Jeremiah 36:19 - Then the princes said to Baruch, “You and Jeremiah go hide. Don’t let anyone know where you are.”

Generated Verse: Jeremiah 36:19

What does "Jeremiah 36:19" mean?


Jeremiah 36:19 marks a pivotal moment in the story of Jeremiah's scroll of prophecies. Here's a breakdown of what the verse means:

Context: Jeremiah had dictated his prophecies to Baruch, who wrote them down on a scroll. Baruch read the scroll to the people in the temple, and then to the officials (princes). The princes recognized the scroll as dangerous and likely to anger King Jehoiakim because it contained condemnations and predictions of disaster.
"Then the princes said to Baruch, 'You and Jeremiah go hide.'": The princes understood the potential consequences of the scroll's message. They were worried about the king's reaction. They advised Baruch and Jeremiah to go into hiding.
"Don't let anyone know where you are.": This instruction emphasizes the urgency and severity of the situation. The princes believed that if the king found Jeremiah and Baruch, he would likely punish them severely, perhaps even execute them, for writing and spreading such a threatening message.
Meaning: The verse highlights the conflict between Jeremiah's prophetic message and the political powers of the time. The princes, while perhaps sympathetic to Jeremiah's warnings, were also concerned about maintaining order and avoiding the king's wrath. Their advice to hide shows they knew the king would react negatively to the scroll. It also shows a degree of protection, as they were giving them a chance to escape punishment, instead of turning them in. The act of hiding also shows the seriousness of Jeremiah's message, and the potential for persecution that he faced.