Jeremiah 32 9

Jeremiah 32:9 kjv

And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.

Jeremiah 32:9 nkjv

So I bought the field from Hanamel, the son of my uncle who was in Anathoth, and weighed out to him the money?seventeen shekels of silver.

Jeremiah 32:9 niv

so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels of silver.

Jeremiah 32:9 esv

"And I bought the field at Anathoth from Hanamel my cousin, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver.

Jeremiah 32:9 nlt

So I bought the field at Anathoth, paying Hanamel seventeen pieces of silver for it.

Jeremiah 32 verses

Jeremiah 32 9 meaning

Jeremiah 32:9 details Jeremiah's act of purchasing a field from his cousin Hanamel in Anathoth, paying seventeen shekels of silver for it. This was an act of profound obedience and faith in God's word, performed while Jerusalem was under Babylonian siege and imminent destruction, thereby symbolizing the future restoration of Israel and the renewed value of land in a promised time of peace. It signified that despite the bleak present, God's promise of bringing His people back to their land would be fulfilled, making property valuable once more.

Jeremiah 32 9 Context

Jeremiah 32:9 takes place during one of the most tumultuous periods in Judah's history. King Zedekiah rules Judah, but Jerusalem is under a severe siege by the Babylonian army led by King Nebuchadnezzar (around 588-586 BC). Jeremiah, as God's prophet, has been imprisoned in the court of the guard in the king's palace for proclaiming that Jerusalem will fall and Judah will go into Babylonian captivity, advocating surrender. This verse describes a moment when Jeremiah's cousin, Hanamel, comes to him to sell a field in Anathoth, Jeremiah's hometown. According to the Mosaic Law (Lev 25:25-34), there was a right of redemption for family land, particularly in times of distress, where the nearest kinsman had the first right to buy back or acquire the land. God commands Jeremiah to buy this field, despite the seemingly nonsensical nature of buying land during an imminent invasion that will lead to exile and land confiscation. Jeremiah's purchase is a prophetic act, physically demonstrating his faith in God's promise that the people would one day return and again buy, sell, and build upon the land of Judah (Jer 32:15, 44). The purchase thus serves as a powerful tangible sign of hope, a physical seal on God's covenantal faithfulness and the future restoration of Israel, directly countering the prevailing despair.

Jeremiah 32 9 Word analysis

• So I bought (wa'eqneh - וָאֶקְנֶה): This phrase highlights Jeremiah's direct and immediate action in response to God's command. The Hebrew verb qanah (acquire, buy) implies a full, legal transaction. Jeremiah, though imprisoned and prophesying doom, acts obediently in faith, demonstrating personal commitment to God's paradoxical instruction.
• the field (haśśāḏeh - הַשָּׂדֶה): This refers to a specific piece of agricultural land, likely inherited family property in Anathoth. In ancient Israel, land was intrinsically linked to identity, covenant, and heritage from God. Owning land affirmed one's place within the promised land, making this purchase a profound symbol of future resettlement.
• from Hanamel my cousin (mêʿēṭ Ḥanamʾēl bēn-dōḏî - מֵאֵת חֲנַמְאֵל בֶּן־דֹּדִי): Hanamel is explicitly identified as Jeremiah's paternal cousin, the son of his uncle. This clarifies the familial context and the application of levirate or kinsman redeemer laws, where Jeremiah had the right of first refusal. The familial relationship underscores the communal aspect of the transaction within Israelite society and divine ordinance.
• and weighed out to him (wāʾešqōl lō - וָאֶשְׁקֹל־לוֹ): Before standardized coinage, payments of silver were made by weight. The Hebrew verb shaqal (to weigh) indicates a precise, verifiable transaction, often witnessed, using scales. This ensures a legally binding purchase and highlights the tangibility of the exchange.
• the money (hakkesep - הַכֶּסֶף): Literally "the silver." Silver was the primary medium of exchange, representing wealth and value. This emphasizes the material payment, crucial for a legitimate land transfer.
• seventeen shekels of silver (šivʿāh ʿāśār šeqālim kasef - שִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר שְׁקָלִים כֶּסֶף): A "shekel" was a unit of weight (approximately 11.5 grams) rather than a coin of fixed value. The specificity of "seventeen" confirms the precise record-keeping and legal nature of the transaction. This amount is relatively small (e.g., Joseph was sold for 20 shekels, a slave might cost 30 shekels), potentially reflecting the devalued state of land during the siege or Hanamel's urgency, but also highlights that the monetary value was less important than the symbolic and spiritual significance of the act itself.

• "So I bought the field from Hanamel my cousin": This grouping emphasizes Jeremiah's active participation in the transaction as mandated by God, leveraging a family right for a divine purpose. It signifies personal obedience within a framework of legal and familial duty.
• "and weighed out to him the money, seventeen shekels of silver": This phrase details the method and exact amount of payment, underlining the legal completion of the land acquisition. It provides irrefutable evidence of a legitimate sale, crucial for the prophetic sign to carry weight in signifying future certainty. The ancient method of "weighing out" silver solidifies its authenticity and the legal meticulousness.

Jeremiah 32 9 Bonus section

The "seventeen shekels of silver" (possibly equal to around 6-7 ounces or 170-200 grams of silver, depending on the specific shekel standard of the era) highlights several layers of significance beyond just a factual record. It stands in contrast to Jeremiah's own relatively cheap value when offered thirty pieces of silver by some for his prophetic message (Zechariah 11:12-13 foreshadowing Judas' price). While seemingly a modest sum, it legally concluded the sale. This specific sum could also be seen as representing completeness (10 + 7, two perfect numbers in Hebrew thought, adding up to a number signifying organization or divine order). The act served as a performative prophecy, where the prophet's actions themselves conveyed the divine message. In Jewish tradition, this account exemplifies emunah (faithfulness), not just as belief but as consistent, obedient action despite overwhelming odds. It's a testament that God's word remains true even when all human circumstances contradict it.

Jeremiah 32 9 Commentary

Jeremiah 32:9 presents a powerful tableau of faith and prophecy. Despite being imprisoned with Jerusalem facing imminent destruction by the Babylonians, Jeremiah obeys God's command to buy a field from his cousin, Hanamel, for seventeen shekels of silver. This transaction was more than a mere purchase; it was a deeply significant prophetic sign. At a time when owning land seemed utterly futile, given the impending exile and desolation, Jeremiah's act powerfully underscored God's unfailing promise of future restoration for Israel. The legal exactness of the transaction – weighing the silver and specifying the amount – serves to confirm the certainty and validity of God's covenant promises, ensuring that the people would one day return to buy and possess land again. It demonstrates Jeremiah's personal trust in God's long-term plan, challenging human logic with divine foresight and providing a beacon of hope amidst national despair, declaring that life and normal activities would resume in the land.