, even after Jeremiah himself was gone. This act of inscription underscored the gravity and permanence of God's pronouncements.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 36:2 reminds us of the enduring nature and vital importance of God's written word. Just as God commanded Jeremiah to write down His messages for the people of his day, so too do we have the Bible, a comprehensive record of God's revelation, warnings, and promises. This verse encourages us to: