Jeremiah 34 9

Jeremiah 34:9 kjv

That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother.

Jeremiah 34:9 nkjv

that every man should set free his male and female slave?a Hebrew man or woman? that no one should keep a Jewish brother in bondage.

Jeremiah 34:9 niv

Everyone was to free their Hebrew slaves, both male and female; no one was to hold a fellow Hebrew in bondage.

Jeremiah 34:9 esv

that everyone should set free his Hebrew slaves, male and female, so that no one should enslave a Jew, his brother.

Jeremiah 34:9 nlt

He had ordered all the people to free their Hebrew slaves ? both men and women. No one was to keep a fellow Judean in bondage.

Jeremiah 34 verses

Jeremiah 34 9 meaning

Jeremiah 34:9 declares that no person should hold a fellow Judahite, who is their Israelite brother, in permanent servitude. This verse emphasizes the divine law that prohibited enslaving a fellow Hebrew indefinitely, specifically demanding their release after a set period. It highlights the breach of a solemn covenant made by King Zedekiah and the people, where they initially pledged to release their Hebrew servants in accordance with the Mosaic Law, but then reversed their decision. This act was a grave transgression against their covenant obligations, disregarding the sanctity of human dignity and the bonds of brotherhood under God's law.

Jeremiah 34 9 Context

Jeremiah 34 is set during the final siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar's Babylonian army. At a moment of intense crisis, King Zedekiah, under duress and likely a fleeting fear of divine judgment, made a solemn covenant with the people. This covenant, made in the presence of YHWH in the Temple, stipulated that all Hebrew servants, both male and female, were to be released, thereby fulfilling the commandment of Deut 15:12 that they should serve no longer than six years. This was an attempt to show devotion to YHWH, perhaps hoping for divine intervention against the Babylonians. However, when the Babylonian army temporarily withdrew (possibly to engage an Egyptian force), the people and officials of Jerusalem quickly broke their oath. They went back on their word, re-enslaving those they had just released. Verse 9 is part of the original, righteous demand, detailing precisely what the people initially covenanted to do, only to renege later. Jeremiah's message here exposes the profound hypocrisy and covenant infidelity of Judah. The people were eager to exploit their fellow Israelites, even as their own liberty was at stake.

Jeremiah 34 9 Word analysis

• that: From the Hebrew אֲשֶׁר (asher). This particle introduces the purpose or result clause, linking the covenant made in verse 8 to its specific requirement. It conveys the intent and stipulation of the agreement.
• no man: From אִישׁ (ish), meaning "man" or "individual." Emphasizes that this prohibition applied to every single person within the community, signifying personal responsibility and a societal obligation.
• should make bondmen: From יִשְׂרָהוּ (yisrahu), literally "should enslave him" or "make him serve." It specifically denotes placing someone into a state of forced labor or servitude, acting as a master over them. The word carries the connotation of property, though within the Hebrew law, a "bondman" (ebed) retained specific rights that regular slaves in other nations did not.
• of them: Refers collectively to "every man his servant, and every man his handmaid" mentioned in the preceding verse. It implies their commonality and shared identity as the subjects of this release.
• of Judah: בִיהוּדִי (biyhudi), meaning "among a Judahite." This specification emphasizes the direct connection to the tribal identity of the Southern Kingdom, making the offense particularly egregious as it was committed by members of the same nation.
• a Jew his brother: אֲחִיהֶם (achihem), "their brother." The term "brother" here (achim, a cognate for achihem) signifies a fellow Israelite, bound by ethnic, religious, and covenant ties. This highlights the foundational principle of communal responsibility and kinship within the covenant people. Treating a brother as an ordinary, permanent slave violated the core identity of Israel. This aspect served as a powerful polemic against the contemporary pagan practices where slavery could be permanent and without brotherly consideration, and also against the economic injustices within Judah.

Word-groups by word-groups analysis

• "no man should make bondmen of them": This phrase captures the negative injunction against perpetuating servitude. It outlines the specific action forbidden: forcing a fellow citizen into a state of permanent or extended bondage beyond what the law permitted. It emphasizes the principle of liberation that was to define Israel's internal dealings, distinguishing them from other nations.
• "of Judah a Jew his brother": This powerful grouping defines the target and context of the law's violation. By stressing "of Judah" and "a Jew his brother," the text underlines the hypocrisy and betrayal inherent in the people's actions. It wasn't merely the breaking of a general rule, but the profound sin of exploiting one's own kin, those with whom one shared a covenantal bond and national identity. This specific phrasing highlights the profound disregard for both God's law and the sacred bonds of community, directly challenging the notion of a holy and just society that YHWH intended for His people.

Jeremiah 34 9 Bonus section

The term עֶבֶד (ebed), translated here as "bondman" or "servant," for a fellow Israelite, did not signify the absolute, perpetual slavery common in surrounding nations. Hebrew servitude was a socio-economic institution designed primarily to provide a safety net for those who had fallen into debt or extreme poverty, offering a structured path to recovery rather than lifelong degradation. The "release in the seventh year" (or the Year of Jubilee) was central to preventing the formation of a permanent slave class among the covenant people. This specific command against enslaving a "Jew his brother" permanently was not merely humanitarian but theological: YHWH reminded Israel that they themselves had been bondmen in Egypt, and He had liberated them (Deut 15:15). Therefore, they were to act as agents of liberation, reflecting YHWH's character, not oppression, especially towards their own people. The temporary re-enslavement demonstrated by the people of Judah represented a rejection of this foundational liberating identity and an assimilation of the oppressive practices of the very nations they were commanded to be distinct from. This hypocrisy grieved God and fueled His judgment.

Jeremiah 34 9 Commentary

Jeremiah 34:9 stands as a stark indictment of Judah's spiritual hypocrisy and moral failing. The verse describes the righteous command for "no man should make bondmen... of a Jew his brother," directly echoing Mosaic Law. Initially, in a moment of desperation during the Babylonian siege, King Zedekiah and the people pledged to release their Hebrew slaves, conforming to this divine standard. This act demonstrated an outward piety and a hopeful plea for God's favor. However, their subsequent decision to re-enslave these freed individuals once the immediate threat subsided revealed the shallow nature of their repentance. They understood the letter of the law but lacked true heart-transformation and genuine commitment to justice. This violation was not just a legalistic misstep; it was a profound betrayal of the covenant with God, characterized by the oppression of their own brethren, neglecting the principle of brotherly love and mercy that permeated the Mosaic Law. This act underscores a core prophetic theme: outward religious observances are meaningless without an inward commitment to justice and righteousness, especially towards the vulnerable within their community. Their actions invited the very judgment they initially sought to avert.