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.

Men shall buy {H7069} fields {H7704} for money {H3701}, and subscribe {H3789} evidences {H5612}, and seal {H2856} them, and take {H5749} witnesses {H5707} in the land {H776} of Benjamin {H1144}, and in the places about {H5439} Jerusalem {H3389}, and in the cities {H5892} of Judah {H3063}, and in the cities {H5892} of the mountains {H2022}, and in the cities {H5892} of the valley {H8219}, and in the cities {H5892} of the south {H5045}: for I will cause their captivity {H7622} to return {H7725}, saith {H5002} the LORD {H3068}.

Yes, people will buy fields for money, sign the purchase contracts, seal them and call witnesses, in the territory of Binyamin, in the areas around Yerushalayim, in the cities of Y'hudah, in the cities of the hill-country, in the cities of the Sh'felah and in the cities of the Negev. For I will cause their exiles to return,' says ADONAI."

Fields will be purchased with silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed, and witnessed in the land of Benjamin, in the areas surrounding Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah—the cities of the hill country, the foothills, and the Negev—because I will restore them from captivity, declares the LORD.”

Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe the deeds, and seal them, and call witnesses, in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the hill-country, and in the cities of the lowland, and in the cities of the South: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith Jehovah.

Jeremiah 32:44 concludes a powerful prophetic act and message of hope delivered by the prophet Jeremiah during one of Judah's darkest hours. This verse underscores God's certain promise of future restoration for His people, even as they faced imminent destruction and exile.

Context

This verse is the culmination of a highly symbolic event described earlier in the chapter. At the time, Jerusalem was under siege by the Babylonian army, and King Zedekiah had imprisoned Jeremiah for prophesying the city's downfall and Judah's seventy-year captivity (Jeremiah 32:1-5). Despite this dire situation, God commanded Jeremiah to buy a field from his cousin Hanamel in Anathoth, a transaction that seemed utterly illogical and financially unsound given the impending invasion. This act, detailed in Jeremiah 32:6-15, served as a tangible sign of God's promise that land would once again be bought and sold in Judah, signifying a future return and re-establishment of life. Verse 44 reiterates and expands upon this promise, listing specific regions where such transactions would occur.

Key Themes

  • Divine Promise of Restoration: The core message is God's unwavering commitment to restore His people to their land after their captivity. Despite judgment, God's covenant promises remain firm.
  • Hope Amidst Despair: In a time of profound national crisis and despair, this prophecy offers a beacon of hope. It assures the people that their exile is not the end, but a temporary discipline leading to future blessing. This echoes God's plan for a future and a hope found in Jeremiah 29:11.
  • Faith in Action: Jeremiah's obedience in purchasing the field, despite the personal cost and apparent foolishness, demonstrates radical faith in God's word. It teaches that true faith acts on God's promises even when circumstances seem to contradict them.
  • God's Sovereignty: The declaration "for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the LORD" powerfully asserts God's ultimate control over history and the destiny of nations. He is the one who initiates and accomplishes the return.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "subscribe evidences, and seal [them], and take witnesses" highlights the meticulous legal process of land transactions in ancient Israel. This wasn't a casual agreement but a formal, documented process involving:

  • Subscribing Evidences: Writing out the terms of the sale, creating a deed or contract.
  • Sealing: Affixing a personal seal (often a signet ring) to the document, authenticating it and making it legally binding. This secured the document, often in duplicate (one open, one sealed, as seen in Jeremiah 32:11-14), symbolizing its future validity.
  • Taking Witnesses: Having credible individuals present to observe the transaction and attest to its legitimacy.
This detailed description emphasizes the certainty and legality of God's promised future restoration, as sure as any human deed.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 32:44 offers profound lessons for believers today:

  • Trust in God's Promises: Even in times of hardship, uncertainty, or apparent defeat, we are called to trust in God's unfailing promises. His word is immutable, and He will accomplish what He has declared. This commitment reflects God's great faithfulness and mercy.
  • Hope in Difficult Times: This verse reminds us that even when circumstances seem hopeless, God is working behind the scenes for our ultimate good and restoration. We can find hope in His long-term plan, which often extends beyond our immediate struggles.
  • Acting in Faith: Sometimes, God calls us to act in ways that defy human logic or current circumstances. Like Jeremiah, we are to obey in faith, knowing that our actions, though small, can be powerful declarations of our trust in God's future work.
  • God's Redemptive Plan: The prophecy points to God's consistent character as a Redeemer who brings life out of death, restoration out of ruin, and hope out of despair. This applies not only to national restoration but also to individual lives.
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 17:26

    And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 33:7

    And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.

  • Jeremiah 33:11

    The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD [is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever: [and] of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

  • Jeremiah 33:26

    Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, [so] that I will not take [any] of his seed [to be] rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.

  • Jeremiah 32:10

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

  • Jeremiah 32:37

    Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:

  • Psalms 126:1

    ¶ A Song of degrees. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.

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