Neriah נֵרִיָהוּ
Father of Baruch
Who is Neriah in the Bible?
Neriah was the father of Baruch, who served as the scribe and trusted assistant to the prophet Jeremiah during the final years of Judah's kingdom. Though Neriah himself does not appear as a major figure in the biblical narrative, he is mentioned throughout Jeremiah's prophecies as the father of the man who recorded Jeremiah's words (Jeremiah 36:4). When King Jehoiakim destroyed the initial scroll of Jeremiah's prophecies, Baruch rewrote them under Jeremiah's direction, preserving God's message for future generations (Jeremiah 36:32). Neriah's significance lies in his connection to this crucial act of scriptural preservation, as his son Baruch became instrumental in maintaining the record of Jeremiah's prophecies during a time of political turmoil and destruction.
Biography
Neriah was the father of Baruch, who served as the scribe and assistant to the prophet Jeremiah (Jer.32.12). Baruch wrote down the prophecies that Jeremiah dictated to him (Jer.36.4). When King Jehoiakim burned the scroll containing these prophecies, Neriah's son Baruch rewrote them as Jeremiah dictated again (Jer.36.32). Neriah's grandson Seraiah also served Jeremiah (Jer.51.59). The name Neriah means "lamp of Yahweh" in Hebrew.
Family
Parents
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 32:16
"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 36:8
"So Baruch son of Neriah did everything that Jeremiah the prophet had commanded him. In the house of the LORD he read the words of the LORD from the scroll."
Study Jeremiah → - Jeremiah 36:14
"Then all the officials sent word to Baruch through Jehudi son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, saying, “Bring the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people, and come here.” So Baruch son of Neriah took the scroll and went to them."
Study Jeremiah →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | נֵרִיָהוּ |
Neriah
:Jer.36.4">36:4,8,32; 43:3). In Baruch 1:1 the Greek form of the name, Ner(e)ias, is given, and this shortened, Neri, occurs in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
ne-ri'-as (Ner(e)ias): The Greek form of Hebrew Neriah found only in Baruch 1:1 as the father of Baruch equals "Neriah" of Jer 32:12; 36:4 ff; 43