Is the Book of Baruch in the King James Bible?
Yes — it was included in the Apocrypha of the original 1611 KJV. Most modern KJV editions omit the Apocrypha.
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The Book of Baruch — Free PDF Study Guide
A clear, scholarly introduction to Baruch — the six-chapter composite work attributed to Baruch ben Neriah, the scribe of Jeremiah. The book contains a confession of national sin, a hymn to Wisdom, a poem of consolation to exiled Jerusalem, and the sharp anti-idolatry tract known as the Letter of Jeremiah. Included in the 1611 KJV Apocrypha; canonical for Catholics and Orthodox.
An original Bible Sundays study companion. The full 1611 KJV text of Baruch is included in our free KJV Apocrypha PDF, which contains all fourteen Apocryphal books bound in the original King James Bible.
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Inside this PDF
- Length
- 2 pages
- File size
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- Format
- Searchable PDF
- Access
- Free, no account
- Four-part structure walkthrough — confession, wisdom hymn, consolation, Letter of Jeremiah
- Baruch 3:37 — 'Afterward did he show himself upon earth' as early Christian prophecy
- How Baruch 4:30–5:9 stands behind Mary's Magnificat in Luke 1
- Status in the KJV, Catholic, and Orthodox canons
- Five passages every reader should know
What you get
Four-part structure walkthrough — confession, wisdom hymn, consolation, Letter of Jeremiah
Baruch 3:37 — 'Afterward did he show himself upon earth' as early Christian prophecy
How Baruch 4:30–5:9 stands behind Mary's Magnificat in Luke 1
Status in the KJV, Catholic, and Orthodox canons
Five passages every reader should know
Free to share — no email or sign-up required
What is the Book of Baruch?
Baruch is a six-chapter composite work attributed to Baruch ben Neriah, the scribe of the prophet Jeremiah. The book opens with a confession of national sin (1:15–3:8), then a magnificent hymn praising divine Wisdom (3:9–4:4), then a poem of consolation spoken in the voice of Jerusalem to her exiled children (4:5–5:9). Chapter 6 — sometimes counted as a separate 'Letter of Jeremiah' — is a sharp tract against idolatry, paralleling Jeremiah 10. The book was likely composed in the second century BC.
Is the Book of Baruch in the King James Bible?
Baruch was included in the Apocrypha of the original 1611 King James Bible. It is canonical Scripture for Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox (Orthodox tradition counts the Letter of Jeremiah as a separate book). The Hebrew Bible does not include it; Protestants follow the Hebrew canon.
Why this book matters for Bible readers today
Baruch 3:9–4:4 is one of the most beautiful Wisdom hymns in any Jewish text, and verse 3:37 ('Afterward did he show himself upon earth, and conversed with men') was cited by many early Church Fathers — Irenaeus, Athanasius, Augustine — as a prophecy of the incarnation of Christ. The consolation poem in Baruch 4:30–5:9 stands clearly behind Mary's Magnificat in Luke 1, and the confession of exile-as-judgment provides theological background for Daniel 9 and Paul's argument in Romans 9–11.
Frequently asked questions
Did Baruch the scribe actually write this book?
Almost certainly not. It is written in the voice of Baruch but composed centuries after his death — a literary convention common in Second-Temple Judaism. The book is genuinely 'of Baruch' only in the sense of being written in the prophetic tradition of Jeremiah's scribe.
What is the Letter of Jeremiah?
A sharp anti-idolatry tract counted as Baruch chapter 6 in the KJV and Catholic Bibles, and as a separate seventh book in Orthodox Bibles. It strongly parallels Jeremiah 10 and Isaiah 44.
Why is Baruch 3:37 important for Christians?
Many early Church Fathers (Irenaeus, Athanasius, Augustine) cited 'Afterward did he show himself upon earth, and conversed with men' as a prophecy of the incarnation of Christ. It is one of the most famous Christological prooftexts from the Apocrypha.
When was Baruch written?
Most scholars date the composite work to the second century BC, though parts of it may be older.
Why isn't Baruch in the Protestant Old Testament?
It survives only in Greek (with possible Hebrew or Aramaic originals), and the Reformers followed the Hebrew canon rather than the longer Greek Septuagint.
Where can I read the full text of Baruch?
The complete 1611 KJV translation of Baruch (including the Letter of Jeremiah as chapter 6) is included in our free KJV Apocrypha PDF, which contains all fourteen Apocryphal books bound in the original King James Bible.
Can I share this study guide?
Yes. This Bible Sundays study guide is free to share for any personal, ministry, or educational purpose.
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Biblical names and their meanings
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- NoahRest or comfort
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