Jeremiah 34:14 kjv
At the end of seven years let ye go every man his brother an Hebrew, which hath been sold unto thee; and when he hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee: but your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear.
Jeremiah 34:14 nkjv
"At the end of seven years let every man set free his Hebrew brother, who has been sold to him; and when he has served you six years, you shall let him go free from you." But your fathers did not obey Me nor incline their ear.
Jeremiah 34:14 niv
'Every seventh year each of you must free any fellow Hebrews who have sold themselves to you. After they have served you six years, you must let them go free.' Your ancestors, however, did not listen to me or pay attention to me.
Jeremiah 34:14 esv
'At the end of seven years each of you must set free the fellow Hebrew who has been sold to you and has served you six years; you must set him free from your service.' But your fathers did not listen to me or incline their ears to me.
Jeremiah 34:14 nlt
I told them that every Hebrew slave must be freed after serving six years. But your ancestors paid no attention to me.
Jeremiah 34 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah 34 | You should not rule over one another… | Reversal of servitude |
| Leviticus 25 | You shall not rule over him ruthlessly… | Laws on Hebrew servitude |
| Deuteronomy 15 | For the Lord your God will bless you… | Debtor’s release year |
| Exodus 21 | If you buy a Hebrew slave… | Laws on Hebrew slavery |
| Isaiah 58 | Is this not the fast that I choose: ... | True fast involves justice |
| Micah 6 | What does the Lord require of you… | Act justly, love kindness |
| Matthew 20 | So the last will be first, and the first last… | Parable on service and ownership |
| Luke 4 | The Spirit of the Lord is upon me… | Jesus' proclamation of release |
| Acts 4 | They had all things in common. | Early church shared possessions |
| 1 Corinthians 7 | Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. ... | Status during marriage/unmarriage |
| 1 Corinthians 6 | You were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. | Redeemed by Christ's blood |
| Colossians 3 | Put to death therefore whatever belongs to your earthly nature... | New life in Christ |
| Titus 2 | For the grace of God has appeared… | Teaching on godly living |
| 1 Peter 2 | You also, like living stones, are being built… | Spiritual priesthood |
| Psalm 100 | Serve the Lord with gladness… | Joyful service to the Creator |
| Psalm 24 | The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it… | Lord's universal sovereignty |
| Revelation 5 | And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you… | Worship of the Lamb |
| John 8 | Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” | Slavery to sin |
| Galatians 4 | But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son… | Adoption as sons |
| Romans 8 | For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear… | Spirit of adoption |
| Romans 6 | We know that our old self was crucified with him… | Freedom from sin's dominion |
| Jeremiah 32 | But this is what the Lord says: ... | God’s faithfulness and land promise |
| Jeremiah 30 | “‘Therefore, do not fear, O my servant Jacob,’ declares the Lord… | Restoration of Jacob |
| Jeremiah 31 | Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord… | New covenant |
Jeremiah 34 verses
Jeremiah 34 14 Meaning
The Lord declares a cancellation of any contractual human servitude, asserting that people were never to be permanently owned, as they are God's own possession.
Jeremiah 34 14 Context
Jeremiah 34 describes Zedekiah's broken covenant with the enslaved Israelites, whom he released due to Nebuchadnezzar's approach. This act of liberation was a response to covenant obligations. However, once the immediate threat subsided, Zedekiah and the princes rescinded their decision, forcing the formerly enslaved back into servitude. This betrayal of their word and their commitment to God’s law prompted Jeremiah’s prophecy of judgment against Jerusalem and its rulers. This specific verse functions as God's divine indictment, correcting their misguided understanding of ownership and responsibility towards fellow humans, especially within the covenant community.
Jeremiah 34 14 Word Analysis
- כִּי (ki): "For" or "because." Introduces the reason or basis for the Lord's decree.
- נִמְכְּרוּ (nimkeru): "they were sold." A passive verb form from makar (to sell). Emphasizes their status as something sold into servitude.
- לָכֶם (lakhem): "to you." Direct address to the people of Jerusalem and their leaders.
- עַבְדִּים (avdim): "servants" or "slaves." Specifically denotes those in servitude, bound by labor or debt.
- לִי (li): "to me." Affirms God's ultimate ownership.
- נְאֻם (neum): "the utterance of," "the declaration of." Used to preface prophetic statements, indicating divine authority.
- יְהוָה (YHWH): The personal name of God, "LORD."
- מֶכֶר (meker): "sale." Refers to the transaction of selling.
- לֹא (lo): "not." Negation.
- עַבְדֵי (avdei): "servants of." Possessive form.
- אֹתִי (oti): "me." Direct object pronoun.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "כי נמכרו לכם עבדים" (ki nimkeru lakhem avdim): This phrase asserts the illicit nature of their permanent sale. They were "sold to you," implying an improper transaction of permanent possession over God’s people.
- "אֹתִי עַבְדִים הֵם" (oti avdim hem): This clause powerfully declares their true ownership: "they are my servants." This directly challenges the Judahites’ claim of ownership, asserting God’s superior and original proprietorship.
Jeremiah 34 14 Bonus Section
The practice described and condemned here touches on the essence of redemption. In the Old Testament, servitude could arise from debt or poverty. However, specific laws, like those regarding the Jubilee year (Leviticus 25) and the year of release (Deuteronomy 15), aimed to prevent perpetual enslavement and promote social equity. The ultimate "redemption" is seen in Christ, who buys believers back from the slavery of sin (1 Cor 6:20). This verse, therefore, acts as a theological statement about who holds true dominion over individuals, setting the stage for understanding Christ's redemptive work as the ultimate liberation.
Jeremiah 34 14 Commentary
This verse underscores the fundamental principle that humanity belongs to God. The conditional servitude permitted within Israelite law (like for debt) was always under the ultimate sovereignty of God, and such servitude was never intended to be perpetual or absolute in the way human chattel slavery is depicted. The actions of the people of Judah in re-enslaving those they had released revealed a deep disregard for both divine law and their own covenant promises. They treated fellow Israelites as mere property to be bought and sold at will, forgetting that all individuals are ultimately servants of the Lord. This highlights a betrayal of justice and mercy, misinterpreting their authority as absolute ownership rather than stewardship under God.