God’s Word Translation
Jeremiah 36:23
23As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the fire in the fireplace. He did this until the whole scroll was burned up.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of Jeremiah 36:23
21Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll. He took the scroll from the side room of the scribe Elishama. Jehudi read it to the king and all the officials standing by the king. 22It was the ninth month, and the king was in his winter house sitting in front of the fire in the fireplace. As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the fire in the fireplace. He did this until the whole scroll was burned up. 24The king and all his attendants didn’t show any fear or tear their clothes in fear when they heard everything being read. 25Even when Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he refused to 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 36:29Say about King Jehoiakim of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You burned this scroll, and you asked Jeremiah, “Why did you write that the king of Babylon will certainly come to destroy this land and take away people and animals?”
- Deuteronomy 29:19Someone may hear the conditions of this promise. He may think that he is so blessed that he can say, “I’ll be safe even if I go my own stubborn way. After all, ⌞the Lord would never⌟ sweep away well-watered ground along with dry ground.”
- 1 Kings 22:8The king of Israel told Jehoshaphat, “We can ask the Lord through Micaiah, son of Imlah, but I hate him. He doesn’t prophesy anything good about me, only evil.” Jehoshaphat answered, “The king must not say that.”
- Psalms 50:17You hate discipline. You toss my words behind you.
- Proverbs 1:30They refused my advice. They despised my every warning.
- Proverbs 5:12“Oh, how I hated discipline! How my heart despised correction!
- Proverbs 13:13Whoever despises ⌞God’s⌟ words will pay the penalty, but the one who fears ⌞God’s⌟ commands will be rewarded.
- Proverbs 19:21Many plans are in the human heart, but the advice of the Lord will endure.
- Proverbs 21:30No wisdom, no understanding, and no advice ⌞can stand up⌟ against the Lord.
- Proverbs 29:1A person who will not bend after many warnings will suddenly be broken beyond repair.
- Isaiah 5:18How horrible it will be for those who string people along with lies and empty promises, whose lives are sinful.
- Isaiah 28:14So hear the Lord’s word, you foolish talkers who rule the people in Jerusalem.
- Revelation 22:19If anyone takes away any words from this book of prophecy, God will take away his portion of the tree of life and the holy city that 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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