Jeremiah 27:6

KJV

And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.

KJV (with Strong's)

And now have I given {H5414} all these lands {H776} into the hand {H3027} of Nebuchadnezzar {H5019} the king {H4428} of Babylon {H894}, my servant {H5650}; and the beasts {H2416} of the field {H7704} have I given {H5414} him also to serve {H5647} him.

Complete Jewish Bible

For now, I have given over all these lands to my servant N'vukhadnetzar the king of Bavel; I have also given him the wild animals to serve him.

Berean Standard Bible

So now I have placed all these lands under the authority of My servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I have even made the beasts of the field subject to him.

American Standard Version

And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field also have I given him to serve him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Jeremiah 27:6 powerfully articulates God's absolute and unchallengeable sovereignty over all nations and creation, revealing His divine purpose in raising up Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, as His chosen instrument of judgment. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God explicitly declares that He Himself has "given all these lands" and even "the beasts of the field" into Nebuchadnezzar's formidable power, designating the pagan monarch as "my servant." This profound statement underscores that even the most formidable earthly powers operate entirely under the direct, sovereign will of the Almighty, fulfilling His specific plan for the chastisement of disobedient nations, including Judah.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Jeremiah 27:6 is situated within a crucial prophetic oracle (Jeremiah 27-28) delivered early in the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah (circa 597 BC). This oracle is famously symbolized by Jeremiah's act of wearing a wooden yoke, which he commands the ambassadors from surrounding nations—Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon—to also wear, signifying their inevitable submission to Nebuchadnezzar. The message of this chapter directly confronts the prevailing false prophets who were promising swift deliverance from Babylonian subjugation and urging rebellion against Babylon. Jeremiah's declaration here, that God Himself has "given" these lands to Nebuchadnezzar, serves as the divine basis for the command to submit, establishing Babylon's dominance not as a mere geopolitical shift but as a divinely orchestrated judgment. The verse sets the stage for the dramatic confrontation with Hananiah, the false prophet, who breaks Jeremiah's yoke, only for Jeremiah to prophesy a heavier yoke of iron, reinforcing the unalterable and comprehensive nature of God's decree. The broader context of Jeremiah's prophecies consistently calls for submission to God's judgment, often through foreign powers, as a path to eventual restoration, contrasting sharply with the nationalistic fervor for rebellion.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The early 6th century BC was a period of immense geopolitical upheaval in the ancient Near East, dominated by the meteoric rise of the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II. Following the collapse of the Assyrian Empire and the decline of Egypt, Babylon emerged as the preeminent world power. Judah, strategically located at the crossroads of major trade routes and imperial ambitions, found itself precariously caught between these empires, often attempting to forge alliances with Egypt against Babylon—a policy consistently condemned by Jeremiah as futile and contrary to God's will. King Zedekiah's reign was characterized by intense internal political factions: those advocating for submission to Babylon (aligned with Jeremiah's prophecy) and those pushing for rebellion, often encouraged by false prophets and the deceptive hope of Egyptian intervention. Culturally, the idea of Yahweh referring to a pagan, idol-worshipping conqueror like Nebuchadnezzar as "my servant" would have been deeply shocking and offensive to many in Judah. This designation profoundly challenges their ethnocentric understanding of God's work, highlighting God's transcendence over human categories and His sovereign ability to use any instrument, even an ungodly one, to achieve His purposes of judgment and discipline.
* **Key Themes:** Jeremiah 27:6 powerfully articulates several core themes central to the book of Jeremiah and broader biblical theology. Foremost is **Divine Sovereignty over Nations**, demonstrating God's absolute control over human history and the destinies of empires. He is not a passive observer but an active orchestrator, raising up and bringing down kings and kingdoms according to His will, as seen throughout the prophetic literature, such as in [Daniel 2:21](/daniel/2-21 "Daniel 2:21 - God Changes Times and Seasons") where it is declared that God "removes kings and sets up kings." A striking theme is the designation of **Nebuchadnezzar as God's "Servant."** This term (Hebrew: *‘ebed*) does not imply moral approval or personal piety but signifies a functional role as an instrument of God's specific purpose—in this case, the chastisement of Judah and surrounding nations for their idolatry and rebellion against the covenant. This concept is echoed elsewhere in Scripture, such as God referring to Cyrus, the Persian king, as His "anointed" (Messiah) in [Isaiah 45:1](/isaiah/45-1 "Isaiah 45:1 - God's Anointed Cyrus"), despite Cyrus not knowing the Lord. Finally, the verse highlights **Universal Dominion and Judgment**, as God's delegated authority to Nebuchadnezzar extends not only over "all these lands" (peoples and territories) but even over "the beasts of the field." This signifies the comprehensive and inescapable nature of the impending judgment, illustrating the totality of God's power and the extent to which He uses even the natural world to accomplish His will, as further articulated in [Jeremiah 25:9-11](/jeremiah/25-9-11 "Jeremiah 25:9-11 - Seventy Years of Babylonian Captivity").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **given (Hebrew, _nâthan'_ H5414):** This primitive root is remarkably versatile, encompassing a wide range of applications from "to give" in a literal sense to "to appoint," "to assign," "to put," or "to bestow." In Jeremiah 27:6, its active voice ("have I given") profoundly underscores God's direct, intentional, and sovereign action. It is not merely that Nebuchadnezzar took these lands by his own formidable military might, but that God Himself, as the ultimate dispenser of all authority and dominion, actively bestowed this power upon him. This highlights God's initiative and absolute control over historical events, emphasizing His role as the ultimate giver of all rule and dominion.
* **hand (Hebrew, _yâd'_ H3027):** While literally referring to the physical hand, *yâd* is one of the most frequently used Hebrew words, employed metaphorically in a vast variety of applications to denote power, authority, control, dominion, or means. To give something "into the hand of" someone signifies placing it under their complete authority and control, often implying a comprehensive and irresistible dominion. Here, it vividly portrays the transfer of ultimate power over nations and even nature from God to Nebuchadnezzar, making it unequivocally clear that Nebuchadnezzar's formidable might and conquests were not inherent to him but were divinely delegated and empowered.
* **servant (Hebrew, _ʻebed'_ H5650):** Derived from the primitive root *ʻâbad* (to work, to serve, to be in bondage), *ʻebed* denotes one who serves or is in a state of service or bondage. While often used for faithful individuals in covenant with God (e.g., Abraham, Moses, David), its application to Nebuchadnezzar is purely functional and instrumental. It does not imply personal piety, moral approval, or a covenant relationship with Yahweh. Instead, it signifies that Nebuchadnezzar, despite his paganism, idolatry, and ruthless nature, was an unwitting instrument in God's hands, unconsciously or unwillingly fulfilling a specific divine purpose—that of executing God's judgment upon disobedient nations. This usage powerfully illustrates God's ability to employ anyone, regardless of their personal character or faith, to achieve His sovereign and righteous will.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And now have I given all these lands":** This opening clause immediately establishes the divine speaker ("I," referring to Yahweh, the God of Israel) as the active agent and the ultimate source of all authority. The phrase "all these lands" refers specifically to Judah and the surrounding nations whose ambassadors were present before Jeremiah (Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, Sidon), indicating the comprehensive and inescapable scope of God's decree. It emphasizes that the impending subjugation is not merely a consequence of geopolitical power shifts or human ambition but a direct, intentional act of God's sovereign will, a divinely ordained judgment.
* **"into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant":** This identifies the specific instrument God has chosen to execute His will: Nebuchadnezzar, the powerful and formidable king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The phrase "into the hand of" signifies the transfer of complete authority, dominion, and control over these territories and peoples. Most strikingly, God refers to this pagan, idolatrous monarch as "my servant." This designation is pivotal, highlighting that Nebuchadnezzar's immense power and his role in conquering these nations are not by his own might alone, but are divinely ordained, empowered, and directed for God's specific purposes of judgment and discipline against those who have rebelled against Him.
* **"and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him":** This final clause extends the scope of Nebuchadnezzar's divinely delegated dominion beyond human kingdoms and territories to include "the beasts of the field." This can be understood both literally, implying control over the natural resources and the very environment of the conquered lands, and metaphorically, emphasizing the absolute and total nature of the dominion God has granted him. It underscores the profound extent of God's sovereignty, demonstrating that His control encompasses not only human affairs, political powers, and the destinies of nations but also the created order itself, all of which are subject to His ultimate will and can be marshaled to fulfill His purposes of judgment and restoration.

#### Literary Devices
Jeremiah 27:6 employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound theological message regarding God's absolute sovereignty. The most prominent is **Divine Fiat/Declaration**, where God directly states His sovereign action ("And now have I given...") as the ultimate cause of events, thereby establishing His unchallengeable authority and initiative in human history. The designation of Nebuchadnezzar as "my servant" is a powerful **Metaphor** or **Figurative Language**, as it is not a term of endearment, personal relationship, or covenant fidelity, but rather a functional title signifying an instrument used for a specific divine purpose. This unexpected application of the term to a pagan king creates a striking contrast that emphasizes God's ability to work through any means or agent, regardless of their personal character or allegiance. Furthermore, the inclusion of "the beasts of the field" alongside "all these lands" can be seen as **Merism**, a literary device where two contrasting or encompassing parts are used to represent the whole (i.e., everything from human kingdoms to the natural world). This serves to emphasize the totality and comprehensiveness of the dominion granted to Nebuchadnezzar, suggesting that absolutely everything, from human societies to the created order, is subject to God's control and can be marshaled for His purposes. The phrase "into the hand of" is a common **Idiom** in Hebrew, signifying power and control, reinforcing the idea of delegated authority.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Jeremiah 27:6 stands as a profound testament to God's absolute and unwavering sovereignty over all creation and human history. It reveals that even the rise and fall of empires, seemingly driven by human ambition, military might, and geopolitical forces, are ultimately under the meticulous orchestration of the Almighty. God is not merely reacting to events but actively shaping them, using even ungodly rulers as instruments for His divine purposes of judgment, discipline, and the advancement of His overarching plan. This truth challenges human pride and self-sufficiency, reminding us that no earthly power can operate outside of God's ultimate permission and design. It underscores the biblical principle that all authority, whether acknowledged or not, ultimately derives from God, and He can use any means to accomplish His righteous will, even if those means involve suffering or the subjugation of His own people as a corrective measure. The verse affirms that God is the true King of kings, and His dominion is universal, extending even to the natural world.

* [Isaiah 10:5-6](/isaiah/10-5-6 "Isaiah 10:5-6 - Assyria as the Rod of God's Anger")
* [Daniel 2:21](/daniel/2-21 "Daniel 2:21 - God Changes Times and Seasons")
* [Romans 13:1](/romans/13-1 "Romans 13:1 - Governing Authorities Appointed by God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The profound truth embedded in Jeremiah 27:6 offers immense stability and perspective for believers navigating a world often characterized by political turmoil, social unrest, and seemingly chaotic global events. It calls us to look beyond immediate circumstances and recognize the sovereign hand of God at work, even when His methods are mysterious, involve suffering, or entail the rise of leaders and nations we might deem unrighteous. This verse encourages a deep trust in God's ultimate control, providing comfort that He is still on the throne, orchestrating all things according to His wise and perfect plan, even when it is difficult to comprehend. It challenges us to discern God's purposes in history, rather than merely reacting to headlines, and fosters a posture of humble submission to His will, even when it involves personal or national hardship, or the humbling of proud nations. Ultimately, it invites us to pray for leaders, knowing that their authority is ultimately derived from God, and to live faithfully, confident that God will accomplish His redemptive purposes, whether through willing or unwilling agents.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's absolute sovereignty over nations, as powerfully demonstrated in this verse, impact your perspective on current global events or the actions of political leadership?**
* **In what ways might God be using seemingly ungodly circumstances or individuals today to accomplish His divine purposes, even if those purposes are not immediately clear or desirable to us?**
* **How does the concept of God using a "servant" like Nebuchadnezzar challenge or affirm your understanding of divine justice and love in the face of suffering or national judgment?**

### FAQ
**Does calling Nebuchadnezzar "my servant" imply God approved of his actions or character?**

Answer: No, the designation of Nebuchadnezzar as "my servant" (Hebrew: *‘ebed*) in Jeremiah 27:6 does not imply God's moral approval of his character, his idolatry, or his ruthless actions. Instead, it is a purely functional or instrumental title. God is declaring that Nebuchadnezzar is serving as His chosen instrument to accomplish a specific divine purpose: the judgment and discipline of Judah and surrounding nations for their disobedience and idolatry. God is sovereign over all nations and can use anyone, regardless of their personal faith or moral standing, to achieve His will. This is similar to how God later refers to Cyrus, the pagan king of Persia, as His "anointed" (Messiah) in [Isaiah 45:1](/isaiah/45-1 "Isaiah 45:1 - God's Anointed Cyrus"), not because Cyrus was a follower of Yahweh, but because he was divinely appointed to fulfill a specific task—allowing the Jewish exiles to return and rebuild the temple.

**If God gave Nebuchadnezzar power, does that mean people should not resist oppressive rulers?**

Answer: Jeremiah 27:6 primarily emphasizes God's ultimate sovereignty over all earthly powers and His use of them for His purposes of judgment and discipline. It is a theological declaration about God's control, not a blanket command against all forms of resistance to oppressive rulers in every context. While the Bible does teach submission to governing authorities as ordained by God (e.g., [Romans 13:1-7](/romans/13 "Romans 13 - Submission to Governing Authorities")), this submission is generally understood within the framework of authorities acting as God's ministers for good and not demanding what violates God's law. When rulers demand what God forbids or forbid what God commands, the apostles teach that "We must obey God rather than human beings" ([Acts 5:29](/acts/5-29 "Acts 5:29 - Obey God Rather Than Men")). Jeremiah's specific message here was about Judah's need to submit to the divinely ordained judgment through Babylon, rather than resisting and incurring further wrath. It calls for discernment of God's hand in history and submission to His specific will, which may or may not involve passive acceptance depending on the particular circumstances and divine directives.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jeremiah 27:6, with its declaration of God's sovereign delegation of power to a pagan king for the purpose of judgment, finds its ultimate and glorious fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. While Nebuchadnezzar was a temporary, earthly ruler wielding power for a limited period of temporal chastisement, Christ is the eternal King of kings and Lord of lords ([Revelation 19:16](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - King of Kings and Lord of Lords")), to whom "all authority in heaven and on earth has been given" by the Father ([Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "Matthew 28:18 - All Authority Given to Jesus")). Nebuchadnezzar was God's "servant" of judgment, an instrument to bring about a temporal chastisement; Christ is the ultimate "Suffering Servant" ([Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Servant")) who came not to condemn the world, but to save it ([John 3:17](/john/3-17 "John 3:17 - Jesus Came to Save the World")). The dominion over "all these lands" and "the beasts of the field" granted to Nebuchadnezzar foreshadows Christ's absolute and comprehensive dominion over all creation, including nature itself, as powerfully demonstrated when He calmed the storm with a word ([Mark 4:39](/mark/4-39 "Mark 4:39 - Jesus Calms the Storm")) and when He declared that even the birds of the air and lilies of the field are under God's care ([Matthew 6:26-28](/matthew/6-26-28 "Matthew 6:26-28 - God Cares for Birds and Lilies")). Ultimately, the judgment enacted through Nebuchadnezzar points forward to the final, perfect judgment that will be administered by Christ, to whom the Father has entrusted all judgment ([John 5:22](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - The Father Judges No One, But Has Given All Judgment to the Son")). Thus, Jeremiah 27:6, while revealing God's control over earthly powers for judgment, ultimately points to the greater, redemptive, and eternal reign of the Messiah, Jesus, who perfectly fulfills God's will and establishes an everlasting kingdom of righteousness and peace ([Isaiah 9:6-7](/isaiah/9-6-7 "Isaiah 9:6-7 - The Prince of Peace and His Everlasting Kingdom")).

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

Jeremiah 28:14

For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.

Jeremiah 25:9

Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

Daniel 2:37

Thou, O king, [art] a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

Daniel 2:38

And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou [art] this head of gold.

Ezekiel 29:18

Son of man, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head [was] made bald, and every shoulder [was] peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it:

Ezekiel 29:20

I have given him the land of Egypt [for] his labour wherewith he served against it, because they wrought for me, saith the Lord GOD.

Jeremiah 43:10

And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.