Jeremiah Chapter 34

A Prophecy against Zedekiah

1The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth of his dominion, and all the people, fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities thereof, saying, 2Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel; Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire: 3And thou shalt not escape out of his hand, but shalt surely be taken, and delivered into his hand; and thine eyes shall behold the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak with thee mouth to mouth, and thou shalt go to Babylon. 4Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of thee, Thou shalt not die by the sword: 5But thou shalt die in peace: and with the burnings of thy fathers, the former kings which were before thee, so shall they burn odours for thee; and they will lament thee, saying, Ah lord! for I have pronounced the word, saith the LORD.

6Then Jeremiah the prophet spake all these words unto Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem, 7When the king of Babylon's army fought against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish, and against Azekah: for these defenced cities remained of the cities of Judah.

Freedom for Hebrew Slaves

8This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them; 9That 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. 10Now 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. 11But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.

12Therefore the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 13Thus 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, 14At 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. 15And ye were now turned, and had done right in my sight, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbour; and ye had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name: 16But ye turned and polluted my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom ye had set at liberty at their pleasure, to return, and brought them into subjection, to be unto you for servants and for handmaids.

17Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth. 18And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof, 19The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf; 20I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life: and their dead bodies shall be for meat unto the fowls of the heaven, and to the beasts of the earth. 21And Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of them that seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, which are gone up from you. 22Behold, I will command, saith the LORD, and cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without an inhabitant.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

A Prophecy against Zedekiah

1 The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his army, and all the kingdoms of the earth that were under his dominion, and all the peoples, were fighting against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of it, saying: 2 Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, Go, and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah, and tell him, Thus says Yahweh, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire: 3 and you shall not escape out of his hand, but shall surely be taken, and delivered into his hand; and your eyes shall see the eyes of the king of Babylon, and he shall speak with you mouth to mouth, and you shall go to Babylon. 4 Yet hear the word of Yahweh, O Zedekiah king of Judah: thus says Yahweh concerning you, You shall not die by the sword; 5 you shall die in peace; and with the burnings of your fathers, the former kings who were before you, so shall they make a burning for you; and they shall lament you, saying, Ah Lord! for I have spoken the word, says Yahweh.

6 Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem, 7 when the king of Babylon’s army was fighting against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish and against Azekah; for these alone remained of the cities of Judah as fortified cities.

Freedom for Hebrew Slaves

8 The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people who were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty to them; 9 that every man should let his male servant, and every man his female servant, who is a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, go free; that none should make bondservants of them, of a Jew his brother. 10 All the princes and all the people obeyed, who had entered into the covenant, that everyone should let his male servant, and everyone his female servant, go free, that none should make bondservants of them any more; they obeyed, and let them go: 11 but afterwards they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.

12 Therefore the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, 13 Thus says Yahweh, 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 bondage, saying, 14 At the end of seven years you shall let go every man his brother who is a Hebrew, who has been sold to you, and has served you six years, you shall let him go free from you: but your fathers didn’t listen to me, neither inclined their ear. 15 You had now turned, and had done that which is right in my eyes, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbor; and you had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name: 16 but you turned and profaned my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom you had let go free at their pleasure, to return; and you brought them into subjection, to be to you for servants and for handmaids.

17 Therefore thus says Yahweh: you have not listened to me, to proclaim liberty, every man to his brother, and every man to his neighbor: behold, I proclaim to you a liberty, says Yahweh, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth. 18 I will give the men who have transgressed my covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts; 19 the princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, who passed between the parts of the calf; 20 I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life; and their dead bodies shall be for food to the birds of the sky, and to the animals of the earth. 21 Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, who have gone away from you. 22 Behold, I will command, says Yahweh, and cause them to return to this city; and they shall fight against it, and take it, and burn it with fire: and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.

A Prophecy against Zedekiah

1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, all his army, all the earthly kingdoms under his control, and all the other nations were fighting against Jerusalem and all its surrounding cities. 2 The LORD, the God of Israel, told Jeremiah to go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah and tell him that this is what the LORD says: “Behold, I am about to deliver this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down. 3 And you yourself will not escape his grasp, but will surely be captured and delivered into his hand. You will see the king of Babylon eye to eye and speak with him face to face; and you will go to Babylon.

4 Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah. This is what the LORD says concerning you: You will not die by the sword; 5 you will die in peace. As spices were burned for your fathers, the former kings who preceded you, so people will burn spices for you and lament, ‘Alas, O master!’ For I Myself have spoken this word, declares the LORD.”

6 In Jerusalem, then, Jeremiah the prophet relayed all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah 7 as the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and the remaining cities of Judah—against Lachish and Azekah. For these were the only fortified cities remaining in Judah.

Freedom for Hebrew Slaves

8 After King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim liberty, the word came to Jeremiah from the LORD 9 that each man should free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female, and no one should hold his fellow Jew in bondage. 10 So all the officials and all the people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their menservants and maidservants and no longer hold them in bondage. They obeyed and released them, 11 but later they changed their minds and took back the menservants and maidservants they had freed, and they forced them to become slaves again.

12 Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 13 “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I made a covenant with your forefathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, saying: 14 Every seventh year, each of you must free his Hebrew brother who has sold himself to you. He may serve you six years, but then you must let him go free. But your fathers did not listen or incline their ear.

15 Recently you repented and did what pleased Me; each of you proclaimed freedom for his neighbor. You made a covenant before Me in the house that bears My Name. 16 But now you have changed your minds and profaned My name. Each of you has taken back the menservants and maidservants whom you had set at liberty to go wherever they wanted, and you have again forced them to be your slaves.

17 Therefore this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed Me; you have not proclaimed freedom, each man for his brother and for his neighbor. So now I proclaim freedom for you, declares the LORD—freedom to fall by sword, by plague, and by famine! I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.

18 And those who have transgressed My covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before Me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two in order to pass between its pieces. 19 The officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials, the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the pieces of the calf, 20 I will deliver into the hands of their enemies who seek their lives. Their corpses will become food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth. 21 And I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials into the hands of their enemies who seek their lives, to the army of the king of Babylon that had withdrawn from you.

22 Behold, I am going to give the command, declares the LORD, and I will bring them back to this city. They will fight against it, capture it, and burn it down. And I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant.”

A Prophecy against Zedekiah

1The word that hath been unto Jeremiah from Jehovah -- and Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and all his force, and all kingdoms of the land of the dominion of his hand, and all the peoples are fighting against Jerusalem, and against all its cities -- saying: 2'Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel: Go, and thou hast spoken unto Zedekiah king of Judah, and hast said unto him, Thus said Jehovah: Lo, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he hath burned it with fire, 3and thou, thou dost not escape out of his hand, for thou art certainly caught, and into his hand thou art given, and thine eyes see the eyes of the king of Babylon, and his mouth with thy mouth speaketh, and Babylon thou enterest. 4'Only, hear a word of Jehovah, O Zedekiah king of Judah, Thus said Jehovah unto thee: Thou dost not die by sword, 5in peace thou diest, and with the burnings of thy fathers, the former kings who have been before thee, so they make a burning for thee; and Ah, lord, they lament for thee, for the word I have spoken -- an affirmation of Jehovah.'

6And Jeremiah the prophet speaketh unto Zedekiah king of Judah all these words in Jerusalem, 7and the forces of the king of Babylon are fighting against Jerusalem, and against all the cities of Judah that are left -- against Lachish, and against Azekah, for these have been left among the cities of Judah, cities of fortresses.

Freedom for Hebrew Slaves

8The word that hath been unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, after the making by the king Zedekiah of a covenant with all the people who are in Jerusalem, to proclaim to them liberty, 9to send out each his man-servant, and each his maid-servant -- the Hebrew and the Hebrewess -- free, so as not to lay service on them, any on a Jew his brother; 10and hearken do all the heads, and all the people who have come in to the covenant to send forth each his man-servant and each his maid-servant free, so as not to lay service on them any more, yea, they hearken, and send them away; 11and they turn afterwards, and cause the men-servants and the maid-servants to return, whom they had sent forth free, and they subdue them for men-servants and for maid-servants.

12And there is a word of Jehovah unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying: 13'Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, I -- I made a covenant with your fathers in the day of My bringing them forth from the land of Egypt, from a house of servants, saying, 14At the end of seven years ye do send forth each his brother, the Hebrew, who is sold to thee, and hath served thee six years, yea, thou hast sent him forth free from thee: and your fathers hearkened not unto Me, nor inclined their ear. 15'And ye turn back, ye to-day, and ye do that which is right in Mine eyes, to proclaim liberty each to his neighbour, and ye make a covenant before Me in the house over which My name is called. 16And -- ye turn back, and pollute My name, and ye cause each his man-servant and each his maid-servant, whom he had sent forth free, (at their pleasure,) to return, and ye subdue them to be to you for men-servants and for maid-servants.

17'Therefore, thus said Jehovah: Ye have not hearkened unto Me to proclaim freedom, each to his brother, and each to his neighbour; lo, I am proclaiming to you liberty -- an affirmation of Jehovah -- unto the sword, unto the pestilence, and unto the famine, and I have given you for a trembling to all kingdoms of the earth. 18'And I have given the men who are transgressing My covenant, who have not established the words of the covenant that they have made before Me, by the calf, that they have cut in two, and pass through between its pieces -- 19heads of Judah, and heads of Jerusalem, the officers, and the priests, and all the people of the land those passing through between the pieces of the calf -- 20yea, I have given them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those seeking their soul, and their carcase hath been for food to the fowl of the heavens, and to the beast of the earth. 21'And Zedekiah king of Judah, and his heads, I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those seeking their soul, and into the hand of the forces of the king of Babylon, that are going up from off you. 22Lo, I am commanding -- an affirmation of Jehovah -- and have brought them back unto this city, and they have fought against it, and captured it, and burned it with fire, and the cities of Judah I do make a desolation -- without inhabitant.'

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Jeremiah 34?

1.1Introduction to Jeremiah 34

1.2Context of Jeremiah 34

1.3Ancient Key Word Study

1.4Compare & Contrast

1.5Jeremiah 34 Unique Insights

1.6Jeremiah 34 Connections to Yeshua

1.7Jeremiah 34 Scriptural Echoes

1.8Jeremiah 34 Devotional

1.9Did You Know

What is the meaning of Jeremiah 34?

Introduction to Jeremiah 34

Jeremiah 34 stands as a powerful testament to the consequences of breaking covenantal promises before God. This chapter presents two distinct prophetic messages delivered to King Zedekiah during the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem. The first concerns Zedekiah’s fate, while the second addresses a broken covenant regarding Hebrew slaves. Through these messages, we witness how seriously God takes promises made in His name and the devastating consequences of covenant betrayal.

Context of Jeremiah 34

This chapter is set during the final days of Jerusalem, specifically during Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of the city around 588-587 BCE. The immediate context shows King Zedekiah facing imminent defeat, with the Babylonian army bearing down on Jerusalem and its surrounding cities. This military crisis forms the backdrop for both prophetic messages delivered in this chapter.

The larger biblical context reveals this chapter as part of Jeremiah’s prophecies concerning Judah’s judgment and exile. It connects thematically to earlier passages about covenant faithfulness, particularly Deuteronomy 15:12-18, which established the law concerning Hebrew slaves. The chapter also resonates with the broader biblical themes of covenant loyalty, social justice, and divine judgment.

Additionally, this chapter serves as a microcosm of Israel’s larger pattern of covenant unfaithfulness, highlighting how the nation’s leadership and people repeatedly broke their promises to God, leading to the inevitable consequences of their actions.

Ancient Key Word Study

דְּרוֹר (deror) – “Liberty/Release”: This term, used in verse 8, carries legal weight in biblical Hebrew, specifically referring to the proclamation of freedom for slaves. It’s the same word used in Leviticus 25:10 for the Year of Jubilee, emphasizing the divine origin of this freedom mandate.
בְרִית (berit) – “Covenant”: Appearing multiple times in the chapter, this foundational Hebrew word represents more than just an agreement – it signifies a binding relationship with divine consequences. Its usage here emphasizes the gravity of breaking sacred promises.
חָפְשִׁי (chophshi) – “Free”: This term in verse 9 specifically relates to manumission (the act of freeing slaves) and carries implications of both legal and social restoration to full community membership.
שְׁמִטָּה (shemittah) – “Release”: Though not explicitly used but referenced conceptually, this term connects to the seventh-year release laws, highlighting the theological significance of the slave release covenant.
עֶבֶד (eved) – “Servant/Slave”: Used throughout the chapter, this term reflects both the social reality of ancient Near Eastern slavery and the theological concept of service to God.
חָלַל (chalal) – “Profane/Defile”: Used in verse 16, this powerful verb describes how the people’s actions desecrated God’s name by breaking their covenant promises.
דְּרוֹר (deror) – “Freedom”: Repeated usage emphasizes the divine imperative for justice and liberty in Israelite society.
כָּרַת (karat) – “Cut”: Used in the phrase “cut a covenant,” this verb emphasizes the binding nature of covenant-making through its connection to ancient treaty ceremonies.

Compare & Contrast

Verse 2’s proclamation “Thus says יהוה” uses the divine name rather than the more common Adonai, emphasizing direct divine authority in this judgment prophecy against Zedekiah.
The phrase “you shall not die by the sword” in verse 4 employs לֹא תָמוּת בֶּחָרֶב rather than other possible constructions, emphasizing the personal nature of God’s message to Zedekiah.
Verse 8’s covenant description uses כָּרַת בְרִית (“cut a covenant”) rather than simple “made,” reflecting the ancient Near Eastern practice of covenant ceremonies involving cut animals.
The repeated use of דְּרוֹר (“liberty”) in verses 8,15,17 creates a deliberate connection to Jubilee legislation, emphasizing divine authority behind the freedom mandate.
Verse 16’s “profaned My name” uses חָלַל rather than other Hebrew words for dishonor, emphasizing the covenant violation’s severity.
The phrase “I will make you a horror” in verse 17 uses זְוָעָה rather than other Hebrew words for terror, emphasizing the public nature of the judgment.
The specificity of “hands of their enemies” in verse 20 uses יַד אוֹיְבֵיהֶם rather than simpler constructions, emphasizing the personal nature of judgment.

Jeremiah 34 Unique Insights

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The chapter presents a fascinating parallel between two types of bondage – physical slavery and spiritual bondage to sin. The timing of this prophecy during the Babylonian siege creates a powerful irony: while the people of Jerusalem were facing external bondage, they were simultaneously reinforcing internal systems of oppression by re-enslaving their brothers and sisters.

The ancient rabbinical commentary Mechilta draws a profound connection between this chapter and the Exodus narrative, suggesting that the re-enslavement of freed servants mirror’s Israel’s own journey from freedom to bondage. This interpretation gains additional weight when considering that both situations involved covenant breaking – Israel breaking their promise to God just as the people broke their promise regarding the slaves.

The specific mention of the covenant ceremony “between the pieces” in verse 18 recalls the original Abrahamic covenant in Genesis 15. This connection suggests that the people’s covenant breaking was not just a social transgression but a repudiation of their foundational relationship with God. The ancient practice of walking between divided animals symbolized the self-cursing nature of covenant obligations – essentially saying “may this happen to me if I break this covenant.”

The prophetic symbolism of freedom and bondage in this chapter foreshadows the greater spiritual freedom that would come through the Messiah. The failure of human attempts to maintain freedom through law-keeping points to the need for a divine solution to humanity’s bondage to sin.

Jeremiah 34 Connections to Yeshua

The chapter’s themes of freedom, covenant, and sacrifice find their ultimate fulfillment in Yeshua the Messiah. Just as the people of Jerusalem made a covenant by walking between the pieces of a sacrificed animal, Yeshua became both the covenant maker and the sacrifice itself, establishing the New Covenant prophesied in Jeremiah 31:31-34.

The failed attempt at liberation in this chapter points to humanity’s need for true spiritual freedom, which Yeshua provides. As He declared in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” The temporary physical freedom offered to the slaves in Jeremiah 34 foreshadows the permanent spiritual freedom offered through the Messiah’s sacrifice.

Jeremiah 34 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates deeply with several biblical passages and themes. The slave release laws echo Exodus 21:2-6 and Deuteronomy 15:12-18. The covenant ceremony between the pieces recalls Genesis 15 and God’s covenant with Abraham.

The theme of covenant breaking connects to numerous passages throughout the prophets, particularly Hosea 6:7 and Ezekiel 16. The promise of judgment for covenant breaking links to the curses of Deuteronomy 28.

The prophecy about Zedekiah connects to parallel accounts in 2 Kings 25 and 2 Chronicles 36, providing historical context for the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s words.

Jeremiah 34 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to examine our own faithfulness to promises made before God. Just as the people of Jerusalem faced consequences for breaking their covenant, we must consider how seriously we take our commitments to God and others. Are there areas where we’ve made promises to God but later compromised or reversed course?

The chapter also prompts us to consider our treatment of others, particularly those in vulnerable positions. The people’s willingness to re-enslave their brothers and sisters reveals how easily human hearts can harden to the needs of others when personal interests are at stake. This calls us to examine our own hearts and actions regarding social justice and care for the vulnerable.

Did You Know

The covenant ceremony described in verses 18-19 reflects ancient Near Eastern treaty practices where participants would walk between divided animals, symbolically accepting the curse of death if they broke the covenant.
Archaeological evidence from the period shows that slave release during times of military crisis was a common practice in ancient Near Eastern cities under siege, as it reduced the number of mouths to feed.
The specific mention of “burning spices” in verse 5 refers to an ancient royal burial custom, documented in multiple archaeological findings from the period.
The phrase “all the princes of Jerusalem” in verse 19 reflects the actual administrative structure of ancient Judean government, which included both royal officials and tribal elders.
The reference to the “King of Babylon’s army” fighting against “Lachish and Azekah” is confirmed by archaeological findings, including the famous Lachish Letters.
The timing of this prophecy coincides with a temporary lifting of the Babylonian siege due to Egyptian intervention, which explains why the people felt confident enough to renege on their covenant.
The legal framework for slave release mentioned in this chapter was unique in the ancient Near East for its humanitarian considerations and limited term of service.
The specific mention of male and female slaves receiving equal treatment was revolutionary for its time, as most ancient Near Eastern law codes treated female slaves differently.

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