Jeremiah 34:13-17 Meaning Explained | Sola Bible App
God reminds them that He initiated their freedom from slavery, not them, establishing a covenant based on His gracious act of liberation. This wasn't just about laws, but about remembering the deep pain of bondage and extending mercy to others, just as He had shown mercy to them.
“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. You recently repented and did what was right in my eyes by proclaiming liberty, each to his neighbor, and you made a covenant before me in the house that is called by my name, but then you turned around and profaned my name when each of you took back his male and female slaves, whom you had set free according to their desire, and you brought them into subjection to be your slaves. “Therefore, thus says the LORD: You have not obeyed me by proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother and to his neighbor; behold, I proclaim to you liberty to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine, declares the LORD. I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.
English Standard Version (ESV)
What Jeremiah 34:13-17 means
Earlier, King Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem proclaimed liberty for their enslaved Hebrew brothers, a covenant meant to honor God. However, they quickly reversed this act of kindness, forcing their freed servants back into bondage. Now, the Lord speaks through Jeremiah, reminding them of the foundational covenant He made with their ancestors when He rescued them from slavery in Egypt, establishing laws for their well-being.
God's Unforgettable Kindness
Ever feel like God's past actions are forgotten? Jeremiah reminds us that God never forgets, and neither should we.
Jeremiah 34:13 opens with God declaring, 'I myself made a covenant with your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.' This isn't just a historical footnote; it's the foundation of God's relationship with Israel.
A Deliberate Act: God didn't just allow them to leave Egypt; He actively brought them out. This highlights His initiative and power.
From Slavery to Freedom: The contrast between 'land of Egypt' and 'house of slavery' is stark. It underscores the depth of their former misery and the greatness of their deliverance.
The Basis of Covenant: This act of redemption wasn't a one-off event. It became the bedrock upon which God built His covenant with them. Their freedom wasn't earned; it was a gift that established a new reality and responsibility.
Covenant: More Than Just Words
A covenant isn't just a promise; it's a binding agreement with deep implications for how we live. What did God's covenant demand?
The phrase 'I made a covenant with your fathers' carries immense weight. It wasn't a casual agreement, but a solemn, divinely initiated pact.
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Divine Law as Covenant: God didn't just offer a handshake; He laid out the terms. As commentators note, God's law was the expression of His will in this covenant. For Israel, this meant specific instructions about how they were to live as a redeemed people.
From Bondage to Brotherhood: A key part of this covenant, rooted in their experience in Egypt, was the treatment of one another. Specifically, the law dictated that Hebrew slaves were to be freed after a set period (Exodus 21:2). This law served as a constant reminder that they were all, fundamentally, freedmen under God.
The Cost of Breaking It: When God reminds them of this covenant in Jeremiah's time, it's because they are breaking it. Their failure to release their servants shows they've forgotten the very foundation of their freedom and relationship with God.
Understand the original words
The original words in Jeremiah 34:13-17
covenantבְּרִית
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.
slaveryעֲבָדִים
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.
listenשָׁמַע
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.
repentedשׁוּב
šûb · Hebrew Verb
To turn back from sin and return to God. It involves a fundamental change of heart, mind, and behavior characterized by regret for past actions and a decision to walk in obedience to God’s commands.
libertyדְּרוֹר
derôr · Hebrew Noun
The state of being released from bondage or oppression. In a biblical context, it refers to God's act of setting His people free from captivity, reflecting His desire for justice, holiness, and the restoration of dignity among His people.
profanedחָלַל
chalal · Hebrew Verb
To treat something holy or sacred with contempt or disregard, making it common or secular. Profaning God’s name involves acting in a way that misrepresents His character or breaks commitments made in His name.
desireנֶפֶשׁ
nephesh · Hebrew Noun
A general term for an individual’s personal volition, appetite, or purpose. In this context, it refers to the slaves' personal freedom and choice to remain at liberty.
horrorזְוָעָה
zeva'ah · Hebrew Noun
An intense feeling of dread, terror, or shock. Biblically, it describes the state of being an object of divine judgment, causing onlookers to recoil in fear.
subjectionכָּבַשׁ
kabash · Hebrew Verb
To yield to authority, often through force or compulsion. It suggests bringing someone under the control or dominance of another.
libertyדְּרוֹר
deror · Hebrew Noun
A state of freedom from captivity, oppression, or bondage. It is a fundamental blessing in the Bible, associated with God’s deliverance of His people.
The situation behind Jeremiah 34:13-17
Written
Around 587-586 BC.
Author
Jeremiah, traditionally understood as the sole author, though some scholars suggest possible editorial involvement.
Location
Written from Jerusalem, during the Babylonian siege.
Genre
Prophecy, characterized by direct divine address and historical allusions.
The historical timeline around Jeremiah 34:13-17
This verse anchors God's judgment against the people of Judah in their historical amnesia—they forgot their own liberation from Egyptian bondage and the covenant that followed, which included laws for freeing Hebrew slaves. Their subsequent betrayal of a renewed covenant of release directly echoes their ancestors' disobedience, demonstrating a deep-seated failure to remember and honor God's gracious deliverance and commands.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
God delivers the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, initiating a covenant relationship with them at Mount Sinai.
c. 1446-1406 BC
Giving of the Law at Sinai
God establishes the Mosaic Law, including regulations for the release of Hebrew servants after six years of service.
c. 722 BC
Fall of Northern Kingdom
The Assyrian Empire conquers the northern Kingdom of Israel, leading to the exile of its people.
586 BC
Fall of Jerusalem and Southern Kingdom
The Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar conquers the southern Kingdom of Judah, destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, and exiles many of its people.
c. 594 BC— this verse
Zedekiah's Covenant of Release
Facing mounting pressure from the Babylonian siege, King Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem proclaim liberty for their Hebrew slaves, renewing a covenant to obey the Law.
c. 593 BC
Betrayal of the Covenant
Shortly after proclaiming liberty, the leaders and people of Jerusalem reverse their decision, forcing their freed slaves back into bondage, thus profaning God's name and covenant.
Jeremiah 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.
barnes
“
Jeremiah 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…
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Frequently asked questions about Jeremiah 34:13-17
What does Jeremiah 34:13-17 mean?
God reminds them that He initiated their freedom from slavery, not them, establishing a covenant based on His gracious act of liberation. This wasn't just about laws, but about remembering the deep pain of bondage and extending mercy to others, just as He had shown mercy to them.
Explain the meaning of Jeremiah 34:13-17
Earlier, King Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem proclaimed liberty for their enslaved Hebrew brothers, a covenant meant to honor God. However, they quickly reversed this act of kindness, forcing their freed servants back into bondage. Now, the Lord speaks through Jeremiah, reminding them of the foundational covenant He made with their ancestors when He rescued them from slavery in Egypt, establishing laws for their well-being.
What is the context of Jeremiah 34:13-17?
Earlier, King Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem proclaimed liberty for their enslaved Hebrew brothers, a covenant meant to honor God. However, they quickly reversed this act of kindness, forcing their freed servants back into bondage. Now, the Lord speaks through Jeremiah, reminding them of the foundational covenant He made with their ancestors when He rescued them from slavery in Egypt, establishing laws for their well-being.
Breakdown of Jeremiah 34:13-17
"“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 He initiated their freedom from slavery, not them, establishing a covenant based on His gracious act of liberation. This wasn't just about laws, but about remembering the deep p…
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