Jeremiah 36:29

And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast?

And thou shalt say {H559} to Jehoiakim {H3079} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063}, Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068}; Thou hast burned {H8313} this roll {H4039}, saying {H559}, Why hast thou written {H3789} therein, saying {H559}, The king {H4428} of Babylon {H894} shall certainly {H935} come {H935} and destroy {H7843} this land {H776}, and shall cause to cease {H7673} from thence man {H120} and beast {H929}?

And as far as Y'hoyakim king of Y'hudah is concerned, you are to say that ADONAI says, 'You burned this scroll, asking, "Why did you write in it that the king of Bavel will certainly come and destroy this land and leave it without either humans or animals?"

You are to proclaim concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah that this is what the LORD says: You have burned the scroll and said, ‘Why have you written on it that the king of Babylon would surely come and destroy this land and deprive it of man and beast?’

And concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah thou shalt say, Thus saith Jehovah: Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast?

Jeremiah 36:29 records the LORD's direct confrontation with King Jehoiakim of Judah, delivered through the prophet Jeremiah. It addresses the king's defiant act of burning the scroll containing divine warnings about the impending Babylonian invasion.

Context

This verse is a pivotal moment in the narrative of Jeremiah chapter 36. Jeremiah, imprisoned, dictated prophecies to his scribe, Baruch, who then read them publicly in the temple and before the king's officials. When the scroll reached King Jehoiakim, he responded with contempt. As sections of the scroll, which foretold the destruction of Judah by the king of Babylon, were read, Jehoiakim defiantly cut them with a penknife and burned them in a firepot. This verse is God's immediate and stern rebuke for that sacrilegious act, emphasizing the king's disbelief and rejection of the prophetic word.

Key Themes

  • Defiance Against God's Word: Jehoiakim's burning of the scroll was a profound act of rebellion, signifying his refusal to acknowledge God's authority and His warnings. It demonstrated a hardened heart unwilling to repent.
  • The Immutability of Prophecy: Despite the king's attempt to destroy the message, the prophecy itself remained unchanged and would certainly come to pass. Burning the scroll did not negate God's decree but rather intensified the judgment against Jehoiakim personally.
  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: The verse highlights that the destructive power of Babylon was not merely a political event but a direct instrument of God's judgment against Judah for its unfaithfulness. The LORD's word, whether accepted or rejected, always prevails.
  • Consequences of Rejection: Jehoiakim's actions here led to specific and severe consequences for him and his lineage, as detailed in subsequent verses (e.g., Jeremiah 36:30-31).

Linguistic Insights

The term "roll" (Hebrew: megillah) refers to a scroll, the primary medium for written documents and prophecies in ancient times. Jehoiakim's act of burning it was a deliberate and public affront, not merely discarding. The phrase "Thus saith the LORD" underscores the divine origin and unchallengeable authority of the message, making Jehoiakim's defiance an act against God Himself.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 36:29 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of respecting and heeding God's Word. Just as Jehoiakim could not prevent the fulfillment of prophecy by destroying the messenger, so too can we not escape the truth or consequences of God's declarations by ignoring or rejecting them. This verse encourages us to cultivate a receptive heart towards divine instruction, understanding that God's truth stands firm, regardless of human opposition. It underscores the futility of fighting against God's will and the wisdom of aligning our lives with His revealed word, found in scriptures like the KJV Bible.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 26:9

    Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

  • Isaiah 30:10

    Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

  • Isaiah 45:9

    Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! [Let] the potsherd [strive] with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

  • Deuteronomy 29:19

    And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst:

  • Job 15:24

    Trouble and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.

  • Isaiah 29:21

    That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.

  • Jeremiah 32:3

    For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;

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