Jeremiah 27:2 kjv
Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck,
Jeremiah 27:2 nkjv
"Thus says the LORD to me: 'Make for yourselves bonds and yokes, and put them on your neck,
Jeremiah 27:2 niv
This is what the LORD said to me: "Make a yoke out of straps and crossbars and put it on your neck.
Jeremiah 27:2 esv
Thus the LORD said to me: "Make yourself straps and yoke-bars, and put them on your neck.
Jeremiah 27:2 nlt
This is what the LORD said to me: "Make a yoke, and fasten it on your neck with leather straps.
Jeremiah 27 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jer 27:1 | In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah | God's message begins |
| Jer 27:3 | send to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, | nations receiving the message |
| Jer 27:4 | Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel | God's authoritative declaration |
| Jer 27:6 | that you may know my service and the service of the kingdoms | understanding the divine rule |
| Jer 27:7 | and all nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson | future service to Nebuchadnezzar |
| Jer 27:12 | I will give them into the hands of their masters | consequence of disobedience |
| Jer 27:13 | serve the king of Babylon and live | counsel for survival |
| Jer 28:1 | in the fifth month of that same year, that same king | Hananiah's false prophecy |
| Jer 28:10 | Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, | continued divine guidance |
| Jer 28:11 | And Hananiah spoke before all the people | public declaration of falsehood |
| Jer 28:13 | "You shall make for yourself another yoke of wood | opposing symbolic act |
| Jer 28:14 | “Hear now, Hananiah, the LORD has not sent you, | divine repudiation of false prophet |
| Jer 51:34 | “Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon has devoured me | Babylonian conquest detailed |
| Eze 17:7 | and it will be another great eagle | parallel prophecy of kingdoms |
| Eze 17:15 | He also rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors | Judah's broken covenant |
| Dan 2:38 | Wherever the sons of men dwell, the beasts of the field | Nebuchadnezzar's dominion |
| Dan 4:22 | you have grown great and strong | Nebuchadnezzar's rise |
| Dan 5:21 | he was humbled by the LORD | divine humbling of proud rulers |
| Luke 21:24 | They will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led captives | results of opposition to God |
| Acts 15:28 | For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us | God's guidance for His people |
| Rom 6:16 | No longer present your members to sin as instruments | avoiding servitude to sin |
| 1 Pet 2:16 | live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext | responsible use of freedom |
Jeremiah 27 verses
Jeremiah 27 2 Meaning
Jeremiah 27:2 states, "Thus says the LORD to me: 'Make for yourself ropes and a yoke, and put them upon your neck." This is a divine command given to the prophet Jeremiah. It instructs him to create a physical symbol – ropes and a wooden yoke – and place them on his own neck. This action serves as a visual metaphor, a tangible representation of the message God intends to convey to Judah and the surrounding nations regarding servitude and the impending Babylonian captivity.
Jeremiah 27 2 Context
Jeremiah chapter 27 begins with a prophetic decree issued during the reign of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah. This was a critical period leading up to and during the Babylonian exile. False prophets had been proclaiming a message of swift return from Babylonian captivity, directly contradicting God's pronouncements through Jeremiah. Jeremiah is commissioned to create a physical symbol to counteract these lies and to teach a crucial lesson about subservience to God's appointed instruments. The verse, therefore, sets the stage for a dramatic, public demonstration of divine judgment and sovereignty over all nations. The specific instruction to make ropes and a yoke is not just a personal prophetic act but a means to communicate a divine message of subjugation to Judah and surrounding kingdoms, emphasizing their collective fate under Babylonian rule.
Jeremiah 27 2 Word Analysis
- Thus (כֹּה – koh): This adverb signifies "so," "thus," or "in this way." It introduces the words of God, indicating the authoritative nature of the following statement.
- says (אָמַר – amar): The imperfect verb meaning "to say." It conveys a direct communication from God.
- the LORD (יְהוָה – YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His relationship and faithfulness to His people, even in judgment.
- to me (אֵלַי – 'elai): Direct communication is established from God to Jeremiah, highlighting Jeremiah's role as God's messenger.
- Make (עֲשֵׂה – 'aseh): The imperative form of the verb meaning "to make," "to do," or "to fashion." It's a direct command to perform an action.
- for yourself (לְךָ – ləḵa): Emphasizes the personal nature of the task; Jeremiah himself is to be the agent.
- ropes (מּוֹסֵרָה – mōsērâ): Plural form of mōser. The root ysr can mean to bind, restrain, or instruct. Here, it likely refers to binding ropes or straps.
- and a yoke (וָמוֹטָה – wāmōṭâ): Mot signifies a pole or a yoke, often made of wood, used for animals to bear a burden or to be bound together. It represents subjugation, burden, and forced service.
- and put (וּנְתַתָּ – ūnətattā): Imperfect consecutive form of nātan (to give), meaning "and you shall put" or "and you shall place." This signifies the application of the symbol.
- them (אֹתָם – 'ōtām): Refers back to the "ropes" and "yoke."
- upon your neck (עַל־צַוָּארֶךָ – 'al-ṣawwāreḵā): The neck is a place of burden-bearing and submission. Placing a yoke on the neck is a powerful visual representation of slavery or servitude.
Word Group Analysis
- ropes and a yoke: This pairing of symbols (מּוֹסֵרָה וָמוֹטָה) powerfully conveys the idea of being bound and bearing a heavy burden. The ropes suggest being tied up and restricted, while the yoke implies being subjected to external control and forced labor. Together, they are a stark symbol of national subjugation.
- put them upon your neck: This phrase, עַל־צַוָּארֶךָ, is the focal point of the action. It translates the abstract concept of servitude into a physical, palpable reality that Jeremiah must endure and demonstrate. The neck is vulnerable and where authority is imposed through a yoke.
Jeremiah 27 2 Bonus Section
The prophetic act described in Jeremiah 27:2 is mirrored in subsequent events and prophetic pronouncements. The false prophet Hananiah in Jeremiah chapter 28 will perform a counter-symbol, breaking Jeremiah’s wooden yoke, only for Jeremiah to be commanded by God to create an iron yoke in its place, reinforcing the unyielding nature of Babylon's power and God’s determination for His people to learn the lesson of submission. This theme of God’s sovereignty over earthly kingdoms and His use of foreign powers as instruments of judgment or discipline is a recurring motif throughout the Old Testament, seen in figures like Nebuchadnezzar who, despite his paganism, was called God's servant (Jer 25:9). The principle that nations are accountable to God and subject to His sovereign will is a foundational aspect of biblical theology. The carrying of the "yoke" in scripture also appears metaphorically in the New Testament, where Jesus speaks of His own yoke as easy and His burden light (Matt 11:29-30), contrasting His spiritual servitude with the heavy, oppressive yokes of sin or forced religious compliance. This contrast highlights the nature of true servitude in God’s kingdom versus humanly imposed or self-inflicted bondage.
Jeremiah 27 2 Commentary
Jeremiah 27:2 marks the commencement of a profound symbolic act mandated by God. The instruction for Jeremiah to craft and wear ropes and a yoke is not an abstract theological point but a practical, enacted prophecy. This visual sermon underscores the unavoidable reality of Babylonian dominance. It’s a divinely sanctioned performance art intended to confront a people and neighboring nations who were prone to self-deception and wishful thinking about their political future. The yoke, historically, was a symbol of oppression and servitude, typically used for animals of burden, but here applied to people to signify their destined status as tributaries or captives under Nebuchadnezzar, God’s instrument for judgment. The command is deliberate and clear: embrace the impending reality of foreign rule, as it is ordained by God. This direct, personal imposition on Jeremiah foreshadows the widespread suffering and displacement that will soon afflict Judah.