Jeremiah 17 27

Jeremiah 17:27 kjv

But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.

Jeremiah 17:27 nkjv

"But if you will not heed Me to hallow the Sabbath day, such as not carrying a burden when entering the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched." ' "

Jeremiah 17:27 niv

But if you do not obey me to keep the Sabbath day holy by not carrying any load as you come through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle an unquenchable fire in the gates of Jerusalem that will consume her fortresses.'?"

Jeremiah 17:27 esv

But if you do not listen to me, to keep the Sabbath day holy, and not to bear a burden and enter by the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day, then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem and shall not be quenched.'"

Jeremiah 17:27 nlt

"'But if you do not listen to me and refuse to keep the Sabbath holy, and if on the Sabbath day you bring loads of merchandise through the gates of Jerusalem just as on other days, then I will set fire to these gates. The fire will spread to the palaces, and no one will be able to put out the roaring flames.'"

Jeremiah 17 verses

Jeremiah 17 27 Meaning

Jeremiah 17:27 presents a divine ultimatum to the people of Judah, specifically regarding the Sabbath day. It warns that if they continue to disregard God's command to hallow the Sabbath by engaging in common labor and carrying burdens through Jerusalem's gates, then God will, without fail, bring an unquenchable fire upon their city. This judgment will consume not only the gates, symbolic of their commerce and governance, but also the palaces, representing their political power, wealth, and perceived security. This signifies the utter destruction and overthrow of their entire societal structure as a direct consequence of their disobedience and covenant breaking.

Jeremiah 17 27 Context

Jeremiah 17:27 concludes a crucial passage (Jer 17:19-27) where the prophet is specifically instructed by God to stand in Jerusalem's gates and preach about the sanctity of the Sabbath. This is not a general prophetic oracle but a targeted warning directed at the heart of Judah's public life and economy. The earlier verses emphasize the benefits of obedience – King David's lineage would continue to reign, and Jerusalem would be eternally inhabited. Conversely, this final verse clearly articulates the dire consequence of disobedience. The broader context of Jeremiah's ministry is a period of moral decay, political instability, and looming Babylonian invasion (late 7th to early 6th century BC). The people, despite covenant obligations, engaged in idolatry and social injustice, of which Sabbath profanation was a visible sign of their disregard for God's Law and authority. They sought security in worldly alliances and temple rituals without genuine heart obedience, echoing the theme in chapter 7 (Temple Sermon). This specific message regarding the Sabbath highlighted a direct challenge to their spiritual priorities: Were they loyal to God and His covenant, or to their commercial pursuits?

Jeremiah 17 27 Word analysis

• But if you will not listen (לֹא תִשְׁמְעוּ, lo tishma’u): This Hebrew phrase translates as "you will not hear/obey." The verb שָׁמַע (shama) carries the double meaning of 'to hear' and 'to obey'. Here, it strongly implies a deliberate refusal to heed divine instruction, indicating stubbornness and rebellion rather than mere inattention. It underscores that God expects active, submissive listening.
• to keep the Sabbath day holy (לְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת־יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת, leqaddesh et-yom ha-Shabbat): The root קדשׁ (qadash) means 'to consecrate,' 'to sanctify,' 'to set apart.' Keeping the Sabbath holy involved cessation from common labor, consecrating the day to God. It was a tangible expression of covenant loyalty and recognition of God's creational order and redemptive work. This was a core identifier for Israel.
• and not to bear a burden (וְלֹא לָשֵׂאת מַשָּׂא, velo laset massa): Bearing a burden implies engaging in commerce or ordinary labor. The massa (burden) was often goods transported for trade. This command directly addresses economic activity that interfered with the sacred observance of the day, particularly through public channels like city gates. It highlights a common transgression where daily commerce overrode spiritual obligations.
• and enter by the gates of Jerusalem (וְלָבוֹא בְּשַׁעֲרֵי יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, velavo besha’arei Yerushalayim): The city gates were central points of commerce, judicial activity, and social interaction. To bring burdens through them on the Sabbath was a very public act of desecration, visible to all, representing an institutionalized disregard for God's law within the capital city itself.
• then I will kindle a fire (וְהִצַּתִּי אֵשׁ, vehitzatti esh): This is a direct declaration of divine judgment. The Hebrew verb implies an active, intentional lighting or setting ablaze. The 'fire' (esh) here is not accidental but a precise instrument of God's wrath, indicating swift and decisive punishment.
• in its gates (בִּשְׁעָרֶיהָ, bisha'areha): The gates, once symbols of economic vitality, are now targets of destruction. This is poetic justice; where sin was publicly enacted, judgment would be publicly meted out. Their security, defined by their fortified entrances and commercial flow, would be shattered.
• and it shall devour (וְאָכְלָה, ve'akhla): The fire is personified as actively consuming. The Hebrew verb for 'eat' or 'devour' emphasizes the total and destructive nature of the impending judgment. Nothing will be left unscathed.
• the palaces of Jerusalem (אַרְמְנוֹת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, arm'not Yerushalayim): Palaces represent the seats of power, wealth, and governmental authority—the royal house, aristocratic dwellings, the symbols of national pride and security. Their destruction signifies the complete overthrow of the nation's leadership and its most cherished institutions.
• and shall not be quenched (וְלֹא תִכְבֶּה, velo tikbeh): This crucial phrase signifies the irrevocability and completeness of the judgment. It's not a temporary fire but one that will burn until its destructive work is fully accomplished, unable to be extinguished by human effort or will. It underscores the severity and finality of God's wrath.

Words-group analysis

• "if you will not listen... to keep the Sabbath day holy": This highlights a foundational issue of obedience. The Sabbath was not an arbitrary rule but a central pillar of the covenant, symbolizing their unique relationship with God and His role as Creator and Redeemer. Rejecting it was a rejection of Him.
• "not to bear a burden and enter by the gates of Jerusalem": This precisely defines the forbidden act. It targets economic activity that transgresses sacred time, emphasizing the public and corporate nature of their disobedience. The gates were where daily life, business, and justice unfolded; profaning them symbolized a nationwide departure from covenant law.
• "then I will kindle a fire in its gates, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem": This describes the reciprocal judgment. The fire beginning at the gates, where the sin was prominent, then spreading to the palaces, symbolizes a total, top-to-bottom destruction of the city's commercial, political, and social fabric. God's judgment directly attacks the areas where Israel placed its trust instead of Him.
• "and shall not be quenched": This phrase dramatically amplifies the severity. It points to a divine decree that cannot be undone, resisted, or halted by human means. This signifies that the impending destruction will be total and absolute, fulfilling the warning of their covenant curses.

Jeremiah 17 27 Bonus section

The emphasis on "Jerusalem's gates" is significant. In ancient Near Eastern cities, the gates were much more than entrances. They were the primary location for:

• Commerce: Markets and trade happened here. Bringing burdens through on the Sabbath directly symbolized profaning the sacred day for profit.
• Judicial Activity: Elders and kings often sat in the gates to hear cases and render judgments (e.g., Ruth 4:1-2, Prov 31:23). Thus, Sabbath profanation at the gates also undermined the legal and moral fabric of the society where justice was administered.
• Public Assembly and Proclamation: Prophetic messages, like Jeremiah's, were often delivered here because it was where people congregated. The warning itself was delivered in the very place the sin was being committed.

The specificity of the "palaces" further points to the culpability of the leadership. While the entire populace was implicated, the palaces represented the highest echelons of society. Their destruction indicates that even those with power and perceived security were not immune to divine judgment, and indeed, their example of profanation often permeated downwards through society. The historical fulfillment of this prophecy through Nebuchadnezzar's siege and destruction of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25, Jer 52) provides a chilling validation of God's sovereign word. The city, which God chose for His dwelling, faced this unprecedented destruction because of its persistent rebellion, with Sabbath desecration serving as a crucial indicator of its spiritual decay.

Jeremiah 17 27 Commentary

Jeremiah 17:27 serves as the climactic warning of Jeremiah's Sabbath sermon, encapsulating God's covenantal demands and the grave consequences of defiance. The Sabbath was far more than a ceremonial rule; it was a tangible sign of Israel's unique covenant relationship with Yahweh (Exo 31:13). Its proper observance signified national dedication to God, trust in His provision, and acknowledgment of His lordship over time and human endeavor. Conversely, profaning it, especially through public commerce at Jerusalem's gates, was a visible act of spiritual rebellion, demonstrating a greater allegiance to material gain and human enterprise than to divine command.

The imagery of "fire" being "kindled in its gates" and devouring "the palaces of Jerusalem" is potent and precise. The gates were the nerve centers of economic and social life; their destruction symbolized the breakdown of the nation's vitality. The palaces, representing the royal, political, and aristocratic powers, signified the total overthrow of the nation's leadership and its earthly sources of security and pride. The phrase "shall not be quenched" conveys the unalterable, definitive, and comprehensive nature of God's judgment. This was not a passing trial but an ultimate, devastating consequence that human power could not mitigate. This prophecy ultimately materialized in the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem, serving as a powerful testament to the severity of covenant infidelity and God's unwavering justice. It reminds believers that true devotion is not just inward but manifests in obedience to God's revealed will, affecting every aspect of life, including economic choices and how time is hallowed.

• Practical Example: Prioritizing work or entertainment on the day of worship over gathering with the community of faith, thus subtly profaning what God has set apart.
• Practical Example: Trusting in financial prosperity or political stability more than in God's sustained blessing and command.