Jeremiah 36:30

Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.

Therefore thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} of Jehoiakim {H3079} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063}; He shall have none to sit {H3427} upon the throne {H3678} of David {H1732}: and his dead body {H5038} shall be cast out {H7993} in the day {H3117} to the heat {H2721}, and in the night {H3915} to the frost {H7140}.

Therefore ADONAI says this about Y'hoyakim king of Y'hudah: "He will have no one to occupy David's throne; and his dead body will be thrown out to lie in the heat by day and in the frost by night.

Therefore this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim king of Judah: He will have no one to sit on David’s throne, and his body will be thrown out and exposed to heat by day and frost by night.

Therefore thus saith Jehovah concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David; and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.

Jeremiah 36:30 (KJV) delivers a stark and severe divine judgment against King Jehoiakim of Judah, outlining the catastrophic consequences of his rebellion and rejection of God's prophetic word.

Historical and Cultural Context

This verse comes directly after King Jehoiakim's defiant act of burning the scroll containing God's warnings, which Jeremiah dictated to Baruch (Jeremiah 36:23). Jehoiakim, who reigned from 609-598 BC, was a wicked king, son of the righteous King Josiah, but he chose a path of idolatry and oppression. His burning of the scroll was not merely a symbolic act; it was a profound rejection of the LORD's authority and a direct challenge to the prophet Jeremiah's message of repentance and impending Babylonian invasion. In ancient Near Eastern culture, a proper burial was paramount, signifying dignity and peace in death. To be left unburied and exposed to the elements, as prophesied here, was the ultimate disgrace and a sign of divine curse, reserved for the most wicked and dishonored individuals.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment and Sovereignty: The verse powerfully illustrates God's absolute sovereignty and His willingness to execute judgment on those who defy His word and authority, even kings.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: Jehoiakim's fate serves as a chilling example of the severe repercussions for rejecting divine counsel and warnings. His actions brought a curse not only upon himself but also upon his lineage regarding the throne.
  • Rejection of God's Word: The core offense leading to this prophecy was Jehoiakim's contempt for the scroll containing God's message. This highlights the vital importance of heeding and honoring God's revealed truth.
  • The Davidic Covenant: While God promised an eternal dynasty to David (2 Samuel 7:16), the promise also included conditional aspects for individual kings regarding their personal reign and immediate succession based on their obedience. Jehoiakim's line was specifically cut off from sitting on the throne.
  • Shameful End: The prophecy of his body being "cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost" describes a humiliating, unburied death, fulfilling another prophecy against him in Jeremiah 22:19.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "cast out" (Hebrew: shalak) implies a violent, contemptuous expulsion or abandonment. The vivid imagery of "heat" and "frost" emphasizes the extreme exposure and complete lack of respect shown to the body, left vulnerable to both the scorching sun of the day and the biting cold of the night, a complete denial of any burial rites.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 36:30 serves as a timeless reminder of the seriousness of rejecting God's word. It underscores that defiance against divine truth carries significant consequences, even for those in positions of power. For believers today, it emphasizes the importance of humbly receiving and obeying God's instructions, recognizing that His warnings are given out of love and for our good. Our response to God's revelation shapes our destiny, both temporal and eternal.

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 22:30

    Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man [that] shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.

  • 2 Kings 24:12

    And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign.

  • 2 Kings 24:15

    And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon, and the king's mother, and the king's wives, and his officers, and the mighty of the land, [those] carried he into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon.

  • Genesis 31:40

    [Thus] I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.

  • Jeremiah 22:18

    Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, [saying], Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, [saying], Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!

  • Jeremiah 22:19

    He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

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