Jeremiah – Chapter 36

Old Testament32 Verses

Chapter Summary

"And it came to pass in the fourth year of Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda, that this word came to Jeremiah by the Lord, saying:" — so begins Jeremiah 36. The chapter centers on Baruch, Jeremiah and Josiah. Across its 32 verses, two threads run through the text: God's kingdom and kingship and family and covenant relationships. The Church invites us to read this chapter within the whole sweep of salvation history, where every page points toward Christ.

1And it came to pass in the fourth year of Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda, that this word came to Jeremiah by the Lord, saying:

2Take thee a roll of a book, and thou shalt write in it all the words that I have spoken to thee against Israel and Juda, and against all the nations from the day that I spoke to thee, from the days of Josias even to this day.

3If so be, when the house of Juda shall hear all the evils that I purpose to do unto them, that they may return every man from his wicked way: and I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin.

4So Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Nerias: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord, which he spoke to him, upon the roll of a book.

5And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying: I am shut up, and cannot go into the house of the Lord.

6Go thou in therefore, and read out of the volume, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the Lord, in the hearing of all the people in the house of the Lord on the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the hearing of all Juda that come out of their cities:

7If so be they may present their supplication before the Lord, and may return every one from his wicked way: for great is the wrath and indignation which the Lord hath pronounced against this people.

8And Baruch the son of Nerias did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet ,had commanded him, reading out of the volume the words of the Lord in the house of the Lord.

9And it came to pass in the fifth year of Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda, in the ninth month, that they proclaimed a fast before the Lord to all the people in Jerusalem, and to all the people that were come together out of the cities of Juda to Jerusalem.

10And Baruch read out of the volume the words of Jeremiah in the house of the Lord, in the treasury of Gamarias the son of Saphan the scribe, in the upper court, in the entry of the new gate of the house of the Lord, in the hearing of all the people.

11And when Micheas the son of Gamarias the son of Saphan had heard out of the book all the words of the Lord,

12He went down into the king's house to the secretary's chamber: and behold all the princes sat there, Elisama the scribe, and Dalaias the son of Semeias, and Elnathan the son of Achobor, and Gamarias the son of Saphan, and Sedecias the son of Hananias, and all the princes.

13And Micheas told them all the words that he had heard when Baruch read out of the volume in the hearing of the people.

14Therefore all the princes sent Judi the son of Nathanias, the son of Selemias, the son of Chusi, to Baruch, saying: Take in thy hand the volume in which thou hast read in the hearing of the people, and come. So Baruch the son of Nerias took the volume in his hand, and came to them.

15And they said to him: Sit down and read these things in our hearing. And Baruch read in their hearing.

16And when they had heard all the words, they looked upon one another with astonishment, and they said to Baruch: We must tell the king all these words.

17And they asked him, saying: Tell us how didst thou write all these words from his mouth.

18And Baruch said to them: With his mouth he pronounced all these words as if he were reading to me: and I wrote in a volume with ink.

19And the princes said to Baruch: Go, and hide thee, both thou and Jeremiah, and let no man know where you are.

20And they went in to the king into the court: but they laid up the volume in the chamber of Elisama the scribe: and they told all the words in the hearing of the king.

21And the king sent Judi that he should take the volume: who bringing it out of the chamber of Elisama the scribe, read it in the hearing of the king, and of all the princes that stood about the king.

22Now the king sat in the winter house, in the ninth month: and there was a hearth before him full of burning coals.

23And when Judi had read three or four pages, he cut it with the penknife, and he cast it into the fire, that was upon the hearth, till all the volume was consumed with the fire that was on the hearth.

24And the king and all his servants that heard all these words were not afraid, nor did they rend their garments.

25But yet Elnathan, and Dalaias, and Gamarias spoke to the king, not to burn the book: and he heard them not.

26And the king commanded Jeremiel the son of Amelech, and Saraias the son of Ezriel, and Selemias the son of Abdeel, to take up Baruch the scribe, and Jeremiah the prophet: but the Lord hid them.

27And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, after that the king had burnt the volume, and the words that Baruch had written from the mouth of Jeremiah, saying:

28Take thee again another volume: and write in it all the former words that were in the first volume which Joakim the king of Juda both burnt.

29And thou shalt say to Joakim the king of Juda: Thus saith the Lord: Thou hast burnt that volume, saying: Why hast thou written therein, and said: The king of Babylon shall come speedily, and shall lay waste this land: and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast?

30Therefore thus saith the Lord against Joakim the king of Juda: He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat by day, and to the frost by night.

31And I will punish him, and his seed and his servants, for their iniquities, and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Juda all the evil that I have pronounced against them, but they have not heard.

32And Jeremiah took another volume, and gave it to Baruch the son of Nerias the scribe: who wrote in it from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the book which Joakim the king of Juda had burnt with fire: and there were added besides many more words than had been before.

Important Verses in Jeremiah 36

And it came to pass in the fourth year of Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda, that this word came to Jeremiah by the Lord, saying:

Jeremiah 36:1

And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying: I am shut up, and cannot go into the house of the Lord.

Jeremiah 36:5

And Baruch the son of Nerias did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet ,had commanded him, reading out of the volume the words of the Lord in the house of the Lord.

Jeremiah 36:8

Therefore thus saith the Lord against Joakim the king of Juda: He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out to the heat by day, and to the frost by night.

Jeremiah 36:30

Historical Context

As a Old Testament book, Jeremiah was written with judah on the brink of destruction, called to repentance in view. Chapter 36 of 52 moves toward the climax of the book as earlier promises and conflicts converge. It is a prophetic oracle addressed to Israel in a moment of covenant crisis or renewal with 32 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Baruch, Jeremiah, Josiah and Micah appear at the center of the events recorded here. The passage starts with these words: "And it came to pass in the fourth year of Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda, that this word came to Jeremiah by the…" It concludes: "And Jeremiah took another volume, and gave it to Baruch the son of Nerias the scribe: who wrote in it from the mouth of…" In terms of historical background, Jeremiah prophesied through Judah's final decades, warning of Babylon's coming judgment while priests and false prophets promised peace. The book's material reflects the era summarized as follows: Jeremiah's ministry about 627-580 BC.

Who Wrote It

The prophet Jeremiah, with his scribe Baruch

When It Was Written

Jeremiah's ministry about 627-580 BC

Catholic Commentary

The prophetic discourse in this chapter speaks to a community facing the consequences of its choices before God. A pivotal line is verse 1: "And it came to pass in the fourth year of Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda, that this word came to Jeremiah by the Lord, saying:" The passage repeatedly touches on God's kingdom and kingship.

According to Catholic interpretation, this chapter contributes to the book's portrait of judgment, the new covenant, and hope. Jeremiah's new covenant prophecy is fulfilled in Christ (CIC 1965). The Catechism and the liturgy frequently draw on such passages to nourish faith and moral life (CIC 26).

The moral and spiritual import remains timely: God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.. St. Jerome insisted that ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ; this chapter offers material for meditation, examination of conscience, and deeper love of God.

Main Teachings

  • God's kingdom is not of this world; every earthly throne stands under His eternal reign.
  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • Sin has real consequences, but God's judgment always aims at conversion and restoration.

People in This Chapter

Baruch15 mentionsJeremiah12 mentionsJosiah3 mentionsMicah2 mentionsDavid1 mention

Reflection for Today

Jeremiah Chapter 36 belongs to the Old Testament and forms part of the Catholic canon proclaimed in the liturgy of the Word.

Through typology, the Church often reads Old Testament passages as preparing for Christ, while New Testament passages reveal Him explicitly. Jeremiah's new covenant prophecy is fulfilled in Christ (CIC 1965). Here the believer is invited to ponder gratitude as the foundation of prayer.

Let Jeremiah Chapter 36 deepen your love for the Eucharist, where the Word made flesh continues to feed His people. The same Christ who speaks in Scripture offers Himself sacramentally on the altar.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Jeremiah Chapter 36 about?

Jeremiah 36 contains 32 verses. It opens with "And it came to pass in the fourth year of Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda, that this word came to Jeremiah by the…" and closes with "And Jeremiah took another volume, and gave it to Baruch the son of Nerias the scribe: who wrote in it from the mouth of…". The book as a whole is prophetic oracles, biography, and laments.

What is a key verse in Jeremiah 36?

One of the most significant verses is verse 1: "And it came to pass in the fourth year of Joakim the son of Josias king of Juda, that this word came to Jeremiah by the Lord, saying:" It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Jeremiah Chapter 36?

This chapter mentions Baruch, Jeremiah, Josiah, Micah, David.

Who wrote Jeremiah and when?

The prophet Jeremiah, with his scribe Baruch. Jeremiah's ministry about 627-580 BC.

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