Jeremiah 36:25

Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them.

Jeremiah 36:25 (KJV)

Context

Jeremiah had received the Lord’s command to write down every word spoken against Israel, Judah, and the surrounding nations. He dictated these prophecies to his scribe Baruch, who recorded them on a scroll. When the scroll was read before the officials, three of them—Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah—recognized its divine origin and urgency. These three were among the five princes who had heard Baruch read the scroll and then brought it to the king.

Meaning

These three men approached King Jehoiakim and made intercession, pleading with him not to burn the scroll. The Hebrew term behind their action conveys the idea of interposing or seeking to prevent harm. They understood that this was not merely a human message but the very words of God, and they risked opposing the king to preserve it. Their plea was a direct appeal to the king’s conscience, urging him to reconsider his destructive intent. Despite their appeal, Jehoiakim refused to listen and burned the scroll piece by piece in the fire.

Biblical connections

Their intervention stands in contrast to the king and his servants, who showed no fear and did not tear their garments in repentance (Jeremiah 36:24). The three men’s act also foreshadows the divine protection that follows: after the king orders the arrest of Baruch and Jeremiah, the Lord hides them (Jeremiah 36:26). Their courageous intercession did not stop the king, but it placed them on the side of God’s truth in a moment of national rebellion.

Application

Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah provide an example of courage and faithfulness in a hostile environment. They valued God’s word enough to intercede, even when their efforts seemed futile. Their witness reminds us that faithful individuals may not always prevent evil, but their stand is recorded and honored by God. We are encouraged to uphold and honor the Scriptures, seeking to live by their truths, even when doing so is costly. Their actions also teach us that speaking up for what is right matters, even when those in authority refuse to listen.

Reflection

This verse underscores the seriousness of rejecting God’s word and the consequences of disregarding it. Jehoiakim thought he could erase the divine message by burning the scroll, but he could not escape the judgment it proclaimed. The three officials show us the importance of interceding for God’s truth and standing against ungodly authority, trusting that God’s word will endure regardless of human opposition. Their brief but significant act reminds us that God sees and remembers those who defend His truth, even when their efforts appear to fail.