Jeremiah 34 10

Jeremiah 34:10 kjv

Now when all the princes, and all the people, which had entered into the covenant, heard that every one should let his manservant, and every one his maidservant, go free, that none should serve themselves of them any more, then they obeyed, and let them go.

Jeremiah 34:10 nkjv

Now when all the princes and all the people, who had entered into the covenant, heard that everyone should set free his male and female slaves, that no one should keep them in bondage anymore, they obeyed and let them go.

Jeremiah 34:10 niv

So all the officials and people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their male and female slaves and no longer hold them in bondage. They agreed, and set them free.

Jeremiah 34:10 esv

And they obeyed, all the officials and all the people who had entered into the covenant that everyone would set free his slave, male or female, so that they would not be enslaved again. They obeyed and set them free.

Jeremiah 34:10 nlt

The officials and all the people had obeyed the king's command,

Jeremiah 34 verses

Jeremiah 34 10 Meaning

Jeremiah 34:10 speaks of a renewed covenant commitment. King Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem promised to set their Hebrew slaves free, a religious and legal obligation. This act was a demonstration of their obedience to the Law of Moses.

Jeremiah 34 10 Context

Jeremiah 34 occurs during the final siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The prophet Jeremiah is delivering a message of impending doom due to the people's persistent disobedience and failure to uphold God's commands, especially concerning social justice. Specifically, this chapter highlights a pivotal moment where King Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem entered into a covenant to free their Hebrew slaves. This action was a response to Jeremiah's prophecy that the city would fall. By proclaiming liberty for slaves, they hoped to avert God's judgment and appeal for divine mercy. However, as soon as the Egyptian army made a temporary advance, relieving the siege pressure, they flagrantly broke their solemn oath, re-enslaving the freed individuals. This violation sealed Jerusalem's fate, leading to its utter destruction and the Babylonian exile.

Jeremiah 34 10 Word Analysis

• וְכֵן (ve'khen): "And so," "and thus." This connects the subsequent statement to the preceding one, indicating the people's accord.

• הֶעָתִ֙יקוּ (he'atikū): "they were removed," "they were transferred," "they set free." In this context, it refers to the act of setting free from servitude, a legal and moral obligation. The root means to move or transfer something from one place or state to another.

• בֶּֽעָבִישָׁר (be'avishar): "upon freedom," "for freedom," "concerning liberty." This noun relates to freeing from bondage.

• עֲבָדִ֖ים (avadim): "slaves," "servants," "bondservants." This Hebrew term refers to individuals held in servitude, often due to debt or as a result of war. The covenant was about these specific individuals.

• וְאִ֑ישׁ (ve'ish): "and each man," "and every man." This emphasizes the personal responsibility and agreement of every individual among the officials and people.

• מִבְּלִי (mibli): "from the absence of," "without."

• מַלְלָק“‏ (mal’aq): "owning," "possessing," "lordship." The root is linked to possessing or governing.

• אָחִ֤יו (akhiv): "his brother," "his kinsman." This refers to fellow Israelites, underscoring the kinship and communal responsibility owed to one another within the covenant community.

• Groups of words:

  • "וְהֶעָתִיקוּ בֶּֽעָבִישָׁר עֲבָדִ֖ים וְאִ֑ישׁ מִבְּלִי מַלְלָק“‏ אָחִ֤יו": This phrase encapsulates the core action of the covenant: "and each man was removing (freeing) from (ownership) his brother." It denotes a collective and individual commitment to grant freedom and relinquish claims of ownership over fellow Israelites. The act of removing someone from a state of bondage implies a deliberate, public declaration and action.

Jeremiah 34 10 Bonus Section

The violation of this covenant was not just a broken promise; it was a profound defiance of God's justice and mercy. By re-enslaving those they had just freed, they were not only disobeying a specific law but also the spirit of the Mosaic Law, which consistently called for care for the vulnerable, justice for the oppressed, and remembering their own deliverance from slavery in Egypt. This act starkly contrasted with God's heart for liberation and demonstrated a hardening of their hearts that was leading them to complete ruin. The ensuing judgment would see many enslaved, killed, or exiled, a direct consequence of their disobedience and their faithlessness in this critical covenant moment.

Jeremiah 34 10 Commentary

Jeremiah 34:10 records Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem establishing a covenant to release their Hebrew slaves. This action was a direct response to Jeremiah's pronouncements about impending judgment and was intended as a means of appeasing God. It acknowledged their duty to uphold God's law, specifically the statutes concerning the release of Hebrew servants after a period of servitude (Exodus 21:2, Deuteronomy 15:12). The covenant was not merely a legal act but a spiritual one, a public vow made before God. However, the verse sets the stage for a profound betrayal of this vow. As soon as external pressures eased, they reneged, demonstrating their true allegiance was to their own interests rather than to God's command or their fellow countrymen. This illustrates a common failing: making religious or moral commitments when facing crisis, only to abandon them when the immediate threat recedes. True covenant faithfulness requires persistent obedience, not just crisis conversion.