Jeremiah 36:24

KJV

Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, [neither] the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.

KJV (with Strong's)

Yet they were not afraid {H6342}, nor rent {H7167} their garments {H899}, neither the king {H4428}, nor any of his servants {H5650} that heard {H8085} all these words {H1697}.

Complete Jewish Bible

But even though they heard all these words, neither the king nor any of his servants grew afraid or tore their clothes.

Berean Standard Bible

Yet in hearing all these words, the king and his servants did not become frightened or tear their garments.

American Standard Version

And they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 36:24 starkly portrays the profound spiritual indifference and defiant apathy of King Jehoiakim and his court. Despite hearing the scroll containing God's direct and dire warnings of impending judgment against Judah, delivered through the prophet Jeremiah and recorded by Baruch, neither the king nor his servants displayed any fear, remorse, or the customary signs of repentance. Their chilling lack of response highlights a deep-seated rebellion against divine authority and a dangerous disregard for the gravity of God's word, setting the stage for the inevitable fulfillment of the very judgments they scorned.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is a pivotal moment within [Jeremiah 36](/jeremiah/36 "Jeremiah 36 - The Burning of the Scroll"), a chapter dedicated to the dramatic confrontation between God's word and human defiance. Jeremiah, divinely commanded to record all the words spoken against Israel, Judah, and all nations (as detailed in [Jeremiah 36:2](/jeremiah/36-2 "Jeremiah 36:2 - God's Command to Write")), dictated these prophecies to his scribe Baruch. The scroll was first read publicly to the people in the temple, then to the king's officials who, though somewhat troubled, presented it to King Jehoiakim. The climax of the narrative, immediately preceding this verse, is Jehoiakim's outrageous act of cutting and burning the scroll piece by piece as it was read to him ([Jeremiah 36:23](/jeremiah/36-23 "Jeremiah 36:23 - Jehoiakim Burns the Scroll")). Verse 24 then describes the shocking lack of a proper, reverent response from the king and his entire retinue, underscoring their shared culpability and spiritual blindness.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of [Jeremiah 36](/jeremiah/36 "Jeremiah 36 - Jehoiakim's Defiance") occurred during the reign of King Jehoiakim (609-598 BC), a period marked by political instability and increasing Babylonian dominance. Jehoiakim was a vassal king, placed on the throne by Pharaoh Neco II after the death of his righteous father, King Josiah. Unlike Josiah, who responded to the discovery of the Book of the Law with deep humility and repentance ([2 Kings 22:11](/2_kings/22-11 "2 Kings 22:11 - Josiah's Repentance")), Jehoiakim was known for his oppressive rule, injustice, and idolatry ([Jeremiah 22:13-19](/jeremiah/22-13 "Jeremiah 22:13-19 - Judgment on Jehoiakim")). The cultural practice of "rending garments" was a powerful, widely recognized symbol of intense grief, mourning, distress, or profound repentance in the ancient Near East, often in response to tragic news, blasphemy, or a divine pronouncement. The explicit mention that neither the king nor his servants performed this act, despite hearing God's word, powerfully conveys their utter lack of fear, remorse, or respect for the sacred message, emphasizing their defiant and unrepentant posture before God.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Jeremiah and the broader biblical narrative. The most prominent is the **hardness of heart**, illustrating Judah's deep-seated spiritual insensitivity and their refusal to acknowledge God's word, demonstrating a profound stubbornness and rebellion against divine authority, a theme echoed in [Jeremiah 5:23](/jeremiah/5-23 "Jeremiah 5:23 - A Stubborn and Rebellious Heart"). It also highlights the dangerous act of **rejection of prophetic warning**, showing the perilous consequences of dismissing God's clear messages and the messengers He sends ([2 Chronicles 36:15-16](/2_chronicles/36-15 "2 Chronicles 36:15-16 - Mocking God's Messengers")). Furthermore, the phrase "not afraid, nor rent their garments" underscores a pervasive **spiritual apathy** within the leadership, indicating they were unmoved by the gravity of God's word, which spoke of national catastrophe and divine judgment. This apathy ultimately sealed their fate, demonstrating that persistent unrepentance leads to the inevitable fulfillment of divine warnings.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **afraid (Hebrew, _pâchad'_):** This word, H6342, means "to be startled (by a sudden alarm); hence, to fear in general; be afraid, stand in awe." Its use here emphasizes the complete absence of the expected, natural human response to a terrifying divine pronouncement. There was no terror, no awe, no recognition of the immense power and authority behind the words.
* **rent (Hebrew, _qâraʻ'_):** H7167 signifies "to rend, literally or figuratively (revile, paint the eyes, as if enlarging them); cut out, tear." In this context, it specifically refers to the symbolic act of tearing one's clothes as a sign of deep distress, mourning, or repentance. The negation ("nor rent") highlights their utter lack of contrition, grief, or acknowledgment of sin in the face of God's judgment.
* **words (Hebrew, _dâbâr'_):** H1697 is a rich and multifaceted term meaning "a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause." Here, it refers to the entirety of God's prophetic message, the divine communication that Jeremiah dictated. The fact that they "heard all these words" yet remained unmoved underscores their deliberate and conscious rejection of God's revealed will, not out of ignorance, but out of defiance.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Yet they were not afraid":** This clause immediately establishes the shocking lack of a proper emotional or spiritual response. Instead of the expected terror or awe in the face of divine judgment, the king and his court exhibited an unsettling composure, indicating a profound spiritual deadness and defiance towards the Almighty.
* **"nor rent their garments":** This further deepens the portrayal of their insensitivity. The tearing of garments was a universally understood sign of deep sorrow, repentance, or distress in ancient Israel. Their refusal to perform this customary act signifies a complete absence of contrition, grief for their sins, or any recognition of the severity of the impending doom God had pronounced.
* **"neither the king, nor any of his servants":** This specifies the scope of the indifference, indicating that the spiritual apathy was not isolated to Jehoiakim but permeated his entire court. This collective lack of fear and repentance suggests a widespread spiritual corruption within the leadership, where the king's defiant spirit was mirrored by those around him.
* **"that heard all these words":** This crucial phrase emphasizes that their indifference was not due to ignorance or misunderstanding. They had fully heard and presumably comprehended the grave pronouncements of God. Their lack of response was therefore a conscious, deliberate act of rebellion against the divine message, making their culpability all the greater.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. **Irony** is prominent, as the expected reaction to a divine warning of national catastrophe (fear, repentance, tearing of garments) is completely absent, replaced by chilling indifference. This creates a stark contrast between what should be and what is. **Symbolism** is central through the mention of "rent their garments," which is a potent visual symbol of mourning and repentance. The explicit *negation* of this act powerfully symbolizes the king's and his court's hardened hearts and their outright rejection of God's authority. Furthermore, the verse uses **Understatement** (or *litotes*) by simply stating what they *did not* do, which paradoxically emphasizes the profound depth of their spiritual apathy and defiance more effectively than a direct statement of their hardness would. The collective "neither the king, nor any of his servants" highlights the **Collective Guilt** of the leadership, showing that the spiritual malaise was pervasive.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 36:24 serves as a stark theological warning about the dangers of spiritual indifference and the tragic consequences of rejecting God's word. It illustrates the profound human capacity for hardening the heart against divine truth, even when confronted with clear and direct pronouncements from the Creator. This passage underscores God's unwavering faithfulness in delivering His warnings, even to a rebellious people, and highlights the severe judgment that inevitably follows prolonged and defiant unrepentance. The king's actions represent the culmination of Judah's spiritual decline, demonstrating how a nation's leadership can lead its people further into apostasy by rejecting the very source of their life and well-being. This event foreshadows the ultimate fall of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile, directly linking their defiance to their doom.

* [Exodus 7:3](/exodus/7-3 "Exodus 7:3 - Pharaoh's Hardened Heart")
* [Proverbs 1:24-28](/proverbs/1-24 "Proverbs 1:24-28 - Consequences of Rejecting Wisdom")
* [Acts 7:51](/acts/7-51 "Acts 7:51 - Stephen's Rebuke of a Stiff-Necked People")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 36:24 is a sobering mirror for every individual and community, prompting deep self-examination regarding our posture toward God's word. The chilling indifference of Jehoiakim and his court serves as a potent reminder that merely hearing divine truth is insufficient; true spiritual health is evidenced by a humble, responsive heart that trembles at God's word. This passage challenges us to consider whether we, too, are prone to spiritual apathy, dismissing warnings, or selectively embracing only the parts of Scripture that are comfortable. In a world saturated with information, it's easy to become desensitized, even to eternal truths. This verse calls us to cultivate a tender heart, sensitive to the Holy Spirit's promptings, and to recognize that God's warnings are not empty threats but expressions of His justice, love, and desire for our repentance and flourishing. To ignore them, like Jehoiakim, is to invite inevitable and often painful consequences, while embracing them leads to life.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I typically respond when confronted with challenging or convicting truths from God's Word? Do I receive them with humility and a desire to obey, or with indifference or resistance?**
* **What are the signs of spiritual apathy in my own life, and how can I actively cultivate a more sensitive and responsive heart towards God?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be inadvertently "burning the scroll" by dismissing God's commands or warnings?**
* **Considering the severe consequences faced by Jehoiakim, what does this passage teach me about the importance of immediate and sincere repentance?**

### FAQ
**What was the significance of "renting garments" in ancient Israel, and why was its absence so notable here?**

Answer: Tearing one's garments was a deeply symbolic and culturally significant act in ancient Israel and the broader Near East. It was a visible, outward expression of intense emotion, typically signifying profound grief, mourning, distress, shock, or deep repentance. For example, Jacob tore his clothes upon hearing of Joseph's supposed death ([Genesis 37:34](/genesis/37-34 "Genesis 37:34 - Jacob's Grief")), and King Josiah tore his clothes when he heard the words of the Law, recognizing his people's sin ([2 Kings 22:11](/2_kings/22-11 "2 Kings 22:11 - Josiah's Repentance")). In Jeremiah 36:24, the explicit mention that neither King Jehoiakim nor his servants "rent their garments" is highly significant because it demonstrates their complete lack of fear, remorse, or concern in response to God's severe prophetic warnings. It underscores their defiant and unrepentant posture, highlighting their spiritual insensitivity and rejection of divine authority.

**What happened to King Jehoiakim and Judah after this act of defiance?**

Answer: King Jehoiakim's defiance and the widespread spiritual apathy of Judah's leadership ultimately led to the fulfillment of the very judgments he scorned. Despite Jeremiah's warnings, Jehoiakim continued his wicked ways. The Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar, besieged Jerusalem. Jehoiakim was eventually taken captive, and according to [2 Kings 24:6](/2_kings/24-6 "2 Kings 24:6 - Jehoiakim's Death"), he "rested with his fathers," though Jeremiah had prophesied a dishonorable burial for him ([Jeremiah 22:18-19](/jeremiah/22-18 "Jeremiah 22:18-19 - Jehoiakim's Dishonorable Burial")). Judah subsequently faced further invasions, and eventually, Jerusalem was destroyed, and its people were carried into exile in Babylon, precisely as God's "words" (dâbâr) had foretold ([2 Kings 25:1-11](/2_kings/25-1 "2 Kings 25:1-11 - The Fall of Jerusalem")).

**How does this event relate to Jeremiah's broader ministry and message?**

Answer: This event is central to understanding Jeremiah's prophetic ministry, which was largely characterized by the painful experience of being a prophet of doom to a people unwilling to listen. Jeremiah's message consistently called for repentance and warned of impending judgment due to Judah's idolatry and injustice ([Jeremiah 7:1-15](/jeremiah/7-1 "Jeremiah 7:1-15 - The Temple Sermon")). The burning of the scroll and the indifference of Jehoiakim's court perfectly encapsulate the core tension of Jeremiah's prophetic calling: God's persistent efforts to warn and save His people, met with their stubborn resistance and rejection. This episode highlights the profound spiritual blindness that afflicted Judah's leadership, making Jeremiah's ministry one of profound sorrow and frustration, as his words, though from God, were largely ignored or actively opposed, ultimately leading to the very destruction he sought to avert.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 36:24, with its chilling depiction of a king and his court unmoved by God's word, finds its ultimate and tragic fulfillment in humanity's rejection of Jesus Christ, the living Word of God. Just as Jehoiakim dismissed the written prophecies, so too did many in Israel, particularly its religious and political leaders, dismiss and ultimately crucify the very Son of God, who embodied and perfectly fulfilled all the prophets' words. The indifference to the scroll in Jeremiah's day foreshadows the world's apathy towards the "good news" that Jesus proclaimed, often met with scorn, disbelief, and outright hostility rather than fear and repentance ([John 1:10-11](/john/1-10 "John 1:10-11 - He Came to His Own")).

Unlike Jehoiakim, who refused to "rend his garments" in sorrow, Jesus, the Lamb of God, was literally "rent" for the sins of the world—His body broken on the cross, and the temple veil torn from top to bottom ([Matthew 27:51](/matthew/27-51 "Matthew 27:51 - The Temple Veil Torn")), symbolizing the ultimate grief and sacrifice required to bridge the chasm of sin. The "words" (dâbâr) that Jehoiakim heard and rejected were warnings of judgment; the "Word" (Logos) that came in Christ brought not only warnings but also the offer of salvation and eternal life ([John 3:16-18](/john/3-16 "John 3:16-18 - God So Loved the World")). While Jehoiakim's defiance sealed his kingdom's fate, the rejection of Christ, though leading to judgment for those who persist in unbelief, simultaneously opened the way for all who believe to receive forgiveness and new life, demonstrating God's ultimate plan to overcome human rebellion through divine love and sacrifice ([Romans 5:8](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8 - God Demonstrates His Love")). Thus, Jeremiah 36:24 serves as a powerful Old Testament shadow, highlighting the persistent human tendency to reject God's truth, which finds its most profound and redemptive counterpoint in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

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.

Cross-References

Jeremiah 36:16

Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they were afraid both one and other, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words.

Psalms 36:1

¶ To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David the servant of the LORD. The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, [that there is] no fear of God before his eyes.

2 Kings 19:1

¶ And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard [it], that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.

2 Kings 19:2

And he sent Eliakim, which [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.

Isaiah 36:22

Then came Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah, that [was] over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, to Hezekiah with [their] clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

Isaiah 37:1

¶ And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard [it], that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.

1 Kings 21:27

And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.