I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jeremiah 32:10
What does Jeremiah 32:10 mean?
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Jeremiah 32:10
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This seemingly straightforward transaction was actually a meticulous legal process, emphasizing how the purchase was legally established, not just that it happened. Jeremiah went through all the official steps – signing, sealing, witnessing, and carefully weighing the money – to ensure this act held solid legal and prophetic weight, even in a time of national despair.
I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales.
English Standard Version (ESV)
In a time of impending Babylonian conquest and exile, God commands Jeremiah to perform a symbolic act of faith. His uncle's son offers to sell him a field in their ancestral village, a place soon to be overrun by the enemy. Despite the apparent madness of buying land that will be lost, Jeremiah meticulously completes the legal transaction, signing, sealing, and securing witnesses for the deed while weighing out the purchase money.
Jeremiah wasn't just delivering messages; he was living one. This purchase, despite its mundane details, was a radical act of faith.
Jeremiah's purchase of a field in Anathoth, during a time when the city was under siege and the land was destined for destruction, was far from ordinary.
Legalities in a Dark Time
This detailed account grounds the prophetic message in the reality of everyday life, demonstrating that faith isn't just spiritual belief, but also obedience expressed through tangible actions.
Why would Jeremiah make two copies of a deed, one sealed and one open, and then hide them away? It's about preserving God's word for the future.
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The creation of two deeds—a sealed original and an open copy—was a practical and profound way to secure the prophetic message.
Preserving Truth for the Future
Placing these documents in an earthen vessel was a strategy to protect them from the ravages of time and destruction. It symbolizes how God's promises, though sometimes appearing fragile, are securely preserved and will ultimately endure.
Understand the original words
sepher · Hebrew Noun
A formal, written legal document or contract used in ancient Near Eastern property transactions to establish legal ownership and transfer of title.
chatam · Hebrew Verb
The act of finalizing a legal document with a stamp or impression, serving as authentication, evidence of validity, and protection against tampering.
ed · Hebrew Noun
Individuals present at a legal transaction to observe the proceedings, testify to the truth of the agreement, and validate the legality of the transfer.
Jeremiah's purchase of a field during the siege of Jerusalem and before the final destruction was a radical act of faith. It grounded God's promise of future restoration not in a mere spoken word, but in a legally binding transaction, demonstrating that even amidst impending devastation, God's plans for His people's return and possession of the land would ultimately prevail.
c. 605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiakim of Judah, a vassal of Egypt, rebels against Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem, deports some of the royal family and elites, and installs a pro-Babylonian king. This marks the beginning of Judah's subjugation.
597 BC
Second Deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin rebels against Nebuchadnezzar. The Babylonians capture Jerusalem, deport King Jehoiachin, his officials, and thousands more, including the prophet Ezekiel. Zedekiah is installed as king.
588-587 BC
Siege and Fall of Jerusalem
Despite Jeremiah's warnings, King Zedekiah rebels against Babylon, leading to a prolonged siege of Jerusalem. The city falls, the Temple is destroyed, and most of the remaining population is deported.
c. 587 BC— this verse
Jeremiah Buys Field in Anathoth
While imprisoned due to his prophecies, Jeremiah is instructed by God to buy a field from his cousin Hanameel in Anathoth. This act, involving signing a deed, sealing it, getting witnesses, and weighing the money, symbolizes God's promise of future restoration.
c. 587 BC
Deeds Stored in Earthenware Jar
The sealed deed and an open copy are placed in an earthenware jar and buried, signifying that the legal claim to the land would endure through the impending destruction and exile, awaiting future restoration.
c. 538 BC
Cyrus's Decree and Return from Exile
After the Babylonian exile, Cyrus the Great issues a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple, initiating the process of national restoration.
This passage describes the ancient Israelite custom of confirming a transaction by removing a sandal and presenting it to the other party, mirroring the legal and witnessed nature of Jeremiah's purchase.
Genesis 23:16Similar to Jeremiah weighing out silver for the field, Abraham weighed out silver for the cave of Machpelah, demonstrating the established practice of formalizing land purchases with weighed currency and witnesses.
Nehemiah 5:1-13This passage highlights economic distress and social injustice, where land was foreclosed upon. Jeremiah's act of buying land in a time of despair underscores the hope of future restoration, contrasting with the despair seen in Nehemiah's account.
Matthew 27:3-10This passage recounts Judas returning the thirty pieces of silver, the price of blood, which he considered cursed. While the context is different, it shows how money and land transactions could be deeply significant and even prophetic, mirroring the weighty symbolism in Jeremiah's purchase.
clarkeJeremiah 32:10: "And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances."
I subscribed the evidence - We have here all the circumstances of this legal act: 1. An offer is made of the reversion of the ground, till the jubilee, to him who would then of right come into possession. 2. The price is agreed on, and the silver weighed in the balances. 3. A contract or deed of sale is drawn up, to which both parties agreeing, 4. Witnesses are brought…
pooleJeremiah 32:10: "And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances."
I went through with the purchase, setting my hand to and sealing the deed, and taking witnesses to it, as is usual.
This seemingly straightforward transaction was actually a meticulous legal process, emphasizing how the purchase was legally established, not just that it happened. Jeremiah went through all the official steps – signing, sealing, witnessing, and carefully weighing the money – to ensure this act held solid legal and prophetic weight, even in a time of national despair.
In a time of impending Babylonian conquest and exile, God commands Jeremiah to perform a symbolic act of faith. His uncle's son offers to sell him a field in their ancestral village, a place soon to be overrun by the enemy. Despite the apparent madness of buying land that will be lost, Jeremiah meticulously completes the legal transaction, signing, sealing, and securing witnesses for the deed while weighing out the purchase money.
In a time of impending Babylonian conquest and exile, God commands Jeremiah to perform a symbolic act of faith. His uncle's son offers to sell him a field in their ancestral village, a place soon to be overrun by the enemy. Despite the apparent madness of buying land that will be lost, Jeremiah meticulously completes the legal transaction, signing, sealing, and securing witnesses for the deed while weighing out the purchase money.
"I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales." — This seemingly straightforward transaction was actually a meticulous legal process, emphasizing how the purchase was legally established, not just that it happened. Jeremiah went through all the of…
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Last reviewed October 2026