Jeremiah 36:21

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.

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}.

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.

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.

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.

Commentary

Jeremiah 36:21 describes a pivotal moment in the confrontation between King Jehoiakim of Judah and the prophetic word of God delivered through Jeremiah. This verse details the king's initial interaction with the scroll containing divine judgment and warnings.

Context of Jeremiah 36:21

Chapter 36 of Jeremiah chronicles the prophet's instruction from the Lord to write down all the prophecies spoken against Israel, Judah, and all nations, hoping that the people might repent (Jeremiah 36:2-3). Jeremiah, being imprisoned or restricted, dictated these words to his scribe, Baruch son of Neriah (Jeremiah 36:4). Baruch then publicly read the scroll in the temple (Jeremiah 36:10), leading to its being brought before the princes. Intrigued, or perhaps concerned, King Jehoiakim demanded the scroll be brought to him. Verse 21 narrates Jehudi, a royal messenger, retrieving the scroll from Elishama the scribe's chamber and reading it aloud to the king and his attending princes. This event occurred during the turbulent reign of King Jehoiakim, a period marked by political instability and spiritual decline in Judah, shortly before the Babylonian exile.

Key Themes and Messages

  • The Authority of God's Word: The act of reading the scroll before the king underscores the divine authority of the message, even when delivered through a human prophet. It was not merely Jeremiah's opinion but the very word of the Lord.
  • Accessibility of Prophecy: The scroll was not hidden; it was read publicly and then brought directly to the highest authority, demonstrating that God's warnings were clearly communicated and accessible to all, from common people to the king.
  • Opportunity for Repentance: Even at this late stage, the reading of the prophetic scroll presented King Jehoiakim with an opportunity to hear God's warnings and turn from his wicked ways. His subsequent actions, however, reveal a hardened heart.
  • Royal Accountability: The scene highlights the king's responsibility to heed divine revelation. As the leader of the nation, his response to God's word had profound implications for Judah.

Linguistic Insights

The term "roll" (Hebrew: megillah) refers to a scroll, which was the standard format for writing and preserving texts in ancient times. The act of "reading it in the ears of the king" emphasizes an oral culture where public proclamation was a primary means of communication. The phrase implies a direct and personal hearing of the divine message, leaving no room for misinterpretation or claims of ignorance regarding the content of God's word.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 36:21 serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of engaging with God's word. Just as the scroll was brought directly to King Jehoiakim, so too is God's message available to us today through the Bible. Our response to it matters profoundly. Do we listen with an open heart ready for conviction and change, or do we, like Jehoiakim, dismiss or even destroy the message that challenges our comfort or sinful practices? This verse challenges us to consider our own receptiveness to God's living and active word. The king's defiant act of burning the scroll, detailed shortly after this verse (Jeremiah 36:23), stands as a stark warning against rejecting divine truth.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 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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