Jeremiah 32 12

Jeremiah 32:12 kjv

And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.

Jeremiah 32:12 nkjv

and I gave the purchase deed to Baruch the son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses who signed the purchase deed, before all the Jews who sat in the court of the prison.

Jeremiah 32:12 niv

and I gave this deed to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed and of all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard.

Jeremiah 32:12 esv

And I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my cousin, in the presence of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in the court of the guard.

Jeremiah 32:12 nlt

and I handed them to Baruch son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah. I did all this in the presence of my cousin Hanamel, the witnesses who had signed the deed, and all the men of Judah who were there in the courtyard of the guardhouse.

Jeremiah 32 12 Cross References

Verse Text Reference
Jer 32:12 "...according to the law and the right, purchase it." OT/Law's framework for redemption and property rights.
Jer 32:15 "For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land." Fulfillment of Jeremiah's action; God's explicit promise of restoration.
Jer 29:5-6 "Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant ye gardens, and eat the fruit of them; And take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may increase there, and not diminish." Instruction to exiles to settle and invest, mirroring future hope.
Isa 1:26 "And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counselors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city." Prophecy of renewed justice and faithfulness.
Isa 65:17 "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." Ultimate divine creation of a restored future.
Isa 54:2-3 "Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes. For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles; and make desolate cities to be inhabited." Imagery of expansion and inhabitation after a period of barrenness.
Ezek 37:11-14 "Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my bones, and, behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, O my people, and will bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD." The vision of the dry bones, representing national resurrection and restoration.
Ps 126:1 "When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream." Experience of overwhelming joy at restoration, like a dream.
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." God's loving action in the ultimate act of redemption.
Rom 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Divine orchestration of events for the good of believers.
2 Cor 4:18 "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." Emphasis on focusing on unseen, eternal realities over visible circumstances.
Heb 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Biblical definition of faith, aligning with Jeremiah's act.
Heb 11:7 "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear; prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." Noah's obedience in preparing the ark based on unseen future events.
Gen 15:13-14 "And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance." God's promise of a future for Abram's descendants despite future afflictions.
Deut 18:3 "And this shall be the priest's due from the people, from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep, and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw." Priestly rights as established by Mosaic Law.
Lev 25:24 "And in all the land of your possession the right of redemption shall be yours." The principle of the kinsman-redeemer (go'el) and land redemption.
Ruth 4:1-7 "And Boaz went up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he took ten men, scribes of the elders of the city, and sat down. And he said unto them that bought the field, Ye redeem it if ye will; or else another redeemer is near of kin unto him, make redemption of it. And he said, I will redeem it. Then said Boaz, this day do you buy the field of the hand of Naomi from the dead hand of Mahlon, and from the hand of Chilion, and purchased it out of the hand of the kinsman and brother-in-law of Ruth. Also Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day. And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem: And Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife; and went in unto her, and the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son." Demonstrates the practical application of the kinsman-redeemer law in property transactions.
Ps 111:7-8 "The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his precepts are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness." God's works and commandments are reliable and everlasting.

Jeremiah 32 verses

Jeremiah 32 12 Meaning

Jeremiah 32:12 signifies a pivotal moment where God commands Jeremiah to enact a visible, tangible act of faith and obedience. The act of purchasing the field of Hanamel, even amidst the impending destruction of Jerusalem, serves as a profound demonstration of God's promise to restore His people and their land. It underscores the certainty of God's future plans despite present dire circumstances, emphasizing faith in His covenant even when human sight perceives only despair.

Jeremiah 32 12 Context

Jeremiah 32 places the prophet in a context of profound national crisis. Jerusalem is under siege by the Babylonian army, and King Zedekiah has imprisoned Jeremiah for his prophecies of the city's inevitable fall. In this bleak scenario, God commands Jeremiah to perform an act that seems utterly irrational: to buy a field from his cousin Hanamel, for money, by deed and testimony, with enemy armies surrounding the city. This chapter unfolds during the final days of Jerusalem, as judgment is imminent. The purchase is a divine enactment symbolizing that despite the present devastation and exile, God’s covenant promises for future restoration and return to the land remain intact and will ultimately be fulfilled. This act challenges the despair of the people by pointing towards a future possession.

Jeremiah 32 12 Word analysis

  • And I heard the voice of the LORD: Indicates a direct divine revelation or instruction received by Jeremiah, establishing the source and authority of the command.
  • commanding me: Denotes an order or directive, signifying obedience required from the prophet.
  • saying: Introduces the content of the divine message.
  • Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah: Identifies the scribe and witness to the transaction, lending official weight and credibility to the purchase. Neriah and Mahseiah are significant names associated with prophecy and royal scribes, grounding the event in the known figures of the time.
  • buy my field that is in Anathoth: Specifies the object of the transaction, the ancestral property in Jeremiah's hometown. Anathoth was a Levitical city known for its priestly families, adding a layer of sacred connection.
  • which is in the country of Benjamin: Further geographic identification, placing the land within the territory allocated to the tribe of Benjamin.
  • for the right of inheritance is mine: States Jeremiah's legal claim and ancestral right to the property, rooted in family lineage and God's provision.
  • and redemption is mine: Refers to the legal and familial right to redeem or buy back property, especially in situations of debt or sale. This points to the covenantal relationship and God's ultimate ownership.
  • and redemption is yours: Directly transfers the right of redemption to Baruch, his cousin Hanamel (who sold it), and through Baruch to Jeremiah. It acknowledges that legally the property belongs to their lineage, even if it is being sold.
  • also the land of them: Signifies that Hanamel's act of selling represents the temporary dismemberment of ancestral lands.
  • which is in Anathoth, in the country of Benjamin: Reiteration of the property's location for clarity.
  • ye: Plural pronoun, implying others associated with Jeremiah's family or the legal witnesses.
  • also the field of the uncle of your father, and the last redemption thereof: Clearly defines the legal basis of the sale and repurchase, involving the collateral inherited from a family relationship. The term "uncle of your father" specifies an ancestor, and "last redemption thereof" refers to the final possibility to redeem the property before it was lost forever to the lineage.
  • and the deed of the purchase, when I had closed it, and the seals, and the witness thereof: Details the legal documentation required for property transfer according to ancient Near Eastern legal practices, making the transaction legally binding and visibly demonstrable.
  • and that by the hand of Baruch the son of Neriah: Reinforces Baruch's role as the authorized agent in carrying out the deed.

Words-group by words-group analysis

  • "the right of inheritance is mine, and redemption is mine" (Hebrew: mishpat ha-y'rushah li u-ge'ulah li): This phrase articulates Jeremiah's deep-seated, God-given, legal, and ancestral claim to the land. It’s not just a piece of property, but an inheritance within God's promised land, carrying the right of 'go'el' (kinsman-redeemer) associated with maintaining the family's patrimony.
  • "according to the law and the right, purchase it" (Hebrew: k'makot uv'mishpat qani'-hina): This emphasizes that the transaction must be conducted in full compliance with both written divine law (Torah) and established custom or established legal practice (mishpat). The action must be legitimate, visible, and formally executed, reinforcing the tangible nature of faith.
  • "the deed of the purchase, when I had closed it, and the seals, and the witness thereof" (Hebrew: sefar ha-m'kirah, b'hatam'ti otah, v'et ha-hotam't, v'et ha-e'duth): This describes the meticulous legal and administrative steps for a land sale. The act of sealing the document and having witnesses underscores the certainty and finality of the transaction. In an age without widespread literacy, sealing and witnessing were crucial for validity.

Jeremiah 32 12 Bonus section

This act by Jeremiah directly prefigures the purchase of the field of Ephron by Abraham in Machpelah (Genesis 23), also a vital piece of ancestral land acquisition that would hold significance for generations. Furthermore, the concept of redemption or repurchase (geulah) of land was deeply tied to Israel's covenant with God, ensuring that family land would not be permanently alienated. In the New Testament, this principle finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ, who acts as the kinsman-redeemer (Galatians 1:4; Ephesians 1:7), purchasing believers from sin and the spiritual barrenness caused by the fall, securing an eternal inheritance. Jeremiah's physical act of buying land foreshadows the ultimate spiritual purchase of humanity and the restoration of God’s kingdom.

Jeremiah 32 12 Commentary

This command from God to Jeremiah to purchase a field amidst total war and impending doom is a profound sermon in action. It signifies that faith is not passive waiting but active obedience. Jeremiah is instructed to follow all legal and customary procedures for a land purchase, using Baruch as his witness. This practical, legal, and financial act of acquisition in a context of total loss and exile starkly contrasts despair with divine hope. It proclaims that God's promises for future restoration and possession of the land are not annulled by present destruction; rather, they are assured by this deed. This serves as a tangible assurance that God's plan for His people includes eventual renewal and prosperity in their inheritance, even if the path there is through judgment. It teaches believers to act on God's promises even when circumstances appear impossible.