Jeremiah 34:13-14
“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I myself made a covenant with your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, saying, ‘At the end of seven years each of you must set free the fellow Hebrew who has been sold to you and has served you six years; you must set him free from your service.’ But your fathers did not listen to me or incline their ears to me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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God reminds them that the very foundation of their freedom—being brought out of the "house of bondmen" in Egypt—was the basis for His covenant. This wasn't just a historical event, but a foundational principle of their identity: they were redeemed from slavery, and this deliverance was meant to shape how they treated the vulnerable among them.
Just prior to this, King Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem made a covenant to proclaim liberty for their enslaved Hebrew brethren. However, they soon reversed this decision and forced their servants back into bondage. In response, God's word comes to Jeremiah, reminding the people that He made a covenant with their ancestors when He brought them out of slavery in Egypt, a covenant that included laws about freeing servants.
Before there were laws, there was a covenant. And before there was a covenant, there was rescue.
Jeremiah 34:13 opens with God reminding the people of Israel of the very foundation of their relationship with Him: the Exodus. He didn't just rescue them; He made a covenant with them on that pivotal day.
The Great Rescue
This wasn't just any rescue; it was from the 'house of bondage' in Egypt. Imagine the sheer relief, the overwhelming sense of freedom after generations of brutal slavery. God calls Himself 'the God of Israel,' emphasizing His role as their unique Redeemer and Covenant Partner.
A Law Rooted in Experience
Part of this covenant, as the passage hints at and other parts of the Law make clear, was the regulation of servitude within Israel. The key was remembering their own experience. Because they knew what it was like to be enslaved, they were commanded to offer freedom to their own Hebrew servants after a period of service. It was a law born from empathy, a constant reminder of their past to shape their present.
They heard God's call to freedom, they even acted on it... but then they turned back. What does that say about their hearts?
Jeremiah's message, which this verse introduces, comes at a critical moment. King Zedekiah had indeed proclaimed liberty for servants, seemingly in response to God's law and perhaps in a moment of crisis. The people entered into this covenant.
A Fleeting Obedience
However, the commentary reveals a disheartening truth: this obedience was short-lived. Soon after, they 'turned' and forced their freed servants back into bondage. This wasn't mere forgetfulness; it was a deliberate reversal, a betrayal of their covenant with God and with each other.
Profaning God's Name
By violating the terms of their covenant and the specific laws concerning servitude, they didn't just break a human agreement; they 'profaned' God's name. They acted as if God's commands were meaningless, turning a sacred act of liberation into a tool for further oppression. This act showed a deep disrespect not only for their fellow Israelites but for the God who had so powerfully delivered them.
Understand the original words
berît · Hebrew Noun
A binding agreement or promise between two parties, often initiated by God, establishing a formal relationship and obligations. Biblical covenants frequently involve divine blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience.
ʿăbādîm · Hebrew Noun
The condition of being held in bondage, servitude, or restricted freedom under the authority of another. Spiritually, it often refers to the bondage of sin from which God delivers His people.
šāmaʿ · Hebrew Verb
The act of hearing with the intent to obey or heed. In biblical usage, it implies submission and active response to God's instruction rather than mere auditory perception.
This verse grounds God's judgment in His foundational covenant with Israel at the Exodus, reminding them that their freedom from Egyptian bondage was tied to their obedience to laws, including those concerning human dignity and the release of servants. Their subsequent betrayal of this principle, especially during a time of crisis, demonstrated a deep disregard for God's mercy and faithfulness.
~1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God miraculously delivers the Israelites from over 400 years of slavery in Egypt, establishing them as a free people. This event forms the bedrock of their covenant relationship with God.
~1445-1400 BC
Covenant Law Given at Sinai
God formally establishes His covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai, giving them the Law, which includes specific statutes regarding the release of Hebrew servants after six years of service.
Late 8th Century BC - 701 BC
Assyrian Threat and Deportations
The Northern Kingdom of Israel is conquered by Assyria, and many Israelites are exiled. This period serves as a stark warning to Judah about the consequences of disobedience.
c. 597 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon conquers Jerusalem and deports King Jehoiachin and many prominent citizens to Babylon. This marks the beginning of Judah's exile.
This passage directly links God's action of bringing Israel out of Egypt with His laws, establishing the foundational covenant relationship that Jeremiah is referencing.
Deuteronomy 15:12-15This passage reiterates the specific law regarding the release of Hebrew servants after six years, directly illustrating the covenant obligation that Jeremiah's audience had broken.
Nehemiah 9:16-17This prayer recalls God's deliverance from Egypt and His establishment of laws, mirroring Jeremiah's emphasis on the covenant made after liberation from slavery.
Jesus tells a parable about a king who forgives a massive debt, paralleling God's foundational act of forgiveness and liberation from slavery in Egypt and the expected response of mercy towards others.
barnesJeremiah 34:13: "Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondmen, saying,"
The house of bondmen - The miserable prison in which, after being worked in the fields all day in gangs, the slaves were shut up at night.
calvinJeremiah 34:8-17: "This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;"
Ut dimitteret quisque servum suum, et quisque ancillam suam (vir, vir, ad verbum, sed significat quisque indefinite) Hebraeum vel Hebraeum liberos, ut ne ultra servirent ipsis (vel, transitive, ut alii malunt et bene quadrat, ut non haberent cos servos) inter Judaeos vir fratrem suum.
Now…
God reminds them that the very foundation of their freedom—being brought out of the "house of bondmen" in Egypt—was the basis for His covenant. This wasn't just a historical event, but a foundational principle of their identity: they were redeemed from slavery, and this deliverance was meant to shape how they treated the vulnerable among them.
Just prior to this, King Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem made a covenant to proclaim liberty for their enslaved Hebrew brethren. However, they soon reversed this decision and forced their servants back into bondage. In response, God's word comes to Jeremiah, reminding the people that He made a covenant with their ancestors when He brought them out of slavery in Egypt, a covenant that included laws about freeing servants.
Just prior to this, King Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem made a covenant to proclaim liberty for their enslaved Hebrew brethren. However, they soon reversed this decision and forced their servants back into bondage. In response, God's word comes to Jeremiah, reminding the people that He made a covenant with their ancestors when He brought them out of slavery in Egypt, a covenant that included laws about freeing servants.
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c. 589-588 BC— this verse
Zedekiah's Covenant of Release
Facing the Babylonian siege, King Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem make a covenant to proclaim liberty to their Hebrew slaves, as required by their law. This act is a desperate attempt to appease God.
c. 588 BC
Covenant Broken and Servants Re-enslaved
Shortly after proclaiming liberty, the leaders and people renege on their covenant, forcing their freed slaves back into servitude. This betrayal of their oath and God's law precipitates divine judgment.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Second Deportation
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and its temple, exiling the remaining population to Babylon. This catastrophic event is the direct consequence of Judah's persistent unfaithfulness and broken covenants.
"“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I myself made a covenant with your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, saying, ‘At the end of seven years each of you must set free the fellow Hebrew wh…" — God reminds them that the very foundation of their freedom—being brought out of the "house of bondmen" in Egypt—was the basis for His covenant. This wasn't just a historical event, but a foundational…
