Jeremiah 36:29

Old Testament Major Prophet ASV (1901)

What does Jeremiah 36:29 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah thou shalt say, Thus saith Jehovah: Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast?” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah thou shalt say, Thus saith Jehovah: Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast?
Jeremiah 36:29 — American Standard Version

Context — Jeremiah 36

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
29And concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah thou shalt say, Thus saith Jehovah: Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come and destroy this land, and shall cause to cease from thence man and beast?

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And thou shall say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, etc.] Or, “concerning”f695 him; since the prophet was hid, and he was in quest of him; nor was it safe for him to appear in person before him; though this may be understood as what should be put into the second roll, and in that he addressed to him: thus saith the Lord, thou hast burnt this roll; or “that roll”; or had suffered or ordered it to be burnt, giving this as a reason for it: saying, why hast thou therein written; what the king would have to be a great falsehood, and which he thought never came from the Lord; but was a device of Jeremiah, to whom he ascribed the writing of them, though it was Baruch’s, because dictated by him: saying,…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“say to Jehoiakim--not in person, as Jeremiah was "hidden" (Jer 36:26), but by the written word of prophecy. saying, Why--This is what the king had desired to be said to Jeremiah if he should be found; kings often dislike the truth to be told them.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The king of Babylon ... - These words do not prove that Nebuchadnezzar had not already come, and compelled Jehoiakim to become his vassal. The force lies in the last words, which predict such a coming as would make the land utterly desolate: and this would be the result of the king throwing off the Chaldaean yoke. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“36:29-31 To die without heirs or a decent burial was to suffer the worst imaginable fate (see 22:19; Eccl 6:3). Jehoiakim’s son Jehoiachin ruled for just three months. Unlike his father, Jehoiachin took Jeremiah’s warning seriously and surrendered to the Babylonians, who took him and others to Babylon as captives (Jer 22:24-30; 2 Kgs 24:8-16).”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Thou hast: Deu 29:19; Job 15:24, Job 40:8; Isa 45:9; Act 5:39; Co1 10:22 Why: Jer 26:9, Jer 32:3; Isa 29:21, Isa 30:10; Act 5:28 The king: Jer 21:4-7, Jer 21:10, Jer 28:8, Jer 32:28-30, Jer 34:21, Jer 34:22 Jeremiah 36:30”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Sources and verification