Jeremiah 27:2

KJV

Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck,

KJV (with Strong's)

Thus saith {H559} the LORD {H3068} to me; Make {H6213} thee bonds {H4147} and yokes {H4133}, and put {H5414} them upon thy neck {H6677},

Complete Jewish Bible

"ADONAI says this to me: 'Make yourself a yoke of straps and crossbars, and put it on your neck.

Berean Standard Bible

This is what the LORD said to me: “Make for yourself a yoke out of leather straps and put it on your neck.

American Standard Version

Thus saith Jehovah to me: Make thee bonds and bars, and put them upon thy neck;

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 27:2 records a direct divine command to the prophet Jeremiah, instructing him to fashion literal bonds and yokes and to wear them around his neck. This dramatic, public act served as a powerful visual sermon, symbolizing the impending subjugation of Judah and surrounding nations under the dominion of Babylon, a divinely ordained period of servitude intended to humble and discipline God's people and the Gentile nations, demonstrating the LORD's absolute sovereignty over all earthly powers and challenging any resistance to His decreed will.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse initiates a significant prophetic oracle spanning [Jeremiah 27](/jeremiah/27 "Jeremiah 27 - The Yoke of Babylon") and [Jeremiah 28](/jeremiah/28 "Jeremiah 28 - Hananiah's False Prophecy"). [Jeremiah 27:1](/jeremiah/27-1 "Jeremiah 27:1 - Dating the Prophecy") places this prophecy at the beginning of the reign of King Zedekiah, likely around 597 BC, shortly after the first Babylonian deportation of Judah's elite, including King Jehoiachin. The immediate preceding chapters, such as [Jeremiah 25](/jeremiah/25 "Jeremiah 25 - Seventy Years of Exile") and [Jeremiah 26](/jeremiah/26 "Jeremiah 26 - Jeremiah's Trial"), have already established the theme of Babylon as God's instrument of judgment and the inevitability of exile. Jeremiah 27:2, therefore, introduces a vivid prophetic sign-act designed to reinforce this unpopular but crucial message against a backdrop of widespread false prophecy promising peace and swift deliverance from Babylonian power. The subsequent verses in [Jeremiah 27](/jeremiah/27 "Jeremiah 27 - God's Sovereignty Over Nations") elaborate on the message conveyed by the yoke, explicitly naming the nations destined for servitude and warning against resistance to God's decreed plan.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The late 7th and early 6th centuries BC were a period of intense geopolitical upheaval in the Near East. The Neo-Assyrian Empire had fallen, and the Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar, was rapidly asserting its dominance. Judah, a small kingdom, found itself precariously positioned between the declining power of Egypt and the rising might of Babylon. Many nations, including Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon (mentioned in [Jeremiah 27:3](/jeremiah/27-3 "Jeremiah 27:3 - Nations to Receive the Yoke")), were contemplating rebellion against Babylon, often encouraged by false prophets and political opportunists who promised swift deliverance. The cultural understanding of a "yoke" was deeply ingrained in ancient Near Eastern societies: it was an instrument for harnessing beasts of burden for labor, symbolizing control, subjugation, and servitude. For a nation, wearing a yoke signified political submission, tribute payment, and loss of independence to a dominant empire. Jeremiah's public display of these items would have been immediately understood as a powerful, albeit humiliating, message of national enslavement and a call to accept God's sovereign will.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Jeremiah. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Sovereignty**, demonstrating that the LORD is not merely the God of Israel but the sovereign ruler over all nations, even using pagan empires like Babylon as instruments of His will and judgment, as seen in [Jeremiah 25:9](/jeremiah/25-9 "Jeremiah 25:9 - Nebuchadnezzar as God's Servant"). Secondly, it highlights the theme of **Symbolic Prophecy** or **Prophetic Sign-Acts**, where God commands His prophets to perform tangible, often dramatic, actions to embody and communicate His message more effectively than words alone, a pattern seen elsewhere with Jeremiah (e.g., the linen sash in [Jeremiah 13](/jeremiah/13 "Jeremiah 13 - The Linen Sash")) and other prophets (e.g., Ezekiel's siege model in [Ezekiel 4](/ezekiel/4 "Ezekiel 4 - Ezekiel's Symbolic Siege")). Thirdly, it emphasizes the difficult and unpopular **Call to Submission** to God's ordained path, even when that path involves hardship and national humiliation, contrasting sharply with the popular message of false prophets who promised immediate deliverance and peace, as detailed in [Jeremiah 28](/jeremiah/28 "Jeremiah 28 - Hananiah's False Prophecy"). This verse also contributes to the theme of **Judgment and Exile** as a divine disciplinary measure.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** From H3068, this is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His self-existent, eternal, and unchanging nature. In this context, the use of "LORD" underscores that the command to Jeremiah is not a human political strategy or a mere prediction, but a divine decree from the ultimate authority. It highlights that the impending subjugation is not merely a geopolitical event but a sovereign act of the God of Israel, who controls the destinies of all nations and is faithful to His word.
* **bonds (Hebrew, _môwçêr'_):** From H4147, this term properly refers to chastisement or a halter, and by implication, a bond or restraint. Its inclusion alongside "yokes" intensifies the imagery of complete and inescapable subjugation, implying not just forced labor or burden but also imprisonment or absolute control, from which there is no escape without divine intervention. It signifies a binding force that restricts freedom and movement, emphasizing the totality of the coming servitude.
* **yokes (Hebrew, _môwṭâh'_):** From H4133, this word specifically refers to a pole or an ox-bow, hence a yoke. It is a powerful symbol of forced labor, servitude, and the burden of oppression. When placed upon the neck, it signifies submission to a master. In this prophetic context, the "yoke" represents the heavy dominion and political servitude that Babylon would impose on Judah and the surrounding nations, a divinely appointed burden for a set period.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Thus saith the LORD to me;":** This opening phrase immediately establishes the divine origin and absolute authority of the message. It is not Jeremiah's personal opinion, political forecast, or a mere human observation, but a direct, unequivocal word from YHWH, the sovereign God. The phrase "to me" emphasizes Jeremiah's unique and specific role as God's appointed messenger, tasked with delivering an unpopular but truthful prophecy, highlighting the personal nature of God's commission to His prophet.
* **"Make thee bonds and yokes,":** This is the core command for the prophetic sign-act. Jeremiah is instructed to physically construct these items. The "bonds" (likely ropes or chains) and "yokes" (wooden frames for oxen) are tangible objects that will serve as powerful, undeniable symbols. The act of making them underscores the deliberate and real nature of the impending servitude; it is not a vague threat but a concrete, divinely orchestrated reality that is already being prepared.
* **"and put them upon thy neck,":** This final clause specifies the public display of the symbolic items. By wearing them on his own neck, Jeremiah personally embodies the message, becoming a living visual aid. This public demonstration serves to visually communicate the message of inevitable subjugation and forced labor to the people of Judah, making the abstract concept of national servitude concrete and unavoidable. It also powerfully demonstrates Jeremiah's own submission to God's difficult and often humiliating command, reinforcing the prophet's obedience even in the face of public scorn.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 27:2 is rich in **Symbolism** and functions as a **Prophetic Sign-Act**. The "bonds" and "yokes" are potent symbols of political subjugation, forced labor, and the loss of national autonomy. Just as an ox is harnessed by a yoke for work, so too would Judah and other nations be brought under the dominion of Babylon. This visual **Metaphor** of the nation as a beast of burden underscores the heavy, inescapable nature of the coming servitude. The entire command constitutes a **Prophetic Sign-Act**, a common literary and theological device in the prophetic books where the prophet performs a physical action to embody and communicate a divine message. This dramatic, public performance was intended to shock and impress upon the audience the reality and inevitability of God's judgment and plan, making the abstract concept of submission tangible and unforgettable, and serving as a direct challenge to the false prophets who offered a different, more palatable message.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 27:2 profoundly illustrates God's absolute sovereignty over all nations and His use of even pagan empires as instruments of His divine purpose. The command to make and wear the yoke signifies that the impending Babylonian dominance is not a random geopolitical event but a divinely ordained judgment and a call to submission. This theological truth challenges human notions of independence and self-reliance, asserting that true wisdom lies in discerning and aligning with God's overarching plan, even when it involves hardship or humiliation. It also highlights the nature of prophetic ministry, which often involves uncomfortable truths and symbolic actions that confront popular narratives and call people to repentance and obedience to God's revealed will.

* [Isaiah 45:7](/isaiah/45-7 "Isaiah 45:7 - God Forms Light and Creates Darkness")
* [Daniel 4:17](/daniel/4-17 "Daniel 4:17 - God Rules in the Kingdom of Men")
* [Romans 13:1](/romans/13-1 "Romans 13:1 - Submission to Governing Authorities")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jeremiah's difficult commission in Jeremiah 27:2 serves as a powerful reminder that God's will is not always comfortable or popular, especially when it calls for submission to challenging circumstances. For us today, this passage encourages a posture of humility and discernment, urging us to recognize God's sovereign hand even in situations that seem oppressive, contrary to our desires, or beyond our control. It challenges us to consider whether our resistance to difficult circumstances might, in fact, be resistance to God's ordained path for our growth or discipline. Embracing God's sovereignty, even when His methods are inscrutable or His commands demanding, fosters a deeper trust in His ultimate goodness and wisdom. It calls us to examine our own "yokes"—the burdens, disciplines, or submissions God might be calling us to accept for our spiritual formation or for His broader purposes in the world, reminding us that true freedom often begins with surrender to divine authority.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life do you find yourself resisting circumstances that might be God's ordained "yoke" for a season of discipline or growth?**
* **How does understanding God's sovereignty over global events, as demonstrated in this passage, impact your perspective on current world affairs and personal challenges?**
* **What "unpopular" truths might God be calling you to embrace or communicate in your sphere of influence, even when they go against prevailing opinions or personal comfort?**

### FAQ
**Why did God command Jeremiah to make and wear literal bonds and yokes?**

Answer: God commanded Jeremiah to make and wear literal bonds and yokes as a **prophetic sign-act**, a common method in the Old Testament where prophets performed symbolic actions to vividly communicate a divine message. In this case, the physical act was a powerful visual sermon, making the abstract concept of national subjugation tangible and undeniable. The bonds and yokes symbolized the inevitable servitude that Judah and surrounding nations would experience under Babylonian rule, a divinely ordained period of discipline and judgment. This dramatic display was intended to confront the false prophets who promised peace and deliverance, reinforcing the difficult truth that submission to Babylon was God's will for their preservation, as explained in [Jeremiah 27:6-8](/jeremiah/27-6 "Jeremiah 27:6-8 - Submission to Nebuchadnezzar").

**Did Jeremiah actually wear these bonds and yokes for an extended period?**

Answer: While the text doesn't specify the exact duration, it implies that Jeremiah publicly displayed these items, likely for a significant period or on multiple occasions, to convey the seriousness of the message. The purpose of a prophetic sign-act was its public visibility and impact. The narrative in [Jeremiah 28](/jeremiah/28 "Jeremiah 28 - Hananiah's False Prophecy"), where the false prophet Hananiah breaks Jeremiah's wooden yoke, suggests that Jeremiah wore it long enough for it to become a recognized symbol, indicating it was not a fleeting gesture but a sustained public demonstration of God's will and a constant reminder of the impending judgment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jeremiah's yoke symbolized a burden of national servitude and divine judgment, it ultimately foreshadows both the spiritual yokes from which Christ delivers humanity and the new, liberating "yoke" He offers. The ultimate fulfillment of divine sovereignty, so powerfully demonstrated in Jeremiah's prophecy of Babylon's rise, is found in the reign of Christ, who is Lord over all creation and every earthly authority, having been given "all authority in heaven and on earth" as declared in [Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - All Authority Given to Jesus") and [Ephesians 1:20-22](/ephesians/1-20 "Ephesians 1:20-22 - Christ's Supremacy"). The heavy yoke of sin and the Law, which humanity could not bear, is contrasted with the "easy yoke" and "light burden" offered by Jesus in [Matthew 11:28-30](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28-30 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary"). Where Jeremiah's yoke signified forced submission to an earthly empire for a season of disciplinary judgment, Christ's yoke signifies willing submission to Him, leading to rest for the soul and true freedom from the bondage of sin and death, as celebrated in [John 8:36](/john/8-36 "John 8:36 - The Son Sets You Free") and [Galatians 5:1](/galatians/5-1 "Galatians 5:1 - Freedom in Christ"). Thus, the temporary, disciplinary yoke of Jeremiah's prophecy points forward to the eternal, redemptive reign of Christ, who ultimately breaks every bond of oppression and offers a yoke of grace, truth, and genuine liberation.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Kings 11:30

And Ahijah caught the new garment that [was] on him, and rent it [in] twelve pieces:

1 Kings 11:31

And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

Isaiah 20:2

At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

Isaiah 20:4

So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with [their] buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

Jeremiah 13:1

¶ Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon thy loins, and put it not in water.

Jeremiah 13:11

For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.

Jeremiah 19:1

¶ Thus saith the LORD, Go and get a potter's earthen bottle, and [take] of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the priests;