Bible Strands
Jeremiah 36:21
Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the scribe. And Jehudi read it in the hearing of the king and all the officials who were standing beside him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The king commands Jehudi to retrieve a scroll from the scribe’s chamber and read it aloud to himself and the standing officials. This occurs immediately after the officials store the scroll and report its contents, preceding the king’s seating in his winter quarters during the ninth month.
The words — מְגִלָּה (me.gi.Lah) translates literally to “scroll,” designating the physical medium of the message. יִשְׁלַח (yish.Lach) means “he sent,” marking the king’s authoritative command to retrieve the document.
The thread — The pattern of a scroll being retrieved and publicly read before royal authority appears in 2 Kings 22:10 and 2 Chronicles 34:18, where Shaphan reads the found book before the king. The motif of a divinely sent messenger delivering a message to a stubborn audience echoes Ezekiel 2:4.
Why it lands — The text places a written divine message directly before royal power, requiring the king to hear the content without human mediation. It asks the reader to recognize that authoritative communication enters the seat of political control and demands a response.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
So the king sent Jehudi to fetch the roll: and he took it out of Elishama the scribe’s chamber. And Jehudi read it in the ears of the king, and in the ears of all the princes which stood beside the king.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 22:10 Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.
- 2 Chronicles 34:18 Moreover, Shaphan the scribe told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it in the presence of the king.
- Ezekiel 2:4 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.’
- Jeremiah 23:28 Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?” declares the LORD.
- Jeremiah 26:2 “This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the house of the LORD and speak all the words I have commanded you to speak to all the cities of Judah who come to worship there. Do not omit a word.
- Jeremiah 36:15 “Please sit down,” they said, “and read it in our hearing.” So Baruch read it in their hearing.