English Standard Version
Jeremiah 36:23
23As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the fire pot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the fire pot.
Jeremiah 36:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.
- New International Version (NIV)Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe’s knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And it happened, when Jehudi had read three or four columns, that the king cut it with the scribe’s knife and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Each time Jehudi finished reading three or four columns, the king took a knife and cut off that section of the scroll. He then threw it into the fire, section by section, until the whole scroll was burned up.
Context of Jeremiah 36:23
21Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the secretary. And Jehudi read it to the king and all the officials who stood beside the king. 22It was the ninth month, and the king was sitting in the winter house, and there was a fire burning in the fire pot before him. As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a knife and throw them into the fire in the fire pot, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the fire pot. 24Yet neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words was afraid, nor did they tear their garments. 25Even when Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them.
Read all of Jeremiah 36Jeremiah 36:23 word by word
וַיְהִ֣י׀ כִּקְר֣וֹא יְהוּדִ֗י שָׁלֹ֣שׁ דְּלָתוֹת֮ וְאַרְבָּעָה֒ יִֽקְרָעֶ֙הָ֙ בְּתַ֣עַר הַסֹּפֵ֔ר וְהַשְׁלֵ֕ךְ אֶל־הָאֵ֖שׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶל־הָאָ֑ח עַד־תֹּם֙ כָּל־הַמְּגִלָּ֔ה עַל־הָאֵ֖שׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־הָאָֽח׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- when Jehudiיְהוּדִיyehûdîy · JehudiH3065
- had readקָרָאqârâ' · to call: read outH7121
- threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
- or fourאַרְבַּע'arba‛ 'arbâ‛âh · fourH702
- leavesדֶּ֫לֶתdeleth · doorH1817
- he cutקָרַעqâra‛ · to tearH7167
- it with the penknifeסֹפֵרsâphar · secretaryH5608
- it with the penknifeתַּ֫עַרta‛ar · razorH8593
- and castשָׁלַךְshâlak · to throwH7993
- into the fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
- on the hearthאָח'âch · hearthH254
- until all the rollמְגִלָּהmegillâh · scrollH4039
- was consumedתָּמַםtâmam · to finishH8552
Cross-references for Jeremiah 36:23
- Jeremiah 36:29And concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah you shall say, 'Thus says the Lord, You have burned this scroll, saying, "Why have you written in it that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, and will cut off from it man and beast?"
- Deuteronomy 29:19one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, 'I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.' This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike.
- 1 Kings 22:8And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so."
- Psalms 50:17For you hate discipline, and you cast my words behind you.
- Proverbs 1:30would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof,
- Proverbs 5:12and you say, "How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!
- Proverbs 13:13Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.
- Proverbs 19:21Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
- Proverbs 21:30No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord.
- Proverbs 29:1He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
- Isaiah 5:18Woe to those who draw iniquity with cords of falsehood, who draw sin as with cart ropes,
- Isaiah 28:14Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers, who rule this people in Jerusalem!
- Revelation 22:19and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
Commentaries on Jeremiah 36:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23When Jehudi had read three or four leaves - Rather columns; for the law, and the sacred Hebrew Books, are written in columns of a certain breadth. דלתות delathoth, signifies gates or openings between column and column, or between section and section. He cut it with the penknife - הספר בתער bethaar hassopher, "the knife of the scribe," properly enough penknife. And cast it into the fire - To show his contempt for God's words.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23Leaves - Columns: literally folding-doors; the word exactly describes the shape of the columns of writing upon the scroll. Penknife - “Scribe‘s knife;” used to shape the reed for writing, and to make erasures in the parchment. On the hearth - Or, in the fire-pan. The conduct of the king shows how violent was his temper.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-32Verses 20-32 Those who despise the word of God, will soon show, as this king did, that they hate it; and, like him, they would wish it destroyed. See what enmity there is against God in the carnal mind, and wonder at his patience. The princes showed some concern, till they saw how light the king made of it. Beware of making light of God's word!Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23-24Jehoiakim was so hostile and stubborn that after hearing three or four columns of the scroll, he cut off the section with a sharp knife and threw it into the fire. Jehoiakim’s father, Josiah, reacted very differently when he heard the newly discovered Book of the Law (2 Kings 22:11).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. three or four leaves--not distinct leaves as in a book, but the consecutive spaces on the long roll in the shape of doors (whence the Hebrew name is derived), into which the writing is divided: as the books of Moses in the synagogue in the present day are written in a long parchment rolled round a stick, the writing divided into columns, like pages. pen-knife--the writer's knife with which the reed, used as a pen, was mended. "He" refers to the king…Read the comment
Topics related to Jeremiah 36:23
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Jeremiah 36
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries