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.