Baruch בָּרוּךְ
Jeremiah's scribe who recorded and delivered his prophecies.
Who is Baruch in the Bible?
Baruch, son of Neriah, was the faithful scribe and close companion of the prophet Jeremiah during Judah's final years before exile. He played a crucial role in preserving Jeremiah's prophecies by recording them on a scroll and reading them publicly in the temple when Jeremiah himself was forbidden to enter (Jeremiah 36:4-10). When King Jehoiakim destroyed the original scroll, Baruch faithfully rewrote the prophecies with additional messages from God (Jeremiah 36:32). He also served as a witness to Jeremiah's symbolic purchase of a field, which demonstrated God's promise of restoration after judgment (Jeremiah 32:12-16). Baruch's significance lies in his role as the guardian of Jeremiah's words, ensuring that God's message of warning and future hope was preserved and transmitted to the people of Judah during a time of national crisis.
Biography
Baruch, son of Neriah, was the faithful scribe and companion of the prophet Jeremiah. He played a significant role in recording and delivering Jeremiah's prophecies to the people of Judah. In Jeremiah 36, Baruch wrote down Jeremiah's words on a scroll and read them in the temple, as the prophet was restricted from going there himself. When King Jehoiakim destroyed the scroll, Baruch rewrote the prophecies with additional messages from Jeremiah. Baruch also served as a witness to Jeremiah's purchase of a field, symbolizing God's promise of future restoration (Jer.32.12-16). He accompanied Jeremiah to Egypt after the fall of Jerusalem, despite the prophet's warnings (Jer.43.3-6). In Jeremiah 45, God spoke directly to Baruch, reassuring him of divine protection amidst the impending judgment on Judah. Baruch's unwavering support for Jeremiah, even in the face of opposition and personal risk, demonstrates his commitment to God's message and his loyalty to the prophet.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentJeremiah 5 verses
- Jeremiah 32:12
"and I gave this deed to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the sight of my cousin Hanamel and the witnesses who were signing the purchase agreement and all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard."
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 32:13
"In their sight I instructed Baruch,"
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 32:16
"After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the LORD:"
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 36:4
"So Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah, and at the dictation of Jeremiah, Baruch wrote on a scroll all the words that the LORD had spoken to Jeremiah."
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 36:5
"Then Jeremiah commanded Baruch, “I am restricted; I cannot enter the house of the LORD;"
Study Jeremiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | בָּרוּךְ | bārûkĕ | Baruk , the name of three Israelites |
Baruch
:Jer.32.12">Jer 32:12), the amanuensis (36:4 ff,32) and faithful attendant (36:10 ff; Josephus, Ant, X, vi, 2) of the prophet Jeremiah. He seems to have been of noble family (see Ant, X, ix, 1; compare Jer 51:59; Baruch 1:1). He was also according to Josephus a man of unusual acquirements (Ant., X, ix, 1). He might have risen to a high position and seemed conscious of this, but under Jeremiah's influence (see Jer 45:5) he repressed his ambition, being content to throw in his lot with the great prophet whose secretary and companion he became. Jeremiah dictated his prophecies to Baruch, who read them to the people (Jer 36). The king (Jehoiakim) was greatly angered at these prophecies and had Baruch arrested and the roll burnt. Baruch however rewrote the prophet's oracles. In the final siege of Jerusalem Baruch stood by his master, witnessing the purchase by the latter of his ancestral estate in Anathoth (Jer 32). According to Josephus (Ant., X, ix, 1) he continued to reside with Jeremiah at Mizpah after the fall of Jerusalem. Subsequent to the murder of Gedaliah, he was accused of having unduly influenced Jeremiah when the latter urged the people to remain in Judah--a fact which shows how great was the influence which Baruch was believed to have had over his master (Jer 43:3). He was carried with Jeremiah to Egypt (Jer 43:6; Ant, X, ix, 6), and thereafter our knowledge of him is merely legendary. According to a tradition preserved by Jerome (on Isa 30:6 f) he died in Egypt soon after reaching that country. Two other traditions say that he went, or by Nebuchadnezzar was carried, to Babylon after this king conquered Egypt. The high character of Baruch and the important part he played in the life and work of Jeremiah induced later generations still further to enhance his reputation, and a large number of spurious writings passed under his name, among them the following:
(a) The APOCALYPSE OF BARUCH (which see);
(b) the Book of Baruch;
(c) the Rest of the Words of Baruch;
(d) the Gnostic Book of Baruch;
(e) the Latin Book of Baruch, composed originally in Latin;
(f) a Greek Apocalypse of Baruch belonging to the 2nd century of our era;
(g) another Book of Baruch belonging to the 4th or 5th century.
(2) A son of Zabbai who aided Nehemiah in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem (Ne 3:20).
(3) One of the priests who signed the covenant with Nehemiah (Ne 10:6).
(4) The son of Colhozeh, a descendant of Perez, the son of Judah (Ne 11:5).
T. Witton Davies
See APOCALYPTIC LITERATURE.
One of the Apocryphal or Deutero-canonical books, standing between Jeremiah