Jeremiah 36:14 meaning

In the context of a significant national crisis for Judah, the officials summoned Baruch to present the newly written scroll that contained Jeremiah's prophecies. This event occurs in the fifth year of King Jehoiakim's reign, a critical time when Babylon was asserting its power, thus amplifying the urgency of Jeremiah's messages of impending judgment. During this time, a public fast was proclaimed, indicating the people's desire for divine intervention. When Baruch read aloud the scroll's contents, the officials were startled by the severity of the warnings concerning Jerusalem's fate.

The crucial response highlighted in this verse is the officials’ decision to inform the king of the scroll's content. It foreshadows the conflict that arises between God's pronouncement through Jeremiah and the reigning king's reaction. The officials requested verification of Jeremiah's authorship of the prophecies, showing their careful approach amid the impending threat.