Jeremiah 36:28
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Jeremiah 36:28
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.
Chapter Context
Jeremiah 36 is a prophetic oracle chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of holiness, faith, obedience. Written during the final years of Judah and early exile (c. 627-580 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Prophesied during Judah's final years as Babylon became the dominant power.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-32: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it offers practical wisdom for godly living in a fallen world. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Jeremiah and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Jeremiah 36:28
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.
Analysis
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. God's command to replicate the destroyed scroll demonstrates the permanence and authority of divine revelation. The phrase "all the former words" (kol-hadevariym harishonim) emphasizes complete restoration—nothing of God's message is lost despite human opposition. This affirms the doctrine of Scripture's preservation through divine providence.
The specific mention of "Jehoiakim the king of Judah hath burned" assigns responsibility and foreshadows judgment. Royal authority, which should have protected and honored God's word, instead attacked it. This covenant violation would bring specific consequences (verses 30-31). The contrast between divine and human authority is stark: the king burns the scroll; God commands its rewriting. Human power proves impotent against divine purposes.
Theologically, this verse teaches:
- God's word is eternal and indestructible (Isaiah 40:8; 1 Peter 1:24-25)
- opposition to Scripture brings judgment on the opposer, not elimination of the message
- God providentially ensures His word's preservation across generations
- human rejection doesn't alter divine truth.
The Reformation principle of Scripture's self-authentication finds support here—God's word validates itself despite human response.
Historical Context
The rewriting process would have been laborious. Ancient scrolls required careful preparation of writing materials, precise scribal technique, and significant time investment. That God commanded complete replication, not summary, underscores the importance of preserving His exact words. Each phrase matters; nothing is expendable.
This event established a precedent for Scripture's preservation. When later manuscripts wore out or were destroyed, careful copying preserved the text. The remarkable consistency among Hebrew manuscripts (evidenced by Dead Sea Scrolls matching medieval Masoretic texts) demonstrates the scribal community's reverence for exact preservation—perhaps influenced by this very incident. God's command to Jeremiah became the model for all subsequent Scripture preservation.
Reflection
- How does the labor-intensive process of hand-copying Scripture increase your appreciation for the Bible's preservation?
- In what ways does God's insistence on preserving His exact words inform how carefully we should handle biblical interpretation?
- How does Scripture's indestructibility encourage you when contemporary culture dismisses or attacks biblical truth?
Word Studies
- Word: דָּבָר (Davar) H1697 - Word, thing, matter