New English Translation
Jeremiah 36:23
23As soon as Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king would cut them off with a penknife and throw them on the fire in the firepot. He kept doing so until the whole scroll was burned up in the fire.
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
21The king sent Jehudi to get the scroll. He went and got it from the room of Elishama, the royal secretary. Then he himself read it to the king and all the officials who were standing around him. 22Since it was the ninth month of the year, the king was sitting in his winter quarters. A fire was burning in the firepot in front of him. As soon as Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king would cut them off with a penknife and throw them on the fire in the firepot. He kept doing so until the whole scroll was burned up in the fire. 24Neither he nor any of his attendants showed any alarm when they heard all that had been read. Nor did they tear their clothes to show any grief or sorrow. 25The king did not even listen to Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah, who had urged him not to burn the scroll.
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 36:29Tell King Jehoiakim of Judah, ‘The Lord says, “You burned the scroll. You asked Jeremiah, ‘How dare you write in this scroll that the king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land and wipe out all the people and animals on it?’”
- Deuteronomy 29:19When such a person hears the words of this oath he secretly blesses himself and says, “I will have peace though I continue to walk with a stubborn spirit.” This will destroy the watered ground with the parched.
- 1 Kings 22:8The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man through whom we can seek the Lord’s will. But I despise him because he does not prophesy prosperity for me, but disaster. His name is Micaiah son of Imlah. Jehoshaphat said, “The king should not say such things.”
- Psalms 50:17For you hate instruction and reject my words.
- Proverbs 1:30they did not comply with my advice, they spurned all my rebuke.
- Proverbs 5:12And you will say, “How I hated discipline! My heart spurned reproof!
- Proverbs 13:13The one who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but whoever esteems instruction will be rewarded.
- Proverbs 19:21There are many plans in a person’s mind, but it is the counsel of the Lord which will stand.
- Proverbs 21:30There is no wisdom and there is no understanding, and there is no counsel against the Lord.
- Proverbs 29:1The one who stiffens his neck after numerous rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.
- Isaiah 5:18Those who pull evil along using cords of emptiness are as good as dead, who pull sin as with cart ropes.
- Isaiah 28:14Therefore, listen to the Lord’s word, you who mock, you rulers of these people who reside in Jerusalem!
- Revelation 22:19And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in 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
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