Baruch

Biblical Record

Baruch appears only in the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah 32:12 introduces him as "Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah." Seraiah in Jeremiah 51:59 has the same father and grandfather, so many interpreters regard him as Baruch's brother. The Baruch mentioned in Nehemiah is a different man who merely shares the name.

• Safekeeping of the field deeds: During the reign of King Zedekiah, the Babylonian army was besieging Jerusalem. At that time Jeremiah bought a field in his hometown of Anathoth and entrusted the deeds to Baruch, instructing him to place them in an earthen vessel (Jeremiah 32:6-15). The act was a sign of restoration, pointing to a day when land would again be bought and sold.
• The scroll incident: In the fourth year of King Jehoiakim, Baruch wrote on a scroll the words that Jeremiah dictated. The following year he read them aloud to the people in the temple. The scroll was later read before the king, who cut it with a knife and burned it, then ordered the arrest of both men. Scripture records at this point, "but the LORD hid them." Baruch wrote the same words down again, and further words were added to them (Jeremiah 36).
• Journey to Egypt: After the fall of Jerusalem, the remaining leaders accused Baruch of inciting Jeremiah to deliver the people into the hands of the Chaldeans. Baruch was afterward taken to Egypt together with Jeremiah (Jeremiah 43:3-7).
• The word to Baruch: Jeremiah 45 is a brief message addressed to Baruch alone. When Baruch lamented his suffering, he was told, "And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not," and was promised instead that his life would be preserved wherever he went (Jeremiah 45:5).

Significance Within Scripture

Baruch is portrayed as a faithful companion who stood by the prophet amid persecution, recording and proclaiming the word. Jeremiah 36 is read as an account showing that the written word, even when burned by a king, is written again and endures. Baruch is not mentioned in the New Testament.

Interpretations and Debates

• Formation of the book of Jeremiah: Some scholars hold that Baruch wrote or compiled the portions of the book of Jeremiah that describe the prophet in the third person. The text itself, however, does not say so directly.
• The Book of Baruch: The Book of Baruch, which bears his name, is accepted by the Catholic Church as deuterocanonical and is included in the Catholic edition of the Korean Common Translation Bible. Protestantism does not include the book in the canon. Later apocalyptic writings attributed to Baruch have also survived.
• Accounts outside the text: Scripture does not record Baruch's later years or death. Jewish tradition contains various stories about his later life, but these should be distinguished from the biblical record. An ancient seal impression said to belong to Baruch has also been published, but its authenticity is disputed.

In the Korean Church

In Korean church preaching, Baruch is treated mainly through two passages. Jeremiah 36 is used to address the importance of recording and proclaiming the word, and Jeremiah 45:5 is frequently cited to emphasize faithfulness to one's calling rather than personal success. He is not a prominent figure in hymns or a regular subject of Sunday school curricula and is usually introduced in connection with Jeremiah.