Lexical Summary Yehudi: Jehudi Original Word: יְהוּדִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Jehudi The same as Yhuwdiy; Jehudi, an Israelite -- Jehudi. see HEBREW Yhuwdiy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as Yehudi Definition "Jewish," an officer of Jehoiakim NASB Translation Jehudi (4). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. יְהוּדִי proper name, masculine officer of Jehoiakim Jeremiah 36:14,21 (twice in verse); Jeremiah 36:23, ᵐ5 Ioudin (perhaps original appellation Jewish, of one not so by ancestry, see Gf Gie). Topical Lexicon Occurrences in Scripture Jeremiah 36:14; Jeremiah 36:21 (twice within the verse); Jeremiah 36:23. In every occurrence the name denotes the same individual active in the royal court of King Jehoiakim. Historical Setting The events take place in 604–603 BC, near the end of Jehoiakim’s reign in Judah. Babylon’s rising power loomed large, and Jeremiah’s prophetic warnings were increasingly urgent. Against this background the Lord commanded Jeremiah to dictate his words to Baruch, producing the scroll that would be read first to the people and then to the king. Jehudi served as an official intermediary in this drama. Genealogical Background Jehudi is identified as “the son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi” (Jeremiah 36:14). The ancestry shows three generations of court–connected men. The name “Jehudi” literally means “Jew” or “Judahite,” while the forefather “Cushi” suggests a Cushite (Ethiopian) origin (cf. 2 Samuel 18:21). The juxtaposition hints at a family that, though ethnically diverse, was fully integrated into Judah’s covenant community, embodying the Old Testament pattern of Gentile inclusion by faith. Role in Jeremiah 36 1. Messenger: When the royal officials heard Baruch’s first reading, “the officials sent Jehudi… to say to Baruch, ‘Bring the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people and come here’” (Jeremiah 36:14). Character Assessment Scripture neither condemns nor commends Jehudi directly, yet his obedience to the officials and the king reveals a man loyal to his civic duty. He does not intervene when the king burns the scroll, but neither does he impede Baruch earlier. His presence highlights the moral neutrality of functionaries: confronted with God’s word, each hearer must choose repentance or resistance. Jehudi’s silence contrasts with the prophetic boldness of Jeremiah and Baruch, underscoring the cost of faithful witness. Ministry Significance 1. The Primacy of Scripture: Jehudi’s public reading illustrates the divinely instituted practice of proclaiming God’s word aloud (Deuteronomy 31:11; Nehemiah 8:8; 1 Timothy 4:13). Even when the audience is hostile, the message must still be delivered. Theological Themes • Sovereignty of God over kings and courts. Practical Lessons for Contemporary Believers • Fulfil duties faithfully, yet never allow institutional loyalty to overshadow allegiance to God’s word. Related Entries Baruch; Jeremiah; Jehoiakim; Scroll of Jeremiah; Cushite Participation in Israel. Forms and Transliterations יְהוּדִ֗י יְהוּדִ֡י יְהוּדִי֙ יהודי yə·hū·ḏî yehuDi yəhūḏîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Jeremiah 36:14 HEB: בָּר֗וּךְ אֶת־ יְהוּדִ֡י בֶּן־ נְ֠תַנְיָהוּ NAS: sent Jehudi the son KJV: sent Jehudi the son INT: to Baruch Jehudi the son of Nethaniah Jeremiah 36:21 Jeremiah 36:21 Jeremiah 36:23 4 Occurrences |