Jeremiah 45
Message to Baruch
1The message that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying,
2“The LORD, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch:
3‘You said, “Woe is me now! For the LORD has added sorrow to my pain! I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.”’
4“You shall tell him, the LORD says: ‘Behold, that which I have built, I will break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up; and this in the whole land.
5Do you seek great things for yourself? Don’t seek them; for, behold, I will bring evil on all flesh,’ says the LORD, ‘but I will let you escape with your life wherever you go.’”
In this brief but tender chapter, God addresses Baruch, Jeremiah's faithful scribe, who has grown weary and discouraged from recording the prophet's difficult messages of judgment. The Lord acknowledges Baruch's pain and exhaustion while gently correcting his desire for personal advancement during such tumultuous times. Despite the coming destruction that will affect all people, God promises Baruch the precious gift of his life as he faithfully serves alongside Jeremiah.
Context
This personal message to Jeremiah's scribe provides a compassionate interlude before the final oracles against foreign nations in chapters 46-51.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1Historical SettingThe message is dated to the fourth year of King Jehoiakim when Baruch served as Jeremiah's scribe.
- 2-3Baruch's ComplaintGod acknowledges Baruch's expressed weariness, sorrow, and lack of rest from his difficult service.
- 4-5Divine Response and PromiseThe Lord puts Baruch's struggles in perspective of universal judgment while promising to preserve his life.
Message to Baruch
45:1–45:5God gives Jeremiah a personal message for his scribe Baruch, acknowledging his distress but warning him not to seek great things for himself. Despite coming judgment on all flesh, God promises to preserve Baruch's life.
person_contrast
Jeremiah, who typically delivers harsh judgment oracles, here offers rare pastoral comfort to his scribe Baruch, creating an intimate counterpoint to his public prophetic ministry.
Jeremiah 45:1
Jeremiah 36:32lexicalThen Jeremiah took another scroll, and gave it to Baruch the scribe, the son of Neriah, who wrote therein from the mouth…
Jeremiah 36:4lexicalThen Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the LORD’s words, which h…
Jeremiah 36:8lexicalBaruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the LORD’s wo…
Jeremiah 32:12lexicaland I delivered the deed of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my…
Jeremiah 43:6lexicalthe men, the women, the children, the king’s daughters, and every person who Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had le…
Jeremiah 45:3
Isaiah 51:11lexicalThose ransomed by the LORD will return, and come with singing to Zion. Everlasting joy shall be on their heads. They wil…
Isaiah 35:10lexicalThen the LORD’s ransomed ones will return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy will be on their heads. Th…
Jeremiah 45:4
Jeremiah 1:10lexicalBehold, I have today set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overt…
Jeremiah 24:6lexicalFor I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them again to this land. I will build them, and not pull them…
Jeremiah 31:28lexicalIt will happen that, like as I have watched over them to pluck up and to break down and to overthrow and to destroy and…
Jeremiah 42:10lexical‘If you will still live in this land, then I will build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck…
Ezekiel 36:36lexicalThen the nations that are left around you will know that I, the LORD, have built the ruined places and planted that whic…
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter