Jeremiah 36:17
"Tell us now," they asked Baruch, "how did you write all these words? Was it at Jeremiah's dictation?"
“Tell us now,”

The officials recognized that the scroll’s warnings demanded an immediate answer. Jeremiah’s prophecies announced the Lord’s judgment on Judah while still holding out mercy for repentance.

Jhn 10:24 So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded,…
Luk 8:9 Then His disciples asked Him what this parable meant.
Dan 2:3 I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious…

they asked Baruch,

Baruch had faithfully written and publicly read the words Jeremiah received from the Lord. His service preserved the prophetic message when Jeremiah himself was barred from entering the temple.

2Ki 22:13 Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people,…
Act 8:34 “Tell me,” said the eunuch, “who is the prophet talking about……
Jhn 1:19 And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem…

“how did you write all these words?

The officials sought to establish the scroll’s origin and the reliability of its contents. The message concerned the covenant unfaithfulness of Judah, the threat from Babylon, and God’s call for the nation to turn from its evil ways.

Deu 31:24-26 When Moses had finished writing in a book…
Jer 30:2 This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says…
Exo 24:4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD.…

Was it at Jeremiah’s dictation?”

Their question confirmed that Jeremiah, not Baruch, was understood to be the prophet responsible for the message. Baruch’s later answer makes clear that he wrote the words as Jeremiah dictated them, preserving the revelation God had given through His servant.

Deu 18:18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you…
Jer 1:9 Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth……
2Sa 23:2 The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me;…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Baruch
The scribe and faithful companion of the prophet Jeremiah. He played a crucial role in recording Jeremiah's prophecies and delivering them to the people.

2. Jeremiah
A major prophet in the Old Testament, known for his messages of warning and hope to the people of Judah. He dictated the words of God to Baruch.

3. The Officials
The group of leaders in Judah who were concerned about the words written by Baruch and sought to understand their origin and authority.

4. The Scroll
The physical document containing the prophecies of Jeremiah, which Baruch wrote down as dictated by Jeremiah.

5. The Temple
The central place of worship in Jerusalem where the scroll was read to the people, highlighting the public nature of God's message.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Faithful Transmission
Baruch's role as a scribe underscores the importance of accurately transmitting God's word. We are called to handle Scripture with care and integrity.

The Role of Prophets and Scribes
Just as Jeremiah and Baruch worked together, God often uses partnerships in ministry. We should value and support those who help communicate God's message.

The Authority of Scripture
The officials' inquiry into the source of the words highlights the need to recognize the divine authority behind Scripture. We should approach the Bible with reverence and obedience.

Courage in Proclaiming God's Word
Baruch's willingness to write and read the scroll publicly demonstrates courage. We are encouraged to boldly share God's truth, even when it is unpopular.

The Power of God's Word
The impact of the scroll on the officials shows the transformative power of God's word. We should allow Scripture to challenge and change us.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Baruch's role as a scribe inform our understanding of the importance of accurately handling and sharing God's word today?

2. In what ways can we support and partner with others in ministry, similar to the relationship between Jeremiah and Baruch?

3. How does recognizing the divine authority of Scripture influence our daily decisions and actions?

4. What are some practical ways we can demonstrate courage in sharing God's word in our current cultural context?

5. Reflect on a time when Scripture has had a transformative impact on your life. How can you share that experience with others to encourage their faith?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Timothy 3:16-17
This passage emphasizes the divine inspiration of Scripture, similar to how Baruch wrote under Jeremiah's dictation, which was inspired by God.

Exodus 24:4
Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord, paralleling Baruch's role in recording God's words through Jeremiah.

Acts 4:19-20
The apostles' commitment to speaking what they have seen and heard reflects Baruch's dedication to faithfully recording and sharing Jeremiah's prophecies.
Hearers of God's WordS. Conway Jeremiah 36:1-32
The Mystery of InspirationA.F. Muir Jeremiah 36:16-18
People
Abdeel, Achbor, Azriel, Baruch, Cushi, David, Delaiah, Elishama, Elnathan, Gemariah, Hammelech, Hananiah, Jehoiakim, Jehudi, Jerahmeel, Jeremiah, Josiah, Micah, Micaiah, Michaiah, Neriah, Nethaniah, Seraiah, Shaphan, Shelemiah, Shemaiah, Zedekiah
Places
Babylon, Jerusalem, New Gate
Topics
Baruch, Declare, Dictate, Dictation, Jeremiah, Mouth, Please, Questioning, Saying, Writing
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Jeremiah 36:4-32

     5514   scribes

Library
Jeremiah's Roll Burned and Reproduced
'Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch ... who wrote therein ... all the words of the book which Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire, and there were added besides unto them many like words.'--JER. xxxvi. 32. This story brings us into the presence of the long death agony of the Jewish monarchy. The wretched Jehoiakim, the last king but two who reigned in Jerusalem, was put on the throne by the King of Egypt, as his tributary, and used by him as a buffer to bear the brunt
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Growth of the Old Testament Prophetic Histories
[Sidenote: Analogies between the influences that produced the two Testaments] Very similar influences were at work in producing and shaping both the Old and the New Testaments; only in the history of the older Scriptures still other forces can be distinguished. Moreover, the Old Testament contains a much greater variety of literature. It is also significant that, while some of the New Testament books began to be canonized less than a century after they were written, there is clear evidence that
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

On the Interpretation of Scripture
IT is a strange, though familiar fact, that great differences of opinion exist respecting the Interpretation of Scripture. All Christians receive the Old and New Testament as sacred writings, but they are not agreed about the meaning which they attribute to them. The book itself remains as at the first; the commentators seem rather to reflect the changing atmosphere of the world or of the Church. Different individuals or bodies of Christians have a different point of view, to which their interpretation
Frederick Temple—Essays and Reviews: The Education of the World

The Secret of Its Greatness
[Illustration: (drop cap G) The Great Pyramid] God always chooses the right kind of people to do His work. Not only so, He always gives to those whom He chooses just the sort of life which will best prepare them for the work He will one day call them to do. That is why God put it into the heart of Pharaoh's daughter to bring up Moses as her own son in the Egyptian palace. The most important part of Moses' training was that his heart should be right with God, and therefore he was allowed to remain
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

The Essay which Brings up the Rear in this Very Guilty Volume is from The...
The Essay which brings up the rear in this very guilty volume is from the pen of the "Rev. Benjamin Jowett, M.A., [Fellow and Tutor of Balliol College, and] Regius Professor of Greek in the University of Oxford,"--"a gentleman whose high personal character and general respectability seem to give a weight to his words, which assuredly they do not carry of themselves [143] ." His performance is entitled "On the Interpretation of Scripture:" being, in reality, nothing else but a laborious denial of
John William Burgon—Inspiration and Interpretation

Jeremiah
The interest of the book of Jeremiah is unique. On the one hand, it is our most reliable and elaborate source for the long period of history which it covers; on the other, it presents us with prophecy in its most intensely human phase, manifesting itself through a strangely attractive personality that was subject to like doubts and passions with ourselves. At his call, in 626 B.C., he was young and inexperienced, i. 6, so that he cannot have been born earlier than 650. The political and religious
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Jeremiah 36:17 NIV
Jeremiah 36:17 NLT
Jeremiah 36:17 ESV
Jeremiah 36:17 NASB
Jeremiah 36:17 KJV

Jeremiah 36:17 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Jeremiah 36:16
Top of Page
Top of Page