Jeremiah 45:1

Message to Baruch

1 This is the message which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to ¹Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had ²written down these words in a book at Jeremiah's dictation, in the ³fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying:

Jeremiah 45:1 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 45:1

The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of
Neriah
Who was his amanuensis or scribe; and this word he spake not to him of himself, but in the name of the Lord, as coming from him; so the Targum calls it,

``the word of prophecy which Jeremiah the prophet prophesied concerning Baruch the son of Neriah:''

when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah;
not what immediately precede, concerning the destruction of the Jews in Egypt; which were delivered out many years after the writing of the roll by Baruch here referred to; and which was done, as here said, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah;
which was eighteen years before the destruction of Jerusalem; so that this prophecy does not stand in order, which would more properly have followed the thirty sixth chapter; where we have an account of what Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah in a roll, and read to the people, and after that to the princes; which exposed him to danger, and caused the grief expressed by him in this chapter; but it being written to a private person, is postponed to this place: saying;
as follows:

Jeremiah 45:1 In-Context

1 This is the message which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written down these words in a book at Jeremiah's dictation, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying:

2 "Thus says the LORD the God of Israel to you, O Baruch:

3 'You said, "Ah, woe is me! For the LORD has added sorrow to my pain; I am weary with my groaning and have found no rest."'

4 "Thus you are to say to him, 'Thus says the LORD , "Behold, what I have built I am about to tear down, and what I have planted I am about to uproot, that is, the whole land."

5 'But you, are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I am going to bring disaster on all flesh,' declares the LORD , 'but I will give your life to you as booty in all the places where you may go.' "

Cross References

• 1. Jeremiah 32:12, 16; Jeremiah 43:3, 6
• 2. Jer 36:4, 18, 32
• 3. 2 Kings 24:1; 2 Chronicles 36:5-7; Jeremiah 25:1; Jeremiah 36:1; Jeremiah 46:2; Daniel 1:1

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "from the mouth of Jeremiah"