Therefore all the princes sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, unto Baruch, saying, Take in thine hand the roll wherein thou hast read in the ears of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Neriah took the roll in his hand, and came unto them.
JEREMIAH 36:14KJVWhat does Jeremiah 36:14 mean?
Jeremiah 36:14 describes how the officials of Judah sent a man named Jehudi to summon Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe, instructing him to bring the scroll from which he had read Jeremiah’s words to the people. Baruch obeyed, taking the scroll and appearing before the officials as requested.
In this scene, the "princes" or officials are responding to the public reading of Jeremiah’s message, wanting to hear it for themselves. Jehudi, whose family lineage is carefully listed, acts as their messenger. The focus on the scroll ("roll") and Baruch’s role highlights the seriousness with which the officials treat Jeremiah’s prophecy, setting up a private reading before the leaders.
The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 36:14
- הַסָּרִים (haśārîm; "princes"): This word refers to the leading officials or nobles of Judah, showing that those in authority were directly involved in responding to Jeremiah’s message.
- מְגִלָּה (megillah; "roll"): The term for "scroll" emphasizes that Jeremiah’s words were carefully written down, not just spoken, which was significant for preserving and verifying prophetic messages.
- יָד (yad; "hand"): The instruction to take the scroll "in your hand" underlines the personal responsibility Baruch had in delivering and safeguarding Jeremiah’s words.
- קָרָא (qara; "read"): This verb points to the act of publicly proclaiming the message, which was central to the situation—Baruch had already read the scroll to the people, and now the officials want to hear it themselves.
Why Jeremiah 36:14 matters
- Jeremiah 36:14 shows that the message Jeremiah delivered was taken seriously enough by the nation’s leaders to warrant a private investigation, not just a public dismissal.
- The verse highlights the careful chain of communication and the importance of written prophecy in Jeremiah’s ministry, which helped preserve his words for future generations.
- By naming the officials and their messenger, the verse grounds the story in real historical figures, adding credibility and detail to the narrative.