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Jeremiah 36:18

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 36:18 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.
Jeremiah 36:18 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 36

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
15And they said unto him, Sit down now, and read it in our ears. So Baruch read it in their ears.
16Now it came to pass, when they had heard all the words, they turned in fear one toward another, and said unto Baruch, We will surely tell the king of all these words.
17And they asked Baruch, saying, Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth?
18Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book.
19Then said the princes unto Baruch, Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye are.
20And they went in to the king into the court; but they had laid up the roll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe; and they told all the words in the ears of the king.
21So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll; and he took it out of the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes that stood beside the king.
← Jeremiah 36:17Jeremiah 36:19 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Then Baruch answered them, etc.] At once, without any hesitation, plainly and fully: he pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth; that is, the Prophet Jeremiah delivered by word of mouth, not the substance only of this roll, but the express words of it, and everyone of them, and that clearly and distinctly, without any hesitation, or premeditation; by which it is plain it was by the Spirit of the Lord he did it; neither matter nor words were Baruch’s, but were exactly as they were delivered: and I wrote [them] with ink in the book; as they saw with their eyes, and which was the manner of writing with the Jews so early; Baruch had no further concern in this matter than to provide…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“his mouth--Baruch replies it was by the oral dictation of the prophet; Jer 36:2 accords with this view, rather than with the notion that Jeremiah repeated his prophecies from manuscripts. ink--his specification of the "ink" implies: I added nothing save the hand, pen, and ink.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“He pronounced - He used to say aloud, he dictated. Baruch’s office was merely mechanical. He contributed nothing but hand, pen, and ink. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“He pronounced - This could not but add to the princes fear, they must needs conceive that without a special influence of God, it had been impossible, that Jeremiah should have called to mind all that he had spoken at several times in so many years. Jeremiah 36:22”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“He: Jer 36:2, Jer 36:4, Jer 43:2, Jer 43:3; Pro 26:4, Pro 26:5 with ink: Baddeyo is rendered by some, after him; but deyo (in Chaldee and Syriac deyootha and in Welsh du) certainly denotes ink; whence are derived the Arabic dawat and deweet and Persian deeveet an ink-holder; the Syriac dayowo, and Persian div the devil. So the Alexandrian copy of the LXX has εν μελανι, and Vulgate atramento "with ink." Perhaps the princes supposed that Baruch had written this roll from memory; and that it was rather to be considered as his composition, than the substance of Jeremiah's prophecies; and they might ask this apparently frivolous question in order to allay the alarms excited by considering it as…”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification