New International Version
Jeremiah 36:23
23Whenever 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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
21The king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and Jehudi brought it from the room of Elishama the secretary and read it to the king and all the officials standing beside him. 22It was the ninth month and the king was sitting in the winter apartment, with a fire burning in the firepot in front of him. 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. 24The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes. 25Even though Elnathan, 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 36:29Also tell Jehoiakim king of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You burned that scroll and said, “Why did you write on it that the king of Babylon would certainly come and destroy this land and wipe from it both man and beast?”
- Deuteronomy 29:19When such a person hears the words of this oath and they invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,” they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry.
- 1 Kings 22:8The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say such a thing,” Jehoshaphat replied.
- Psalms 50:17You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.
- Proverbs 1:30Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke,
- Proverbs 5:12You will say, “How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction!
- Proverbs 13:13Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects a command is rewarded.
- Proverbs 19:21Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
- Proverbs 21:30There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.
- Proverbs 29:1Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
- Isaiah 5:18Woe to those who draw sin along with cords of deceit, and wickedness 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 words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
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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