What does Jeremiah 36:20 mean?
"¶ And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king." - Jeremiah 36:20
The Bible verse Jeremiah 36:20 from the King James Version (KJV) reads, “And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king.”
To understand the full meaning and significance of this verse, it's important to look at the broader context in which it appears. The book of Jeremiah is a prophetic book, written by the prophet Jeremiah during a time of great turmoil and upheaval in ancient Judah. The people of Judah had turned away from God and were facing the consequences of their disobedience. Jeremiah was called by God to bring a message of repentance and warning to the people, but his words were often met with rejection and opposition.
In this particular passage, Jeremiah is instructed by God to write down all the words that he has spoken against Judah, Israel, and all the nations, from the time of King Josiah to the present day. Jeremiah dictates these words to a scribe named Baruch, who then writes them on a scroll. The scroll is then read in the temple in the presence of all the people, who are deeply moved by its contents.
However, when the officials hear about the scroll, they become alarmed and decide to take it to the king. This brings us to the verse in question – Jeremiah 36:20. The officials do indeed go to the king and report the contents of the scroll to him, but they do not bring the actual scroll with them. Instead, they leave it in the care of Elishama the scribe.
This action of leaving the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe is significant in several ways. First, it demonstrates the fear and opposition that the officials and the king had towards the message that Jeremiah was delivering. The words contained in the scroll were deeply troubling and conveyed a message of judgment and destruction. The officials were likely reluctant to bring the scroll to the king because they knew it would not be well received.
Secondly, the decision to leave the scroll with Elishama the scribe indicates a lack of reverence and respect for the word of God. The scroll contained the very words of God as spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, and yet it was treated as an afterthought, left in the care of a mere scribe.
From a broader thematic perspective, this passage highlights the stubbornness and rebellion of the people of Judah. Despite the warnings and pleas of the prophets, they continued to reject God and His message. The actions of the officials and the king in this passage reflect their unwillingness to heed the word of God and their determination to silence the messenger.
In terms of symbolism, the scroll itself can be seen as a representation of the word of God. Just as the scroll contained a message of judgment and warning for the people, the Bible contains the timeless and unchanging word of God, which brings both conviction and hope to those who hear it.
In conclusion, Jeremiah 36:20 is a powerful verse that sheds light on the attitude of the officials and the king towards the message of God. It serves as a reminder to us to approach the word of God with reverence and humility, and to heed the warnings and exhortations it contains. It also serves as a warning against the dangers of stubbornness and rebellion in the face of God's truth.
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Jeremiah 36:20 - "¶ And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king."
"¶ And they went in to the king into the court, but they laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and told all the words in the ears of the king." - Jeremiah 36:20
Jeremiah 36:27 - "¶ Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,"
Jeremiah 36:5 - "And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD:"
Jeremiah 36:19 - "Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be."
Jeremiah 36:4 - "Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book."
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 36:1 - "And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,"
Job 36:20 - "Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place."
Jeremiah 36:26 - "But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them."
Exodus 36:20 - "¶ And he made boards for the tabernacle of shittim wood, standing up."
Jeremiah 36:22 - "Now the king sat in the winterhouse in the ninth month: and there was a fire on the hearth burning before him."
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 25:36 - "A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the LORD hath spoiled their pasture."
Genesis 36:20 - "¶ These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,"
Jeremiah 50:36 - "A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed."
Acts 20:36 - "¶ And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all."
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,"
Jeremiah 36:15 - "And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears."
Jeremiah 20:4
Jeremiah 36:17 - "And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?"
Jeremiah 36:32 - "¶ Then took Jeremiah another roll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah; who wrote therein from the mouth of Jeremiah 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."
2 Chronicles 20:36 - "And he joined himself with him to make ships to go to Tarshish: and they made the ships in Ezion-geber."
Luke 20:36 - "Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection."
Jeremiah 36:13 - "Then Michaiah declared unto them all the words that he had heard, when Baruch read the book in the ears of the people."
Jeremiah 36:24 - "Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words."
"¶ Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying," - Jeremiah 36:27
Jeremiah 36:18 - "Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book."
Jeremiah 36:25 - "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."
"And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of the LORD:" - Jeremiah 36:5