New Living Translation
Jeremiah 36:23
23Each 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.
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. Jehudi brought it from Elishama’s room and read it to the king as all his officials stood by. 22It was late autumn, and the king was in a winterized part of the palace, sitting in front of a fire to keep warm. 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. 24Neither the king nor his attendants showed any signs of fear or repentance at what they heard. 25Even when Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah begged the king not to burn the scroll, he wouldn’t listen.
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 36:29Then say to the king, ‘This is what the Lord says: You burned the scroll because it said the king of Babylon would destroy this land and empty it of people and animals.
- Deuteronomy 29:19“Those who hear the warnings of this curse should not congratulate themselves, thinking, ‘I am safe, even though I am following the desires of my own stubborn heart.’ This would lead to utter ruin!
- 1 Kings 22:8The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man who could consult the Lord for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.” Jehoshaphat replied, “That’s not the way a king should talk! Let’s hear what he has to say.”
- Psalms 50:17For you refuse my discipline and treat my words like trash.
- Proverbs 1:30They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them.
- Proverbs 5:12You will say, “How I hated discipline! If only I had not ignored all the warnings!
- Proverbs 13:13People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed.
- Proverbs 19:21You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.
- Proverbs 21:30No human wisdom or understanding or plan can stand against the Lord.
- Proverbs 29:1Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be destroyed beyond recovery.
- Isaiah 5:18What sorrow for those who drag their sins behind them with ropes made of lies, who drag wickedness behind them like a cart!
- Isaiah 28:14Therefore, listen to this message from the Lord, you scoffing rulers in Jerusalem.
- Revelation 22:19And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s 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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries