Baruch son of Neriah Bulla (unprovenanced)
'Belonging to Berekhyahu son of Neriyahu the scribe' — Jeremiah's secretary, if genuine
Found 1975 — Appeared on the antiquities market; published by Nahman Avigad in 1978 from a hoard of over 250 bullae. A second impression from the same seal, bearing a fingerprint, surfaced in 1996 (Moussaieff collection)
Where Unknown (antiquities market) (Israel)
Dates from c. 600 BCE · Iron Age IIC (if authentic) · Ministry of Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah)
Now at Israel Museum, Jerusalem (first bulla); Shlomo Moussaieff collection, London (second)
Names a biblical person Baruch, Neriah (unprovenanced; forgery suspected)
How Baruch son of Neriah Bulla (unprovenanced) was found
No excavation. The hoard was reportedly dug up illegally somewhere in Judah and sold through dealers; Avigad recognised the biblical names.
What it is
A clay bulla reading 'l-Berekhyahu ben Neriyahu ha-sofer' — belonging to Berekhyahu son of Neriyahu the scribe. Berekhyahu is the long form of Baruch. The second example preserves what appears to be a fingerprint on its edge.
Why it matters for the Bible
If genuine, this is the seal of Baruch, the scribe who wrote down Jeremiah's prophecies (Jeremiah 36:4). The same hoard included a bulla of 'Yerahme'el son of the king' (Jeremiah 36:26). But because the bullae were never excavated, their authenticity cannot be proven; several experts, including Yuval Goren, have argued on technical grounds that they may be modern forgeries. The 2005–2012 forgery trial in Israel deepened suspicion of market-sourced items. Treat with caution.
The Hebrew word: ha-soh-FEHR
הַסֹּפֵר
הַסֹּפֵר is pronounced ha-soh-FEHR and means the scribe (Strong's H5608).
People this discovery connects to
- Baruch — בָּרוּךְ (bah-ROOCH) — blessed (Berekhyahu: 'YHVH has blessed')
- Neriah — נֵרִיָּהוּ (neh-ree-YAH-hoo) — YHVH is my lamp
Events
Writing of Jeremiah's scroll
Baruch son of Neriah Bulla (unprovenanced) in Scripture
Jeremiah 32:12 Jeremiah hands the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah — a document that would have been sealed with a bulla like this. (First mention of Baruch.)
Jeremiah 36:4 Baruch son of Neriah writes Jeremiah's words on a scroll — the title 'scribe' on the bulla matches.
Jeremiah 45:5 YHVH's personal word to Baruch.
Questions people ask
What is Baruch son of Neriah Bulla (unprovenanced)?
A clay bulla reading 'l-Berekhyahu ben Neriyahu ha-sofer' — belonging to Berekhyahu son of Neriyahu the scribe. Berekhyahu is the long form of Baruch. The second example preserves what appears to be a fingerprint on its edge.
When was Baruch son of Neriah Bulla (unprovenanced) discovered?
It was found in 1975 by Appeared on the antiquities market; published by Nahman Avigad in 1978 from a hoard of over 250 bullae. A second impression from the same seal, bearing a fingerprint, surfaced in 1996 (Moussaieff collection), at Unknown (antiquities market).
Where is Baruch son of Neriah Bulla (unprovenanced) today?
Israel Museum, Jerusalem (first bulla); Shlomo Moussaieff collection, London (second).
Which Bible verses does Baruch son of Neriah Bulla (unprovenanced) relate to?
Jeremiah 32:12, Jeremiah 36:4, Jeremiah 45:5.
Is Baruch son of Neriah Bulla (unprovenanced) authentic?
Never excavated. Goren & Arie (BASOR 2014) argued on material grounds that both bullae are modern forgeries; Deutsch, Barkay & van der Veen (2016) rejected that conclusion. Authenticity is genuinely uncertain; do not present as confirmed.
Related discoveries
- מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָהBulla of Ahaz, King of Judah'Belonging to Ahaz (son of) Jehotham, king of Judah' — a royal seal impression with no findspot
- סֹפֵרHouse of Bullae and the Gemariah son of Shaphan BullaFifty-one seal impressions baked hard in the fire of 586 BCE, one naming a scribe from Jeremiah 36
- עֶבֶדSeal of Ushna, Servant of AhazA carnelian seal of a royal official of King Ahaz
- חוֹתָם'Jezebel' SealAn opulent Phoenician-style seal that may — or may not — have belonged to Ahab's queen
- הוֹשֵׁעַSeal of Abdi, Servant of HosheaThe only Israelite object naming Israel's last king
- יְהוּדִיAl-Yahudu Tablets ('Judahtown')Two hundred cuneiform documents from a village of Judean exiles in Babylonia
Sources
- Avigad, 'Baruch the Scribe and Jerahmeel the King's Son', IEJ 28 (1978)
- Goren & Arie, 'The Authenticity of the Bullae of Berekhyahu Son of Neriyahu the Scribe', BASOR 372 (2014)
- Armstrong Institute, 'Baruch, Jeremiah's Scribe: Proved?'
- Goren & Arie 2014 (academia.edu)
Open Baruch son of Neriah Bulla (unprovenanced) in Hebrew Explorer →