TRV
Jeremiah 36:23
Bible Versions
And it came to pass, [that] when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast [it] into the fire that [was] on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that [was] on the hearth.
And it came to pass, that when Jehudi {H3065} had read {H7121} three {H7969} or four {H702} leaves {H1817}, he cut {H7167} it with the penknife {H8593}{H5608}, and cast {H7993} it into the fire {H784} that was on the hearth {H254}, until all the roll {H4039} was consumed {H8552} in the fire {H784} that was on the hearth {H254}.
After Y'hudi had read three or four columns from the scroll, he would cut off that portion with a knife and throw it into the fire that was burning in the stove, until the entire scroll had been consumed by the fire in the stove.
And as soon as Jehudi had read three or four columns, Jehoiakim would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll had been consumed by the fire.
And it came to pass, when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, that the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.
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1 Kings 22:8
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, [There is] yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. -
Proverbs 19:21
¶ [There are] many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. -
Proverbs 1:30
They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. -
Isaiah 5:18
¶ Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: -
Isaiah 5:19
That say, Let him make speed, [and] hasten his work, that we may see [it]: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know [it]! -
Proverbs 21:30
¶ [There is] no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. -
Proverbs 13:13
¶ Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
Jeremiah 36:23 vividly describes King Jehoiakim's defiant act against the word of the Lord, as delivered through the prophet Jeremiah.
Context
This verse is a pivotal moment in the narrative of Jeremiah 36. Jeremiah, forbidden from entering the temple, dictated all the prophecies God had given him to his scribe, Baruch (Jeremiah 36:4). Baruch then read this scroll publicly in the temple and later to the princes, who, recognizing the gravity of the message, brought it to King Jehoiakim. The scene here is set in the king's winter palace, where a fire burned on the hearth to provide warmth. As Jehudi, the king's official, read the scroll containing God's warnings of judgment against Judah and Jerusalem, Jehoiakim's contempt became evident.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The term "leaves" refers to the columns of text on the ancient scroll, which were typically written in vertical sections. The "penknife" (Hebrew: sapar or ta'ar hasopher) was a scribe's knife, commonly used for sharpening reeds or trimming papyrus/parchment. Its use here for destructive purposes highlights the king's deliberate and violent rejection of the sacred text. The "roll" (Hebrew: megillah) is the standard term for a scroll, the primary form of written document in the ancient Near East.
Practical Application
Jeremiah 36:23 serves as a powerful reminder of how we, individually and collectively, respond to God's word. Do we receive it with humility and a desire to obey, or do we, like Jehoiakim, reject or attempt to diminish its authority? This passage encourages us to reverence Scripture, recognizing that it is not merely human words but the living and enduring word of God (Isaiah 40:8, Matthew 24:35). Ultimately, attempts to destroy or ignore divine truth are futile, as God's plans and His word will always stand firm.