Jeremiah 36:1It happened in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that this word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
The setting
Jerusalem, 605 BC. Fourth year of King Jehoiakim's reign. Babylon is rising, Judah is in denial. God gives Jeremiah a massive writing assignment. Modern Jerusalem, Israel.
The emotion here: soberly recording a pivotal moment in history
The original word
davar (דָּבָר) — word with power and substance, not just speech
Why it matters
This was the year Nebuchadnezzar first invaded Judah and took Daniel captive to Babylon
Read with care
What most readers miss in Jeremiah 36:1
The timing wasn't random — this scroll was written during Judah's first crisis with Babylon, when people still thought they could avoid judgment
Common misconceptionPeople skip this as 'just a date,' but Jeremiah is emphasizing that God's word comes at specific historical moments — this scroll will be burned by the king, making the timing crucial.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Jeremiah 36:1
Bible Genome reading
Jeremiah 36:1 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Jeremiah 36:1 comes from the book of Jeremiah, written during the Divided Kingdom period. The dominant emotion in this verse is starting, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is reverent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine timing, prophetic calling. Notable phrases: fourth year; word came.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same starting
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
— Genesis 1:1
“God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.”
— Genesis 1:3
“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”
— Philippians 4:13
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and t…”
— Acts 1:8
“Peter said to them, "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receiv…”
— Acts 2:38
Your reflection
What does Jeremiah 36:1 mean to you, today?
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