Jeremiah 34:8

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ [This 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;

Complete Jewish Bible:

This word came to Yirmeyahu from ADONAI after King Tzidkiyahu had made a covenant with all the people in Yerushalayim to emancipate them.

Berean Standard Bible:

After King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim liberty, the word came to Jeremiah from the LORD

American Standard Version:

The word that came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people that were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

This is the word^{H1697} that came unto Jeremiah^{H3414} from the LORD^{H3068}, after^{H310} that the king^{H4428} Zedekiah^{H6667} had made^{H3772} a covenant^{H1285} with all the people^{H5971} which were at Jerusalem^{H3389}, to proclaim^{H7121} liberty^{H1865} unto them;

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Jeremiah 34:8

Jeremiah 34:8 is a verse set against the backdrop of the final days of the kingdom of Judah, just before its destruction by the Babylonians. The verse speaks to a specific historical event: King Zedekiah, under duress from the Babylonian siege, had entered into a covenant with the people of Jerusalem. This covenant was a proclamation of liberty, likely referring to the freeing of Hebrew slaves, which was in accordance with the Mosaic Law that mandated the release of slaves in the seventh year (Exodus 21:2; Deuteronomy 15:12).

The theme here is one of desperate hope and religious obligation amidst a national crisis. The people and their king were attempting to align themselves with God's law, perhaps hoping that this act of righteousness would sway God to deliver them from their enemies. However, this act was not solely out of piety; it was also a pragmatic response to the siege, as having fewer mouths to feed could prolong their survival.

This verse is part of a larger narrative in Jeremiah that criticizes the superficiality and insincerity of the people's and leaders' religious observances. Despite the proclamation, the people quickly reneged on the covenant and re-enslaved those who had been set free (Jeremiah 34:11). Through the prophet Jeremiah, God condemns this hypocrisy and warns of the consequences of failing to uphold covenantal obligations, both to God and to fellow human beings. The broader message is one of genuine repentance and faithfulness being required for divine favor, rather than merely external or forced compliance with religious laws.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1697
   There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּבָר
   Transliteration: dâbâr
   Pronunciation: daw-baw'
   Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3414
   There are 133 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִרְמְיָה
   Transliteration: Yirmᵉyâh
   Pronunciation: yir-meh-yaw'
   Description: or יִרְמְיָהוּ; from רוּם and יָהּ; Jah will rise; Jirmejah, the name of eight or nine Israelites; Jeremiah.
   
3. Strong's Number: H3068
   There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יְהֹוָה
   Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
   Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
   Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
   
4. Strong's Number: H310
   There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַחַר
   Transliteration: ʼachar
   Pronunciation: akh-ar'
   Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.
   
5. Strong's Number: H4428
   There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: melek
   Pronunciation: meh'-lek
   Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
   
6. Strong's Number: H6667
   There are 62 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צִדְקִיָּה
   Transliteration: Tsidqîyâh
   Pronunciation: tsid-kee-yaw'
   Description: or צִדְקִיָּהוּ; from צֶדֶק and יָהּ; right of Jah; Tsidkijah, the name of six Israelites; Zedekiah, Zidkijah.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3772
   There are 280 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּרַת
   Transliteration: kârath
   Pronunciation: kaw-rath'
   Description: a primitive root; to cut (off, down or asunder); by implication, to destroy or consume; specifically, to covenant (i.e. make an alliance or bargain, originally by cutting flesh and passing between the pieces); be chewed, be con-(feder-) ate, covenant, cut (down, off), destroy, fail, feller, be freed, hew (down), make a league (covenant), [idiom] lose, perish, [idiom] utterly, [idiom] want.
   
8. Strong's Number: H1285
   There are 264 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בְּרִית
   Transliteration: bᵉrîyth
   Pronunciation: ber-eeth'
   Description: from בָּרָה (in the sense of cutting (like בָּרָא)); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh); confederacy, (con-) feder(-ate), covenant, league.
   
9. Strong's Number: H5971
   There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַם
   Transliteration: ʻam
   Pronunciation: am
   Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
   
10. Strong's Number: H3389
    There are 600 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְרוּשָׁלַ͏ִם
    Transliteration: Yᵉrûwshâlaim
    Pronunciation: yer-oo-shaw-lah'-im
    Description: rarely יְרוּשָׁלַיִם; a dual (in allusion to its two main hills (the true pointing, at least of the former reading, seems to be that of יְרוּשָׁלֵם)); probably from (the passive participle of) יָרָה and שָׁלַם; founded peaceful; Jerushalaim or Jerushalem, the capital city of Palestine; Jerusalem.
    
11. Strong's Number: H7121
    There are 689 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קָרָא
    Transliteration: qârâʼ
    Pronunciation: kaw-raw'
    Description: a primitive root (rather identical with קָרָא through the idea of accosting a person met); to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications); bewray (self), that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim(-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.
    
12. Strong's Number: H1865
    There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דְּרוֹר
    Transliteration: dᵉrôwr
    Pronunciation: der-ore'
    Description: from an unused root (meaning to move rapidly); freedom; hence, spontaneity of outflow, and so clear; liberty, pure.