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Jeremiah 36:26 meaning

God keeps His servants safe so they can continue proclaiming His message.

King Jehoiakim of Judah, who reigned from 609 B.C. to 598 B.C., is determined to suppress the message of Jeremiah—and that determination becomes clear when the Scriptures tell us, “Then the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but the LORD hid them.” (v.26) The king, resentful of the scroll’s warnings of impending judgment, orders his officials to arrest both the prophet Jeremiah and his faithful scribe Baruch. This scene likely takes place in Jerusalem, the capital city of the kingdom of Judah, situated in the hilly region of southern Israel and cherished as the spiritual center where the temple stood. By specifying Jerahmeel as “the king’s son,” the text indicates a close royal connection assigned to carry out a mission of punishment against God’s spokesmen.

When the verse says that “the LORD hid them,” it underscores God’s protective sovereignty. The king, who is in the lineage of David but acting in a manner that defies God’s word, wields tremendous temporal power. Yet the passage shows how divine favor can overshadow human authority. Jeremiah, who lived roughly between 650 B.C. and the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., had the unenviable task of prophesying disaster if the nation did not turn from wickedness; Baruch was his faithful companion and scribe. Their escape through God’s intervention demonstrates how the Lord can shield His servants and guide them to safety, reminiscent of how the apostle Paul and Silas were protected during difficult circumstances (Acts 16).

The command to “seize” these two figures indicates the king’s desire to silence the words of judgment recorded on the scroll. The world often resists uncomfortable truth, which can be parallel to the New Testament warnings about rejecting the message of Jesus (John 15:18-20). In spite of royal antagonism, God’s purpose continues: Jeremiah and Baruch eventually documented the prophecies again, ensuring that His word would still reach the people of Judah. Through this verse, we see the powerful contrast between human schemes—backed by authority, political power, and threats—and the steadfast resolve of God’s prophetic message that cannot be overthrown.

Jeremiah 36:26