Jeremiah 36:23
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
And as soon as Jehudi had read three or four columns, Jehoiakim would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll had been consumed by the fire.

King James Bible
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 King James Version
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 American Standard Bible
And when Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with a scribe’s knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all of the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.

NASB 1995
When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with a scribe’s knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.

NASB 1977
And it came about, when Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with a scribe’s knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.

Legacy Standard Bible
And it happened that when Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with a scribe’s knife and threw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.

Amplified Bible
And after Jehudi had read three or four columns [of the scroll], King Jehoiakim would cut off that portion with a scribe’s knife and throw it into the fire that was in the brazier, until the [entire] scroll was consumed by the fire.

Christian Standard Bible
As soon as Jehudi would read three or four columns, Jehoiakim would cut the scroll with a scribe’s knife and throw the columns into the fire in the hearth until the entire scroll was consumed by the fire in the hearth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
As soon as Jehudi would read three or four columns, Jehoiakim would cut the scroll with a scribe’s knife and throw the columns into the blazing fire until the entire scroll was consumed by the fire in the brazier.

American Standard Version
And it came to pass, when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, that the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.

English Revised Version
And it came to pass, when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, that the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brasier, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was in the brasier.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a scribe's knife and throw them into the fire in the fireplace. He did this until the whole scroll was burned up.

Good News Translation
As soon as Jehudi finished reading three or four columns, the king cut them off with a small knife and threw them into the fire. He kept doing this until the entire scroll was burned up.

International Standard Version
As Jehudi would read three or four columns, the king would cut it with a scribe's knife and throw it into the fire which was in the stove, until all the scroll was burned in the fire in the stove.

Majority Standard Bible
And as soon as Jehudi had read three or four columns, Jehoiakim would cut them off with a scribe?s knife and throw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll had been consumed by the fire.

NET Bible
As soon as Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king would cut them off with a penknife and throw them on the fire in the firepot. He kept doing so until the whole scroll was burned up in the fire.

New Heart English Bible
It happened, when Jehudi had read three or four columns, that the king cut it with a knife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the scribe's pen-knife, 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.

World English Bible
When Jehudi had read three or four columns, the king cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and it comes to pass, when Jehudi reads three or four leaves, he cuts it out with the scribe’s knife, and has cast [it] into the fire that [is] on the stove, until the consumption of all the scroll by the fire that [is] on the stove.

Young's Literal Translation
and it cometh to pass, when Jehudi readeth three or four leaves, he cutteth it out with the scribe's knife, and hath cast unto the fire, that is on the stove, till the consumption of all the roll by the fire that is on the stove.

Smith's Literal Translation
And it will be as Jehudi read three columns and four, he will rend it with the knife of the scribe, and cast into the fire which was in the furnace, even till all the roll was consumed upon the fire which was upon the furnace.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when Judi had read three or four pages, he cut it with the penknife, and he cast it into the Are, that was upon the hearth, till all the volume was consumed with the fire that was on the hearth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when Jehudi had read three or four pages, he cut it with a small knife, and he threw it into the fire which was upon the hearth, until the entire volume was consumed by the fire which was upon the hearth.

New American Bible
Each time Jehudi finished reading three or four columns, he would cut off the piece with a scribe’s knife and throw it into the fire in the brazier, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire in the brazier.

New Revised Standard Version
As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a penknife and throw them into the fire in the brazier, until the entire scroll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And it came to pass that when Jehudi had read three or four pages, the king cut it with the scribe's penknife and threw it into the coals of fire; and the whole scroll was consumed in the fire that was on the brazier.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when Yehudi had read three columns and four, he cut it with the pen knife of a Scribe, and he threw it in the burning coals of the fire, and all the scroll was burned in the fire that was upon the fireplace
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it came to pass, when Jehudi had read three or four columns, that he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was in the brazier, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was in the brazier.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass when Judin had read three or four leaves, he cut them off with a penknife, and cast them into the fire that was on the hearth, until the whole roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
King Jehoiakim Burns the Scroll
22Since it was the ninth month, the king was sitting in his winter quarters with a fire burning before him. 23And as soon as Jehudi had read three or four columns, Jehoiakim would cut them off with a scribe’s knife and throw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll had been consumed by the fire. 24Yet in hearing all these words, the king and his servants did not become frightened or tear their garments.…

Cross References
2 Kings 22:11
When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes

2 Kings 22:13
“Go and inquire of the LORD for me, for the people, and for all Judah concerning the words in this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book by doing all that is written about us.”

2 Chronicles 34:19
When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his clothes

2 Chronicles 34:21
“Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah concerning the words in the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that has been poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD by doing all that is written in this book.”

Isaiah 30:8-11
Go now, write it on a tablet in their presence and inscribe it on a scroll; it will be for the days to come, a witness forever and ever. / These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction. / They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions. ...

Isaiah 5:24
Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes the straw, and as dry grass shrivels in the flame, so their roots will decay and their blossoms will blow away like dust; for they have rejected the instruction of the LORD of Hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 8:20
To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

Ezekiel 2:3-5
“Son of man,” He said to me, “I am sending you to the Israelites, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me. To this very day they and their fathers have rebelled against Me. / They are obstinate and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’ / And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.

Ezekiel 3:7
But the house of Israel will be unwilling to listen to you, since they are unwilling to listen to Me. For the whole house of Israel is hard-headed and hard-hearted.

Amos 7:10-13
Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent word to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words, / for this is what Amos has said: ‘Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their homeland.’” / And Amaziah said to Amos, “Go away, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah; earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. ...

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Matthew 5:17-18
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. / For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

Matthew 13:14-15
In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. / For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them.’

Luke 16:31
Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Luke 24:25
Then Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!


Treasury of Scripture

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.

he cut.

Jeremiah 36:29-31
And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; 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? …

Deuteronomy 29:19-21
And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, to add drunkenness to thirst: …

1 Kings 22:8,27
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so…

Jump to Previous
Brazier Burning Cast Columns Consumed Cut Cutting Entire Fire Firepot Four Hearth Jehudi Jehu'di Knife Leaves Read Reading Roll Scribe's Scroll Three Threw Throw Whenever
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Brazier Burning Cast Columns Consumed Cut Cutting Entire Fire Firepot Four Hearth Jehudi Jehu'di Knife Leaves Read Reading Roll Scribe's Scroll Three Threw Throw Whenever
Jeremiah 36
1. Jeremiah causes Baruch to write his prophesy,
5. and publicly to read it.
11. The princes, having intelligence thereof by Michaiah,
14. send Jehudi to fetch the roll and read it.
19. They will Baruch to hide himself and Jeremiah.
20. The king, Jehoiakim, being certified thereof, hears part of it and burns the roll.
27. Jeremiah denounces his judgment.
32. Baruch writes a new copy.














Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns
This phrase introduces us to the scene where Jehudi, a scribe, is reading the scroll containing the words of Jeremiah. The act of reading "three or four columns" suggests a deliberate and methodical approach to the reading of the scroll. In the Hebrew context, scrolls were written in columns, and the reading of them was a significant act, often done publicly. This highlights the importance of the message being conveyed. The number "three or four" may symbolize completeness or a sufficient amount to understand the message, indicating that enough of the scroll was read to grasp its serious implications.

the king cut them off with a scribe’s knife
The action of the king cutting the scroll with a "scribe’s knife" is symbolic of his rejection and disdain for the prophetic message. The scribe's knife, typically used for precise and careful work, is here used destructively, indicating a perversion of its intended purpose. This act of cutting the scroll can be seen as a metaphor for the king's attempt to cut off God's word and authority. Historically, this reflects the resistance of the leadership in Judah to the prophetic warnings, showcasing a hardened heart and a refusal to repent.

and threw them into the firepot
The act of throwing the scroll into the "firepot" signifies a complete rejection and destruction of the message. Fire, in biblical terms, often represents judgment and purification. However, in this context, it is used to obliterate the divine message, symbolizing the king's attempt to erase God's word and its influence. This action is historically significant as it demonstrates the extent of the king's rebellion against God, choosing to destroy rather than heed the warning.

until the entire scroll was consumed by the fire
The phrase "until the entire scroll was consumed by the fire" emphasizes the totality of the king's rejection. The complete consumption of the scroll signifies an utter disregard for the prophetic word. In a broader scriptural context, this act of destruction is futile, as God's word is enduring and cannot be truly destroyed by human hands. This serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring nature of divine truth, despite human attempts to suppress it. The historical context here is crucial, as it reflects the period's political and spiritual climate, where leaders often resisted prophetic calls for repentance and change.

(23) Three or four leaves . . .--The English words suggest the idea of a papyrus book rather than a parchment roll (see Note on Jeremiah 36:4), but the Hebrew word (literally = a door) may indicate the column of writing on such a roll, as well as a leaf. The act, in its childish impatience, betrayed the anger of the king. He could not bear to hear of the seventy years of exile which were in store for his people, and which, if we assume the roll to have included the substance of Jeremiah 25, would have come into one of the earlier columns. The word for "pen-knife" is used generally for any sharp instrument of iron--for a razor (Ezekiel 5:1), and for a sword (Isaiah 7:20). Here it is the knife which was used to shape the reed, or calamus, used in writing. It should, perhaps, be noted that the Hebrew, like the English, leaves it uncertain whether the king himself cut and burnt the roll, or Jehudi with his approval. Jeremiah 36:25 is in favour of the former view. We are reminded, as we read the words, of like orders given by Antiochus Epiphanes for the destruction of the Law (1 Maccabees 1:56), by Diocletian for that of the sacred books of the Christians, perhaps also of those of the Court of Rome for the destruction of the writings of Wyclif and Luther.

Verse 23. - Three or four leaves; rather, columns or compartments. "Leaves" would imply that it was a book out of which Jehudi read, Whereas it was a roll (m'gillah never has any other meaning). But "books" were not yet known, nor would a knife have been necessary to separate the pages. He cut it. The subject may be either the king or Jehudi (at the bidding of the king). The term implies that the action of cutting was repeated several times; but we are not to suppose that each successive portion was cut off as it was read. The indignation of the hearer translated itself into the repeated mutilation of the roll, until all the roll was (east into the fire and) consumed. With the penknife; literally, with the scribe's knife. On the hearth; rather, in the chafing dish (or, brazier).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And
וַיְהִ֣י ׀ (way·hî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

as soon as Jehudi
יְהוּדִ֗י (yə·hū·ḏî)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3065: Jehudi -- 'Jewish', an officer of Jehoiakim

had read
כִּקְר֣וֹא (kiq·rō·w)
Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

three
שָׁלֹ֣שׁ (šā·lōš)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

or four
וְאַרְבָּעָה֒ (wə·’ar·bā·‘āh)
Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 702: Four

columns,
דְּלָתוֹת֮ (də·lā·ṯō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 1817: Something swinging, the valve of a, door

Jehoiakim would cut [them off]
יִֽקְרָעֶ֙הָ֙ (yiq·rā·‘e·hā)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7167: To rend

with a scribe’s
הַסֹּפֵ֔ר (has·sō·p̄êr)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5608: To count, recount, relate

knife
בְּתַ֣עַר (bə·ṯa·‘ar)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 8593: A knife, razor, a scabbard

and throw [them]
וְהַשְׁלֵ֕ךְ (wə·haš·lêḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away

into
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the firepot,
הָאָ֑ח (hā·’āḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 254: A fire-pot, chafing dish

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

the entire
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

scroll
הַמְּגִלָּ֔ה (ham·mə·ḡil·lāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4039: A scroll

had been consumed
תֹּם֙ (tōm)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8552: To be complete or finished

by
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the fire.
הָאֵ֖שׁ (hā·’êš)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 784: A fire


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 36:23 It happened when Jehudi had read three (Jer.)
Jeremiah 36:22
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