Jeremiah 32:10

And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed [it], and took witnesses, and weighed [him] the money in the balances.

And I subscribed {H3789} the evidence {H5612}, and sealed {H2856} it, and took {H5749} witnesses {H5707}, and weighed {H8254} him the money {H3701} in the balances {H3976}.

I signed on the purchase contract, sealed it, called witnesses and weighed out the money for him on a balance scale.

I signed and sealed the deed, called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales.

And I subscribed the deed, and sealed it, and called witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.

Jeremiah 32:10 vividly describes the prophet Jeremiah’s meticulous adherence to legal procedure during an extraordinary land purchase. This seemingly mundane detail is crucial for understanding the profound spiritual significance of his act.

Context of Jeremiah 32:10

This verse is set against the grim backdrop of the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, a time of immense despair and imminent destruction for the Kingdom of Judah. Jeremiah himself is imprisoned in the court of the guard (Jeremiah 32:2). Despite the impending desolation, God commands Jeremiah to buy a field from his cousin Hanamel in Anathoth (Jeremiah 32:7). This transaction, detailed in verse 10, was a public and legally binding act, performed according to ancient Israelite custom for property transfer. It was a testament to the enduring promises of God amidst overwhelming national crisis.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Faithfulness Amidst Despair: The primary message is God's unwavering faithfulness. Even as Jerusalem faced destruction and exile, God orchestrated an act that symbolized future restoration. Jeremiah's purchase, despite the apparent futility, was a tangible sign that "houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land" (Jeremiah 32:15).
  • Obedience to God's Command: Jeremiah's willingness to obey God's seemingly irrational command demonstrates profound trust. He carried out the transaction with full legal diligence, showing his conviction in God's word over present circumstances.
  • Legal Integrity and Documentation: The verse highlights the importance of thoroughness and transparency in ancient legal dealings. "Subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances" illustrates a careful process designed to ensure legitimacy and protect future claims, even across generations.

Linguistic Insights

  • "Subscribed the evidence, and sealed it": This refers to writing down the deed of purchase and then authenticating it, often by pressing a signet ring into wax or clay. This act created a legally binding and tamper-proof document, crucial for property rights in ancient times.
  • "Weighed him the money in the balances": Before standardized coinage, precious metals (like silver) served as currency. Money was literally weighed out to ensure the correct amount and purity. This practice emphasizes the precise and honest nature of the transaction, ensuring fair exchange.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 32:10 offers powerful lessons for believers today:

  1. Hope in Hopeless Situations: Like Jeremiah, we are called to exercise faith in God's promises even when our circumstances seem dire or illogical. God's perspective often transcends our immediate reality.
  2. Obedience as an Act of Faith: Sometimes God asks us to do things that defy human logic. Jeremiah's diligent obedience reminds us that acting on God's word, even when it's difficult, is an act of profound trust and can be a powerful testimony.
  3. Integrity in All Dealings: The meticulousness of the transaction underscores the importance of integrity, honesty, and thoroughness in all our personal and professional dealings.

This verse ultimately points to God's ultimate plan of restoration and hope, reminding us that His purposes will prevail.

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 32:44

    Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal [them], and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 32:12

    And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's [son], and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.

  • Jeremiah 32:25

    And thou hast said unto me, O Lord GOD, Buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.

  • Job 14:17

    My transgression [is] sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.

  • Deuteronomy 32:34

    [Is] not this laid up in store with me, [and] sealed up among my treasures?

  • Isaiah 44:5

    One shall say, I [am] the LORD'S; and another shall call [himself] by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe [with] his hand unto the LORD, and surname [himself] by the name of Israel.

  • John 6:27

    Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

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