King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 36:29 Mean?

Jeremiah 36:29 in the King James Version says “And thou shalt say to Jehoiakim king of Judah, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast burned this roll, saying, Why hast thou wr...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 36 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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?”

Jeremiah 36:29 · KJV

Context

27

Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, after that the king had burned the roll, and the words which Baruch wrote at the mouth of Jeremiah, saying,

28

Take thee again another roll, and write in it all the former words that were in the first roll, which Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned.

29

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?

30

Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.

31

And I will punish him and his seed and his servants for their iniquity; and I will bring upon them, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and upon the men of Judah, all the evil that I have pronounced against them; but they hearkened not. punish: Heb. visit upon

Read Jeremiah 36 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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? God's message through Jeremiah addresses Jehoiakim directly with devastating precision. The accusation Thou hast burned this roll (et-hammegillah hazzot sarafta, אֶת־הַמְּגִלָּה הַזֹּאת שָׂרַפְתָּ) uses saraph (שָׂרַף), meaning to burn completely, consume with fire—the same word used for burning sacrifices, suggesting sacrilegious destruction of what belongs to God.

The king's quoted objection—Why hast thou written therein, saying, The king of Babylon shall certainly come—reveals what specifically offended him. The Hebrew emphasizes certainty: bo yavo (בֹּא יָבוֹא, "coming he shall come") is an emphatic construction meaning absolutely, inevitably, certainly. Jehoiakim rejected not peripheral details but the core prophetic message: Babylon would conquer, and resistance was futile. The prophecy that the land would be depopulated ("cease from thence man and beast") echoes covenant curses in Leviticus 26:22 and Jeremiah 7:20. The king burned the scroll because it contradicted his political strategy and threatened his power. He couldn't tolerate a message that declared his policies doomed and his reign ending in disgrace.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Jehoiakim's burning of the scroll occurred in 604 BC, his fifth year. At this point, he had already submitted to Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:1) but was planning rebellion, likely encouraged by Egyptian promises of support. Jeremiah's message that Babylon would certainly conquer and the land would be devastated directly contradicted the king's pro-Egyptian, anti-Babylonian strategy. False prophets were promising victory and quick resolution (28:2-4), while Jeremiah declared surrender was God's will. For a king who had invested his political capital in resisting Babylon, accepting Jeremiah's message meant admitting his entire policy was wrong and defying God. The prophecy's specificity about man and beast being removed proved accurate: the Babylonian invasions of 597 and 586 BC devastated the land, leaving it desolate for seventy years as Jeremiah predicted (25:11).

Reflection Questions

  1. What does Jehoiakim's specific rejection of the prophecy about Babylon reveal about how political commitments can blind us to God's truth?
  2. How do we sometimes reject or ignore parts of Scripture that contradict our plans, preferences, or pride?
  3. What is the danger of silencing or dismissing God's word when it conflicts with our desired outcomes?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 30 words
וְעַל1 of 30
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

יְהוֹיָקִ֤ים2 of 30

“to Jehoiakim”

H3079

jehojakim, a jewish king

מֶֽלֶךְ3 of 30

“The king”

H4428

a king

יְהוּדָה֙4 of 30

“of Judah”

H3063

jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory

לֵאמֹ֗ר5 of 30

“And thou shalt say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

כֹּ֖ה6 of 30
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

לֵאמֹ֗ר7 of 30

“And thou shalt say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָ֑ה8 of 30

“the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אַ֠תָּה9 of 30
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

שָׂרַ֜פְתָּ10 of 30

“Thou hast burned”

H8313

to be (causatively, set) on fire

אֶת11 of 30
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַמְּגִלָּ֤ה12 of 30

“this roll”

H4039

a roll

הַזֹּאת֙13 of 30
H2063

this (often used adverb)

לֵאמֹ֗ר14 of 30

“And thou shalt say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

מַדּוּעַ֩15 of 30
H4069

what (is) known?; i.e., (by implication) (adverbially) why?

כָּתַ֨בְתָּ16 of 30

“Why hast thou written”

H3789

to grave, by implication, to write (describe, inscribe, prescribe, subscribe)

עָלֶ֜יהָ17 of 30
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

לֵאמֹ֗ר18 of 30

“And thou shalt say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יָב֤וֹא19 of 30

“come”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

יָב֤וֹא20 of 30

“come”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

מֶֽלֶךְ21 of 30

“The king”

H4428

a king

בָּבֶל֙22 of 30

“of Babylon”

H894

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

וְהִשְׁחִית֙23 of 30

“and destroy”

H7843

to decay, i.e., (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively)

אֶת24 of 30
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הָאָ֣רֶץ25 of 30

“this land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

הַזֹּ֔את26 of 30
H2063

this (often used adverb)

וְהִשְׁבִּ֥ית27 of 30

“and shall cause to cease”

H7673

to repose, i.e., desist from exertion; used in many implied relations (causative, figurative or specific)

מִמֶּ֖נָּה28 of 30
H4480

properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses

אָדָ֥ם29 of 30

“from thence man”

H120

ruddy i.e., a human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.)

וּבְהֵמָֽה׃30 of 30

“and beast”

H929

properly, a dumb beast; especially any large quadruped or animal (often collective)

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 36:29 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 36:29 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Isaiah 30:10Jeremiah 26:9Isaiah 45:9Jeremiah 32:3Deuteronomy 29:19Isaiah 29:21

Places in This Verse

Babylon 1Settlement · Modern: Babylon · 32.54°N, 44.42°E296 verses across 15 books
View all places in Jeremiah 36 →

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