Jeremiah 32 10

Jeremiah 32:10 kjv

And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.

Jeremiah 32:10 nkjv

And I signed the deed and sealed it, took witnesses, and weighed the money on the scales.

Jeremiah 32:10 niv

I signed and sealed the deed, had it witnessed, and weighed out the silver on the scales.

Jeremiah 32:10 esv

I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales.

Jeremiah 32:10 nlt

I signed and sealed the deed of purchase before witnesses, weighed out the silver, and paid him.

Jeremiah 32 verses

Jeremiah 32 10 meaning

Jeremiah 32:10 describes the precise and legal actions taken by the prophet Jeremiah in purchasing a field from his cousin Hanamel. Despite Judah facing imminent destruction and Jeremiah himself being imprisoned, this meticulous transaction, involving signing a deed, sealing it, securing witnesses, and weighing the silver payment, was a divine command and a prophetic act. It symbolized God's certain promise of future restoration and return for His people to their land.

Jeremiah 32 10 Context

Jeremiah chapter 32 is set during a dire period: the tenth year of Zedekiah's reign, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar, around 588/587 BC. The Babylonian army had already laid siege to Jerusalem, and its fall was imminent. Jeremiah himself was imprisoned in the court of the guard (Jer 32:2) because of his unwavering prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction and Judah's exile.At this precise moment of national crisis and personal confinement, God commands Jeremiah to purchase a field in Anathoth from his cousin Hanamel. This act, seemingly absurd and futile given the circumstances, is a powerful physical demonstration of God's covenant faithfulness and a pledge of future restoration. It foreshadows the time when "houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land" (Jer 32:15), despite the current judgment.

Jeremiah 32 10 Word analysis

• And I signed: Hebrew wa'ekhtov (וָאֶכְתֹּב), meaning "and I wrote." This refers to Jeremiah drafting or formally assenting to the legal deed of purchase. It emphasizes the active, intentional commencement of the transaction as recorded in a document.
• the deed: Hebrew sepher ha'miqnah (סֵפֶר הַמִּקְנָה), literally "book/scroll of purchase." This designates the formal legal document or contract for the land acquisition, similar to ancient Near Eastern custom, containing details of the sale. It highlights the formality and binding nature of the transaction.
• and sealed it: Hebrew wa'ekhtom (וָאֶחְתֹּם), meaning "and I sealed." Sealing a document with a signet ring served multiple purposes: authenticating the deed, protecting its contents from alteration, and indicating its validity. In ancient legal practice, an important document like a land deed often had two copies – one sealed and one unsealed – ensuring security while also providing a publicly accessible version (Jer 32:11).
• and attested by witnesses: Hebrew wa'a'id (וָאָעִיד), meaning "and I called to witness." Witnesses were crucial for the legal validity of any significant transaction in ancient Israel (Deut 19:15). Their presence confirmed the integrity of the deed and the agreement between parties, providing public verification and accountability.
• and weighed: Hebrew wa'eshqol (וָאֶשְׁקֹל), meaning "and I weighed." This action was necessary because currency in that era primarily consisted of unminted silver or other precious metals, valued by weight rather than by standardized coins.
• the silver: Hebrew et-hakkeph (אֶת-הַכֶּסֶף), referring specifically to the payment medium. Silver was a common form of currency and a store of value throughout the ancient world, traded and measured by weight.
• on the scales: Hebrew bammaznavim (בַּמֹּאזְנַיִם), referring to the balance scales used for accurate measurement. The act of weighing on scales ensured the exact agreed-upon payment was exchanged, emphasizing precision and fairness in the legal transaction.
• "And I signed... the deed... and sealed it": This sequence underscores the formal and binding legal process involved. Jeremiah wasn't merely verbally agreeing; he was participating in a meticulously recorded and authenticated legal act, setting an irrefutable precedent for future land claims. This reflects standard ancient Near Eastern legal procedures for ensuring secure and verifiable property ownership.
• "Attested by witnesses, and weighed the silver on the scales": This phrase highlights the public and verified nature of the transaction. Witnesses ensured the integrity of the agreement and the proper transfer of payment, while weighing the silver on scales emphasized the precise and equitable value exchanged, solidifying the legal reality of the purchase.

Jeremiah 32 10 Bonus section

The practice of having two copies of a legal deed, as seen here (one sealed for secure keeping and one unsealed for public reference, mentioned in the subsequent verses 11-14), was common in ancient Mesopotamia. The sealed copy was the master, protecting against tampering, while the open copy allowed for everyday reference. This dual-document system further amplified the legal solidity and trustworthiness of Jeremiah’s prophetic act. His purchase of land in his ancestral hometown of Anathoth was significant not only for its prophetic symbolism but also because Anathoth was a Levitical city, marking a poignant connection to God's ordained system of land inheritance and redemption within the covenant community.

Jeremiah 32 10 Commentary

Jeremiah 32:10 is the execution of a divinely commanded prophetic sign, embodying unwavering faith in God's promises amidst profound despair. While Jerusalem lay besieged and imminent destruction was certain, God instructed Jeremiah to perform a seemingly nonsensical legal act of purchasing land. This verse meticulously details the formalities—signing, sealing, witnessing, and precise weighing of silver—underscoring the absolute legitimacy and permanence of the transaction in the legal customs of the time. The act of carefully documenting the deed and the payment using traditional legal procedures makes the divine promise concrete and irrefutable. It proclaimed that just as God was realigning Judah through judgment, He would equally realign them through restoration. The future return of the exiled people and the repurchase of land in Judah would be as certain and legally sound as Jeremiah’s current transaction. It stands as a beacon of hope: though physical land was lost temporarily, God’s ownership over it and His people remained eternal, ensuring a future where "houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land" (Jer 32:15).