Baruch
Jeremiah’s faithful scribe, who wrote down God’s word, and wrote it again when the king burned it.
Old Testament · c. 605–580 BC · Jeremiah · Also known as Son of Neriah, Jeremiah’s scribe
About Baruch
Baruch son of Neriah was the scribe and friend of the prophet Jeremiah. "Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD," and since Jeremiah was barred from the temple, Baruch read them aloud there to the people. When the king’s officials asked how he wrote it, he said, "He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book." They warned, "Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah." King Jehoiakim cut up the scroll with a penknife and burned it, "but the LORD hid them," and Baruch wrote it all again. In a low moment God told him, "seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not," but promised to keep him alive.
Professional scribes wrote letters and legal documents for others. Baruch’s brother Seraiah was a royal officer. Clay seal impressions reading "Berechiah son of Neriah the scribe" have been published, though some experts doubt they are genuine.
The story
In an earthen vessel
During the siege, Jeremiah bought a field and gave the deeds "unto Baruch the son of Neriah." "Take these evidences... and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days. For thus saith the LORD of hosts... Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land."
Jeremiah 32:12-15
From the mouth of Jeremiah
"Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah: and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book." Jeremiah was "shut up," so Baruch went and read the words "in the LORD’s house upon the fasting day."
Jeremiah 36:4-10
With ink in the book
The princes asked, "Tell us now, How didst thou write all these words at his mouth? Then Baruch answered them, He pronounced all these words unto me with his mouth, and I wrote them with ink in the book." They said, "Go, hide thee, thou and Jeremiah; and let no man know where ye be."
Jeremiah 36:14-19
He cut it with the penknife
As the scroll was read to King Jehoiakim by the fire, "he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed." He ordered Baruch and Jeremiah arrested, "but the LORD hid them." Jeremiah dictated again, and Baruch wrote it all, "and there were added besides unto them many like words."
Jeremiah 36:21-32
Seekest thou great things?
Baruch once cried, "Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest." God answered through Jeremiah: "And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not... but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest."
Jeremiah 45:1-5
Key moments
- Keeps Jeremiah’s deeds: "In an earthen vessel." (Jeremiah 32:12-14)
- Writes the scroll: "From the mouth of Jeremiah." (Jeremiah 36:4)
- Reads it in the temple: On the fasting day. (Jeremiah 36:10)
- The king burns it: "But the LORD hid them." (Jeremiah 36:23-26)
- Writes it again: "Many like words." (Jeremiah 36:32)
Questions about Baruch
In meetBible these answers are given in Baruch’s voice. They are written by hand and checked against Scripture.
What did you do for Jeremiah?
I was his scribe. "Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the LORD." When he was barred from the temple, I read them there for him. I kept the deeds of the field he bought in the siege, "in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days." And I stayed with him through prison, siege and exile.
What happened to the scroll?
King Jehoiakim heard it read by his winter fire, and as each few columns were read "he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed." He ordered our arrest, "but the LORD hid them." God told Jeremiah to dictate it again, and I wrote it all, "and there were added besides unto them many like words." You can burn a scroll; you can’t burn God’s word.
Why did God tell you not to seek great things?
I was worn out: "Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow." God reminded me that He was tearing down what He had built in that land, and asked, "seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not." Scripture doesn’t say what I hoped for. But God promised the thing that mattered: "thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest."
Connected people
- Jeremiah: The prophet he served
- Jehoiakim: King who burned the scroll
- Huldah: Of the same troubled era
Read it yourself
Start with Jeremiah 36; 45.