Jeremiah 36:26

KJV

But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them.

KJV (with Strong's)

But the king {H4428} commanded {H6680} Jerahmeel {H3396} the son {H1121} of Hammelech {H4429}, and Seraiah {H8304} the son {H1121} of Azriel {H5837}, and Shelemiah {H8018} the son {H1121} of Abdeel {H5655}, to take {H3947} Baruch {H1263} the scribe {H5608} and Jeremiah {H3414} the prophet {H5030}: but the LORD {H3068} hid {H5641} them.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then the king ordered Yerachme'el the king's son, S'rayahu the son of 'Azri'el and Shelemyahu the son of 'Avde'el to arrest Barukh the scribe and Yirmeyahu the prophet; but ADONAI hid them.

Berean Standard Bible

Instead, the king commanded Jerahmeel, a son of the king, as well as Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel, to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet. But the LORD had hidden them.

American Standard Version

And the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet; but Jehovah hid them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 36:26 records King Jehoiakim's furious and defiant response to the prophetic scroll dictated by Jeremiah and written by Baruch. Following his sacrilegious act of burning the scroll, the king commanded his officials to apprehend both the prophet Jeremiah and his scribe Baruch. However, the verse culminates in a powerful declaration of divine intervention: "but the LORD hid them," a testament to God's absolute sovereignty and His unwavering protection over His messengers and His inviolable word in the face of human rebellion and hostility.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a dramatic climax within [Jeremiah chapter 36](/jeremiah/36 "Jeremiah 36 - The Burning of the Scroll"), which meticulously chronicles the writing, public reading, and ultimate rejection of God's prophetic word by King Jehoiakim. Earlier in the chapter, Jeremiah, confined and unable to go to the temple, was divinely instructed to record all the prophecies given against Judah and Jerusalem, dictating them to his faithful scribe Baruch. Baruch then read this scroll publicly in the temple courts (as described in [Jeremiah 36:10](/jeremiah/36-10 "Jeremiah 36:10 - Baruch Reads the Scroll in the Temple")) and subsequently to the king's officials. When the scroll reached King Jehoiakim, he defiantly cut and burned it piece by piece, demonstrating his utter contempt for God's warnings and judgments (a shocking act detailed in [Jeremiah 36:23](/jeremiah/36-23 "Jeremiah 36:23 - Jehoiakim Burns the Scroll")). The king's command to seize Jeremiah and Baruch, as found in [Jeremiah 36:26](/jeremiah/36-26 "Jeremiah 36:26 - God Hides Jeremiah and Baruch"), immediately follows this unprecedented act of rebellion, escalating the conflict from verbal rejection to physical persecution. This event sets the stage for Jeremiah's re-dictation of the scroll, with added pronouncements of judgment against Jehoiakim, underscoring the futility of human attempts to silence divine truth (as seen in [Jeremiah 36:27-32](/jeremiah/36-27-32 "Jeremiah 36:27-32 - The Scroll Rewritten with Added Judgments")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The events of [Jeremiah 36](/jeremiah/36 "Jeremiah 36 - Jehoiakim's Defiance") unfold during the turbulent reign of King Jehoiakim (609-598 BC), a period marked by profound geopolitical instability. Judah was precariously situated between the declining Assyrian empire, the ascendant Neo-Babylonian empire, and the lingering influence of Egypt. Jehoiakim, installed as a puppet king by Pharaoh Neco II (as recounted in [2 Kings 23:34](/2_kings/23-34 "2 Kings 23:34 - Jehoiakim Becomes King")), was notorious for his oppressive rule, flagrant injustice, and profound disregard for God's law, standing in stark contrast to his father Josiah's righteous reforms. In the ancient Near Eastern cultural context, prophetic scrolls were revered as direct divine messages, and their public reading was a significant spiritual and political act. The king's act of burning the scroll was not merely political defiance; it was a profound sacrilege, a direct insult to Yahweh, and an unprecedented act of contempt for a written divine revelation. Such an act would have been perceived as an open declaration of war against the God of Israel, inviting severe repercussions.
* **Key Themes:** [Jeremiah 36:26](/jeremiah/36-26 "Jeremiah 36:26 - God's Protection of His Prophets") powerfully highlights several core themes prevalent throughout the book of Jeremiah and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it underscores the **Sovereignty of God** over human authority; despite the king's absolute power and malicious intent, God's protective hand renders his command utterly futile. Secondly, it vividly portrays the **Opposition to God's Word**, a recurring motif where human pride, arrogance, and rebellion clash violently with divine truth. Jehoiakim's rejection and destruction of the scroll mirrors Israel's long history of resisting prophetic warnings, leading inevitably to judgment (a theme powerfully echoed in [Jeremiah 7](/jeremiah/7 "Jeremiah 7 - The Temple Sermon") and [Jeremiah 26](/jeremiah/26 "Jeremiah 26 - Jeremiah's Trial")). Thirdly, the verse exemplifies **Divine Protection and Providence** for God's faithful servants. Even when facing dire threats and the full force of royal opposition, those who faithfully proclaim God's message can trust in His unwavering commitment to their safety and the ultimate triumph of His purposes, a promise God had given to Jeremiah at his initial call (see [Jeremiah 1:19](/jeremiah/1-19 "Jeremiah 1:19 - God's Promise of Protection to Jeremiah")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **commanded (Hebrew, _tsâvâh'_):** This primitive root signifies an intensive act of constituting or enjoining. It implies a formal, authoritative directive, highlighting the king's absolute power and his deliberate, forceful intent to apprehend Jeremiah and Baruch. Jehoiakim's command was not a mere suggestion but a royal decree, backed by the full force of his governmental authority, demonstrating his resolve to suppress the prophetic message.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** This is the sacred, covenantal name of God, emphasizing His self-existent and eternal nature. Its inclusion here is crucial, as it identifies the divine agent of protection. It is not by chance or human cleverness that Jeremiah and Baruch escape, but by the direct, intentional intervention of the sovereign God of Israel, who is faithful to His covenant and His messengers. This name underscores God's personal involvement and His commitment to His word.
* **hid (Hebrew, _çâthar'_):** This primitive root means to conceal, hide, or keep secret, often implying an active, intentional act of covering. In this context, it denotes a supernatural act of divine concealment. God did not merely allow them to escape detection; He actively intervened to make them invisible or inaccessible to the king's search party, ensuring their safety and the continuation of His prophetic word. This "hiding" is a demonstration of God's power over human will and political authority.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel,"**: This clause details the king's immediate and decisive action following his desecration of the scroll. King Jehoiakim, enraged by the prophetic warnings and his own act of defiance, dispatches specific, high-ranking officials—Jerahmeel, Seraiah, and Shelemiah—to apprehend Jeremiah and Baruch. The mention of these named individuals underscores the seriousness of the king's intent and the official, state-sanctioned nature of the pursuit. Their titles ("son of Hammelech" possibly indicating a royal prince or someone "of the king") suggest they were trusted and capable agents of the crown, indicating the full weight of royal authority was brought to bear.
* **"to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet:"**: This specifies the precise targets of the king's command. Baruch, as the scribe who physically wrote and read the scroll, and Jeremiah, as the prophet who dictated it, were seen as the direct human conduits of the offensive divine message. The king's aim was to silence the prophetic voice and suppress the word of God by seizing its human messengers, likely intending imprisonment, torture, or even execution. This highlights the king's direct confrontation not just with the men, but with the divine message itself, which he perceived as a threat to his authority and lifestyle.
* **"but the LORD hid them."**: This is the pivotal and most profound part of the verse, introducing a stark contrast ("but") to the king's command. Despite the king's immense power, his specific orders, and the deployment of his trusted officials, their efforts were completely thwarted by a divine act. The LORD (Yahweh) actively intervened to conceal Jeremiah and Baruch, rendering them undetectable by the king's search party. This divine hiding was not a passive oversight by the king's men but an active, supernatural intervention, demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to protect His chosen servants and ensure His word would not be silenced or destroyed by human defiance.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is rich in **Contrast**, setting the king's furious command and human efforts against the LORD's quiet, yet absolute, intervention. This creates a powerful dramatic effect, highlighting the futility of human power when it opposes divine will. There is also significant **Irony** at play: the king attempts to destroy the word of God and silence its messengers, but God's protection ensures that the word not only survives but is later re-written with even greater severity, demonstrating the indestructible nature of divine truth and the ultimate impotence of human rebellion. The phrase "the LORD hid them" functions as a clear statement of **Divine Intervention**, an explicit declaration of God's direct, miraculous action in human affairs, underscoring His active role in protecting His purposes and His people.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 36:26 stands as a powerful testament to the enduring truth that no human authority, however mighty or malicious, can ultimately thwart the purposes of God or silence His spoken word. The king's attempt to seize Jeremiah and Baruch, driven by a desire to suppress an uncomfortable truth, is met with the quiet but absolute sovereignty of Yahweh. This divine protection underscores God's unwavering commitment to His covenant and His faithfulness to those He calls to proclaim His message, even in the face of mortal danger. It reveals that God's plan is not contingent upon human compliance or vulnerable to human opposition, but rather unfolds according to His perfect will, demonstrating that His counsel will stand and His word will accomplish its intended purpose.

* [Psalm 91:1](/psalm/91-1 "Psalm 91:1 - Dwelling in the Secret Place of the Most High")
* [Isaiah 55:11](/isaiah/55-11 "Isaiah 55:11 - God's Word Accomplishes Its Purpose")
* [Acts 5:17-20](/acts/5-17-20 "Acts 5:17-20 - Peter and John Miraculously Released from Prison")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah 36:26 offers profound encouragement and a stark warning for believers today. For those who faithfully proclaim God's truth, especially in a world often hostile to it, this verse provides a comforting assurance: our ultimate safety and the efficacy of God's word do not depend on human power or favorable circumstances, but on the sovereign hand of God. Just as He supernaturally hid Jeremiah and Baruch from the king's wrath, He is able to protect His servants and ensure His message prevails, even when faced with intense opposition, persecution, or attempts at suppression. This should embolden us to speak truth boldly, knowing that the Lord is our ultimate defender and that His word, unlike human decrees, cannot be burned, silenced, or destroyed. Conversely, for those who might be tempted to resist or suppress God's truth, this passage serves as a solemn reminder of the futility of such efforts; human rebellion against divine revelation ultimately leads to greater judgment, as seen in Jehoiakim's subsequent fate and the eventual fall of Jerusalem. We are called to stand with God's word, not against it.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life or ministry am I tempted to fear human opposition or rejection more than I trust in God's sovereign protection and the power of His word?**
* **How does King Jehoiakim's defiant attempt to silence God's word challenge my own willingness to hear and obey uncomfortable truths from Scripture, even when they confront my desires or worldview?**
* **What does the phrase "the LORD hid them" teach me about God's active involvement, personal care, and miraculous provision for His people in times of danger and opposition?**
* **Considering the enduring nature of God's word, despite all attempts to suppress it, how can this passage strengthen my resolve and courage to share the Gospel and stand for truth in a hostile world?**

### FAQ
**Why did King Jehoiakim want to seize Jeremiah and Baruch?**

Answer: King Jehoiakim wanted to seize Jeremiah and Baruch because he was enraged by the prophecies contained in the scroll they had written and read. These prophecies foretold severe divine judgment against Judah and Jerusalem, including the king's own downfall and the destruction of the city, due to their widespread unfaithfulness and sin. Jehoiakim's act of defiantly burning the scroll (as detailed in [Jeremiah 36:23](/jeremiah/36-23 "Jeremiah 36:23 - Jehoiakim Burns the Scroll")) demonstrated his utter contempt for God's word, and his subsequent command to seize the prophet and scribe was a desperate attempt to silence the messengers and suppress the uncomfortable, condemning truth they proclaimed.

**How did the LORD "hide" Jeremiah and Baruch?**

Answer: The Bible does not provide specific details on the precise method God used to "hide" Jeremiah and Baruch. The Hebrew word `çâthar` (H5641) implies an active, intentional act of concealment, suggesting a direct divine intervention. It could have been through various supernatural means, such as making them invisible to their pursuers, diverting the king's search parties through divine providence, or providing a safe, secret refuge that was divinely protected from discovery. The emphasis of the text is not on the 'how' but on the 'who'—that it was the LORD Himself, Yahweh, who intervened directly and supernaturally to protect His servants, ensuring their safety and the continuation of His vital prophetic message.

**What happened to Jeremiah and Baruch after this event?**

Answer: After this miraculous concealment, Jeremiah was commanded by the LORD to take another scroll and dictate all the previous words, plus many more, concerning Jehoiakim and Judah (as detailed in [Jeremiah 36:27-32](/jeremiah/36-27-32 "Jeremiah 36:27-32 - The Scroll Rewritten with Added Judgments")). This demonstrated unequivocally that God's word cannot be destroyed or silenced by human defiance; indeed, it returned with even greater force and specificity. Baruch remained Jeremiah's faithful scribe and companion, enduring persecution alongside the prophet and continuing to record God's messages. Both continued their prophetic ministry, ultimately witnessing the fulfillment of many of Jeremiah's prophecies with the Babylonian exile and the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 36:26, with its stark contrast between human rebellion against divine truth and God's sovereign protection of His messengers and His word, finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Just as Jeremiah was God's prophet, bringing an unwelcome word of judgment and salvation to a rebellious generation, so too was Jesus the ultimate Prophet, the very [Word made flesh](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"), who came embodying and speaking the full truth of God (see [John 1:18](/john/1-18 "John 1:18 - No One Has Seen God")). Like King Jehoiakim, many in Israel, particularly the religious and political leaders, vehemently rejected Jesus's message, seeking to silence Him and put Him to death (as seen in their plotting in [John 11:47-53](/john/11-47-53 "John 11:47-53 - The Plot to Kill Jesus")). Yet, just as the LORD supernaturally hid Jeremiah and Baruch until His purposes for them were fulfilled, God protected Jesus until His appointed time for ultimate sacrifice, allowing Him to complete His earthly ministry and proclaim the full counsel of God's kingdom. The ultimate "hiding" and triumph over all human opposition is seen in Christ's resurrection, where death itself could not hold Him (as powerfully proclaimed in [Acts 2:24](/acts/2-24 "Acts 2:24 - God Raised Jesus From the Dead")). Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus demonstrated that God's word, embodied in Him, is indestructible and will always accomplish its purpose, bringing judgment to the rebellious and eternal salvation to all who believe, securing the ultimate and final victory over all who oppose the divine will.

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

1 Kings 19:10

And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, [even] I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

1 Kings 19:14

And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, [even] I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

1 Kings 17:3

Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that [is] before Jordan.

Psalms 91:1

¶ He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

1 Kings 19:1

¶ And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.

1 Kings 19:3

And when he saw [that], he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which [belongeth] to Judah, and left his servant there.

Acts 12:11

And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and [from] all the expectation of the people of the Jews.