Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD'S house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.
Therefore go {H935} thou, and read {H7121} in the roll {H4039}, which thou hast written {H3789} from my mouth {H6310}, the words {H1697} of the LORD {H3068} in the ears {H241} of the people {H5971} in the LORD'S {H3068} house {H1004} upon the fasting {H6685} day {H3117}: and also thou shalt read {H7121} them in the ears {H241} of all Judah {H3063} that come out {H935} of their cities {H5892}.
Therefore, you take the scroll which you wrote at my dictation, go into the house of ADONAI on a fast-day, and read from it the words of ADONAI in the hearing of the people; also read them to all Y'hudah as they exit their cities.
so you are to go to the house of the LORD on a day of fasting, and in the hearing of the people you are to read the words of the LORD from the scroll you have written at my dictation. Read them in the hearing of all the people of Judah who are coming from their cities.
therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of Jehovah in the ears of the people in Jehovah’s house upon the fast-day; and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.
-
Jeremiah 36:8
And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the LORD in the LORD'S house. -
Jeremiah 36:9
¶ And it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, in the ninth month, [that] they proclaimed a fast before the LORD to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem. -
Jeremiah 7:2
Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all [ye of] Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD. -
Jeremiah 22:2
And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sittest upon the throne of David, thou, and thy servants, and thy people that enter in by these gates: -
Jeremiah 26:2
Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: -
Leviticus 16:29
¶ And [this] shall be a statute for ever unto you: [that] in the seventh month, on the tenth [day] of the month, ye shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, [whether it be] one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you: -
Leviticus 16:31
It [shall be] a sabbath of rest unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever.
Jeremiah 36:6 (KJV) records a pivotal moment in the prophetic ministry of Jeremiah, detailing the instruction given to his scribe, Baruch, to publicly read the scroll containing God's words.
Context
This verse is part of a larger narrative in Jeremiah chapter 36, which describes how God commanded Jeremiah to write down all the prophecies He had spoken against Israel, Judah, and all nations since the beginning of his ministry (Jeremiah 36:2). This was during the fourth year of King Jehoiakim's reign (around 605 BC), a time of increasing apostasy and political instability before the final Babylonian exile. Jeremiah, possibly restricted from entering the Temple himself (Jeremiah 36:5), delegated the dangerous task of public proclamation to his faithful scribe, Baruch son of Neriah. The chosen occasion, a "fasting day," was strategic, as it would gather a large congregation from Jerusalem and surrounding cities at the Temple, providing a wide audience for God's urgent message of warning and call to repentance.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "roll" is megillah (מְגִלָּה), referring to a scroll, typically made of papyrus or parchment. This term is also used for the five biblical scrolls read on specific Jewish holidays (e.g., Esther, Lamentations). The act of reading "in the ears" (בְּאָזְנֵי) emphasizes audible, public declaration, ensuring the message was heard directly by the assembled crowds.
Reflection and Application
Jeremiah 36:6 offers timeless lessons for believers today. It reminds us of the enduring power and necessity of God's Word. Like Baruch, we are called to be conduits of divine truth, whether through direct proclamation, personal witness, or living out biblical principles. The passage also highlights God's persistent love and desire for His people to turn from their evil ways, even when judgment looms. It underscores the importance of public worship gatherings and designated times of spiritual focus, like a "fasting day," as opportunities for God's message to reach a wide audience and prompt genuine introspection and change.