Jeremiah 32 7

Jeremiah 32:7 kjv

Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.

Jeremiah 32:7 nkjv

'Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, "Buy my field which is in Anathoth, for the right of redemption is yours to buy it." '

Jeremiah 32:7 niv

Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is going to come to you and say, 'Buy my field at Anathoth, because as nearest relative it is your right and duty to buy it.'

Jeremiah 32:7 esv

Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you and say, 'Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.'

Jeremiah 32:7 nlt

"Your cousin Hanamel son of Shallum will come and say to you, 'Buy my field at Anathoth. By law you have the right to buy it before it is offered to anyone else.'"

Jeremiah 32 verses

Jeremiah 32 7 meaning

Jeremiah 32:7 is a specific, divinely given instruction to the prophet Jeremiah. Despite Jerusalem being under siege by Babylon and Jeremiah imprisoned, the Lord tells him that his cousin Hanamel will approach him to sell a field in Anathoth. This proposition is framed within the established legal right of redemption (Go'el), where Jeremiah, as the nearest kinsman, had the right and responsibility to purchase the ancestral land. This divinely ordained transaction serves as a potent, tangible sign of God's certain promise of future restoration for Judah, symbolizing that people would once again buy and sell property in the land after the coming exile, affirming hope amid severe judgment.

Jeremiah 32 7 Context

Jeremiah chapter 32 is situated in the eleventh year of King Zedekiah's reign, the last king of Judah. This is a critical time as Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, is leading his army in a devastating siege against Jerusalem, which is on the brink of collapse. Jeremiah himself is held captive in the court of the guard, within the royal palace, due to his consistent and unwelcome prophecies that Jerusalem would fall, and its king and people would be taken into Babylonian exile (Jer 32:1-5). The nation is filled with despair, knowing their judgment is at hand. Amidst this bleak reality, God issues a specific, counter-intuitive command to Jeremiah: to purchase a piece of ancestral land. This seemingly irrational act, given the immediate circumstances, serves as a powerful divine sign, demonstrating God's unfailing promise of future restoration for His people and the land of Judah (Jer 32:15), despite the severe judgment they are currently enduring.

Jeremiah 32 7 Word analysis

• Behold (Hebrew: Hinnēh - הִנֵּה): An urgent, attention-grabbing particle. It signifies that what follows is important, surprising, and directly from God. It mandates the listener's focus on a divinely orchestrated event.
• Hanamel (Hebrew: Ḥănâme'l - חֲנַמְאֵל): Meaning "God has pitied" or "God is gracious." His name is ironically prophetic, as he becomes an agent in God's demonstration of grace and hope for the future, even in despair. He is identified by his familial relation to Jeremiah.
• the son of Shallum: Specifies Hanamel's immediate lineage, directly connecting him to Jeremiah through his father, Jeremiah's uncle.
• your uncle (Hebrew: dodkā - דּוֹדְךָ): Denotes Jeremiah's father's brother. This direct paternal relation is crucial for understanding the legal obligation and right of redemption within Israelite land laws.
• will come to you: A divinely guaranteed future event. This is not a casual meeting, but a precise prophetic appointment orchestrated by God, removing any doubt about its fulfillment.
• saying: Introduces direct speech, presenting Hanamel's exact words and proposition to Jeremiah, affirming the specificity of God's foretelling.
• 'Buy (Hebrew: qenēh - קְנֵה): An imperative verb, "to acquire by purchase." This verb is the heart of the prophetic command, signaling an act of intentional, economic faith and investment in a seemingly hopeless situation.
• my field (Hebrew: sāday - שָׂדַי): Refers to a specific piece of ancestral land owned by Hanamel. This land's status is likely distressed due to the ongoing siege, making the purchase financially counter-intuitive.
• which is in Anathoth (Hebrew: asher ba-'Anatôt - אֲשֶׁר בַּעֲנָתוֹת): Anathoth, Jeremiah's hometown (Jer 1:1), was a Levitical city only a few miles from Jerusalem. Being in Benjaminite territory, it was certainly overrun or threatened by the Babylonian army, adding to the unlikelihood and prophetic power of the transaction.
• for the right of redemption (Hebrew: kî l'kā mishpaṭ ha-ge'ullah - כִּי־לְךָ מִשְׁפַּט הַגְּאֻלָּה): Literally, "for yours is the right/judgment of the redemption." This legal phrase indicates Jeremiah's specific familial duty and privilege as the go'el or "kinsman-redeemer" (Lev 25:25). It grounds the prophetic sign in established Mosaic law.
• is yours to buy it (Hebrew: liqnôt - לִקְנוֹת): "To acquire it" or "to purchase it." Reinforces Jeremiah's legal standing and obligation, tying the divine command to an ancient and respected covenant practice.

Words-Group Analysis:

• Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you: This phrase encapsulates God's specific foreknowledge and control over seemingly human interactions. It's a precise prophecy, announcing not just an event, but the exact person and their familial relationship, which establishes the legal basis for the coming request. It commands Jeremiah's attention to God's divine timing and purpose.
• saying, 'Buy my field which is in Anathoth': This constitutes the central instruction and prophetic action. During a siege, when buying land in an enemy-occupied area seems absurd and financially irresponsible, this command emphasizes faith over sight. It foreshadows a future when the land will be habitable and valuable again.
• for the right of redemption is yours to buy it: This critical legal justification places the prophetic act within the ancient Israelite laws of inheritance and land redemption. Jeremiah, as the nearest kinsman (go'el), had the right and familial duty to keep the ancestral land within the family. God's instruction leverages this sacred legal tradition to give meaning to an act of seemingly economic folly, highlighting the enduring nature of covenant promises even in judgment.

Jeremiah 32 7 Bonus section

The specific price Jeremiah pays for the field – seventeen shekels of silver (Jer 32:9) – while seemingly a practical detail, underscores the concrete, verifiable nature of this prophetic transaction. Such a specific detail further validates the reality and intention behind God's command. This prophetic sign through Jeremiah is part of a larger pattern in the Old Testament where prophets performed symbolic acts (e.g., Ezekiel lying on his side, Isaiah walking naked) to communicate God's message with vividness and impact, demonstrating that God's word is not just abstract prophecy but actionable truth. This episode beautifully highlights the balance between divine judgment and divine mercy; even as judgment is executed, the seed of future hope is simultaneously planted.

Jeremiah 32 7 Commentary

Jeremiah 32:7 delivers a pivotal moment in the prophet's ministry, serving as a powerful symbolic act amid extreme national distress. With Jerusalem under siege and Jeremiah incarcerated for proclaiming the truth of God's impending judgment, the Lord commands an action completely contrary to human logic. God precisely foretells that Jeremiah's cousin, Hanamel, will offer to sell his field in Anathoth. This act is rooted in the Mosaic law of redemption (Leviticus 25), where the nearest kinsman (go'el) had the right and obligation to buy back family land that had been sold due to poverty, preventing it from permanently leaving the family inheritance.

Jeremiah's obedience to purchase this field, while Judah faced utter ruin and the land was being despoiled by the Babylonians, was a profound demonstration of faith. It was a tangible testament to God's promise that Judah's desolation would not be final, and that one day, houses, fields, and vineyards would once again be bought and sold in the land of Israel (Jer 32:15). This single transaction stood as an unwavering sign of future hope and restoration, declaring that God's covenant with His people and His land would endure beyond their current exile and judgment. It illustrates God's faithfulness even when His people are unfaithful, transforming an act of civil law into a profound prophetic symbol of divine certainty and future blessing.