Jeremiah 27:8

And it shall come to pass, [that] the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

And it shall come to pass, that the nation {H1471} and kingdom {H4467} which will not serve {H5647} the same Nebuchadnezzar {H5019} the king {H4428} of Babylon {H894}, and that will not put {H5414} their neck {H6677} under the yoke {H5923} of the king {H4428} of Babylon {H894}, that nation {H1471} will I punish {H6485}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}, with the sword {H2719}, and with the famine {H7458}, and with the pestilence {H1698}, until I have consumed {H8552} them by his hand {H3027}.

The nation and kingdom that refuses to serve this N'vukhadnetzar king of Bavel, that will not put their necks under the yoke of the king of Bavel, I will punish," says ADONAI "with sword, famine and plague, until I have put an end to them through him.

As for the nation or kingdom that does not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and does not place its neck under his yoke, I will punish that nation by sword and famine and plague, declares the LORD, until I have destroyed it by his hand.

And it shall come to pass, that the nation and the kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith Jehovah, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

Jeremiah 27:8 delivers a stern warning from the Lord to Judah and surrounding nations: those who refuse to submit to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon will face severe divine judgment.

Context

This verse is part of a series of prophecies in Jeremiah 27 where the prophet, under God's instruction, wears a literal yoke (or strap for a yoke) to symbolize the impending servitude to Babylon. The message was given early in the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, around 597 BC. Jeremiah's prophetic burden was to convince Judah and the surrounding nations—Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon—that their only wise course of action was to submit to Nebuchadnezzar's rule. God explicitly states that He has given all these lands into the hand of His servant Nebuchadnezzar, emphasizing His ultimate sovereignty over all earthly kingdoms. Resisting Babylon was, in essence, resisting God's ordained plan and inviting His severe punishment.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: The verse powerfully asserts that God is in control of world events, even using a pagan king like Nebuchadnezzar as His instrument of judgment. Refusal to serve Babylon is interpreted as direct rebellion against the Lord Himself, leading to His wrath.
  • The "Yoke of Babylon": This imagery represents forced submission and servitude. For the nations, it meant giving up their independence and becoming tributaries to the Babylonian Empire. God commands this as a form of divine discipline for their idolatry and unfaithfulness, preparing the way for the Babylonian captivity and the eventual return to the land.
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The Lord promises to punish rebellious nations with "the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence." These are classic biblical curses for covenant disobedience, often mentioned together as instruments of divine wrath (e.g., Jeremiah 14:12). They signify a complete and devastating consumption until the nations are utterly consumed by Nebuchadnezzar's hand.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "put their neck under the yoke" uses the Hebrew word 'ol (עֹל), which literally means a yoke, a wooden bar joining two draft animals. Figuratively, it symbolizes burden, servitude, or oppression. In this context, it represents the heavy burden of Babylonian dominion. The word "punish" comes from the Hebrew paqad (פָּקַד), which has a broad range of meanings, including to visit, inspect, appoint, or hold accountable. Here, it carries the strong connotation of divine visitation for the purpose of judgment and retribution, signifying God's active involvement in bringing about these consequences.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 27:8 reminds us that God is sovereign over all nations and history, even working through seemingly negative circumstances or unrighteous rulers to accomplish His purposes. While we are not called to literal submission to a foreign empire today, the principle of submitting to God's will—even when it involves difficult or uncomfortable situations—remains vital. Resisting God's clear direction, whether in personal life or communal matters, can lead to severe and undesirable consequences. This verse encourages believers to discern God's hand in current events and to trust in His overarching plan, even when it involves periods of discipline or trial. Understanding this helps us to find peace and purpose amidst global turmoil, knowing that God remains on His throne.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 38:17

    Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:

  • Jeremiah 38:19

    And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.

  • Jeremiah 24:10

    And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.

  • Ezekiel 14:21

    For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

  • Ezekiel 17:19

    Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; [As] I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head.

  • Ezekiel 17:21

    And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken [it].

  • Jeremiah 42:10

    If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull [you] down, and I will plant you, and not pluck [you] up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.

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