Jeremiah 34:13 kjv
Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondmen, saying,
Jeremiah 34:13 nkjv
"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: 'I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying,
Jeremiah 34:13 niv
"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I made a covenant with your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. I said,
Jeremiah 34:13 esv
"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I myself made a covenant with your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, saying,
Jeremiah 34:13 nlt
"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I made a covenant with your ancestors long ago when I rescued them from their slavery in Egypt.
Jeremiah 34 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 34:13 | "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I myself made a covenant with your fathers..." | God's faithfulness to covenant |
| Exodus 20:2 | "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt..." | God's foundational saving act |
| Deuteronomy 5:6 | "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt..." | Echoes God's liberation |
| Joshua 24:2-13 | God recounting the covenant established at the Exodus | Historical context of covenant |
| Jeremiah 7:21-23 | God rebuking Israel for disobedience to covenant commands | Disobedience to covenant obligations |
| Leviticus 25:10 | The Jubilee year proclaiming liberty | Principle of freedom from slavery |
| Leviticus 25:39-43 | Laws regarding the treatment of Hebrew slaves | Regulation of Israelite servitude |
| Nehemiah 9:16 | Acknowledgment of God's covenant and faithfulness | Affirmation of God's covenant |
| Psalm 103:17-18 | God's steadfast love for those who keep His covenant | The character of God's covenant |
| Isaiah 42:6 | God's commission to Israel as a covenant to the people | Israel's covenantal role |
| Isaiah 55:3 | God offering enduring covenant love | Enduring nature of God's promises |
| Ezekiel 20:5-6 | God recounting His promise to bring them out of Egypt | God's introductory statement of love |
| Ezekiel 37:26 | God establishing a covenant of peace | God's eternal covenant plan |
| Hosea 11:1 | God calling Israel His son out of Egypt | God's fatherly relationship |
| Matthew 19:4-5 | Jesus referencing Genesis about marriage as foundational | Referencing foundational acts |
| Luke 1:72 | God remembering His holy covenant | God's covenant remembrance |
| John 6:32 | Jesus referencing manna as from God, a parallel to the Exodus | God's provision like in the Exodus |
| Acts 7:36 | Moses' leadership in bringing Israel out of Egypt | God's deliverance through Moses |
| Romans 2:17-20 | Circumcision as a symbol of covenant fidelity | External signs of covenant |
| 2 Corinthians 3:6 | The Spirit giving life, contrasted with the letter of the law | The Spirit's role in covenant |
| Galatians 3:17 | The Law given 430 years after the promise to Abraham | Timeline of God's covenant dealings |
| 1 Peter 1:18 | Redemption from futile ways inherited from forefathers | Redemption from bondage |
Jeremiah 34 verses
Jeremiah 34 13 Meaning
The Lord declares His command concerning the covenant He made with Israel at their exodus from Egypt. This command prohibits the enslavement of fellow Israelites.
Jeremiah 34 13 Context
This verse is spoken by Jeremiah during a critical period in Judah's history, amidst the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. The people of Judah had previously made a covenant with God to free their Hebrew slaves, a solemn vow reinforced by religious ceremony. However, they broke this covenant by re-enslaving their people as the enemy's pressure mounted. This chapter denounces their hypocrisy and the violation of their sacred oath. God is reminding them of the very foundation of their relationship with Him—the covenant initiated at their liberation from Egypt. Their present disobedience to this covenant is directly linked to that foundational act of redemption.
Jeremiah 34 13 Word analysis
Thus (כֹּ֣ה - koh): "So," "thus," indicating the following statement is authoritative and direct.
says (אָמַ֣ר - amar): "said," "spoke," signifying a verbal declaration.
the LORD (יְהוָ֔ה - YHWH): The personal, covenantal name of God.
the God (אֱלֹהֵ֣י - Elohei): "God of," indicating divine authority and ownership.
of Israel (יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל - Yisra'el): The people chosen by God.
I (אָנֹ֔כִי - anokhi): Emphatic personal pronoun, highlighting God's direct involvement.
myself (אָנֹ֔כִי - anokhi): The repetition emphasizes God's singular and personal action.
made (עָשָׂ֔ה - asah): "did," "made," referring to the act of establishing or forming.
a covenant (בְּרִ֖ית - berit): A binding agreement or treaty.
with your fathers (אֶת־אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֗ם - et-avoteichem): Referring to the ancestors of the current generation, especially those who came out of Egypt.
word group: "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel": Establishes divine authority and the speaker.
word group: "I myself made a covenant": Highlights God's personal initiative and faithfulness in initiating the covenant with the ancestors.
word group: "with your fathers": Connects the present generation directly to the covenant promises and obligations established through their patriarchs.
Jeremiah 34 13 Bonus section
The covenant God made "with your fathers" specifically refers to the Mosaic covenant established at Mount Sinai, which was rooted in the earlier promise to Abraham. The Exodus from Egypt was the historical event that served as the basis for God bringing His people out of slavery and into a relationship with Himself as their God, binding them to His laws. The repeated emphasis on "I myself" underlines that God is the initiator and guarantor of this covenant. The contrast is sharp: God liberated them from slavery, and they were now perpetuating a form of slavery among themselves, thereby violating the very spirit and letter of the covenant. This points to a recurring theme in Israel's history: a tendency to remember God's blessings abstractly while neglecting the practical implications of their covenant responsibilities.
Jeremiah 34 13 Commentary
This verse serves as a powerful reminder from God that His relationship with Israel was not based on their inherent merit, but on a covenant established by His sovereign grace and promise, initiated at the Exodus. This foundational act of liberation from bondage in Egypt defined their identity and set the terms of their relationship with Him. By reminding them of this, God emphasizes that their current covenant violation (freeing slaves) directly dishonors the very rescue that established them as His people. It underscores that fidelity to God's commands, especially those related to treating fellow humans justly, is an integral part of honoring the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants. Their lapse in upholding these rights reveals a deep spiritual decay, a disregard for the principles God embedded in their national founding.
- Practical application: Honoring past commitments and foundational agreements, particularly those rooted in God's principles, is crucial. Our actions today reflect on the integrity of the foundations upon which we build our lives and communities.