Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them.

JEREMIAH 36:25KJV
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Jeremiah 36:25 (KJV)

What does Jeremiah 36:25 mean?

Jeremiah 36:25 describes how three officials—Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah—tried to persuade the king not to burn the scroll containing Jeremiah’s words, but the king refused to listen to them. The verse highlights their unsuccessful attempt to intervene and the king’s stubbornness.

In this scene, the prophet Jeremiah’s message had been written down and read aloud to King Jehoiakim. As the scroll was being read, the king decided to destroy it, even though these officials pleaded with him to stop. The verse shows that not everyone in the king’s court agreed with his actions; some recognized the seriousness of destroying the prophetic message and tried to prevent it.

The Hebrew behind Jeremiah 36:25

  • "Intercession" (פָּגַע, pāgaʿ): This word often means to plead or to make a strong appeal. Here, it shows that Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah were not just making a casual suggestion—they were earnestly pleading with the king.
  • "Burn" (שָׂרַף, śāraph): This word means to burn or destroy by fire. The act of burning the scroll was a deliberate rejection of Jeremiah’s message, not just a practical act.
  • "Roll" (מְגִלָּה, megillāh): This refers to a scroll, the form in which Jeremiah’s words were written. The physical scroll represents the prophetic message itself.
  • "Hear" (שָׁמַע, shāmaʿ): This word means to listen or pay attention. The king’s refusal to "hear" them means he deliberately ignored their warnings and advice.

Why Jeremiah 36:25 matters

  • Jeremiah 36:25 clarifies that not all of the king’s officials supported his decision; some respected the prophetic message enough to risk opposing the king.
  • The verse emphasizes the king’s hard-heartedness and the seriousness of destroying God’s word, setting up the consequences that follow in the chapter.
  • This moment connects to the larger theme in Jeremiah 36 of how people respond to God’s word—either with humility and repentance or with rejection and defiance.

Where else these words appear

“Elnathan” Hebrew H494 · used in 5 verses

  • 2 Kings 24:8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem three months. And his mother's name was Nehushta, the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem.
  • Ezra 8:16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.
  • Jeremiah 26:22 And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.

“Gemariah” Hebrew H1587 · used in 5 verses

  • Jeremiah 29:3 By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah,(whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,
  • Jeremiah 36:10 Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD'S house, in the ears of all the people.
  • Jeremiah 36:11 When Michaiah the son of Gemariah, the son of Shaphan, had heard out of the book all the words of the LORD,

“Delaiah” Hebrew H1806 · used in 7 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 3:24 And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven.
  • Ezra 2:60 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two.
  • Nehemiah 7:62 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.

“roll” Hebrew H4039 · used in 19 verses

  • Psalms 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
  • Jeremiah 36:21 So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe's chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king.
  • Ezekiel 2:9 And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;