Jeremiah 32:9

And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that [was] in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, [even] seventeen shekels of silver.

And I bought {H7069} the field {H7704} of Hanameel {H2601} my uncle's {H1730} son {H1121}, that was in Anathoth {H6068}, and weighed {H8254} him the money {H3701}, even seventeen {H7651}{H6235} shekels {H8255} of silver {H3701}.

So I bought the field at 'Anatot which belonged to my cousin Hanam'el and weighed out the money for him, seven ounces of silver shekels.

So I bought the field in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and I weighed out seventeen shekels of silver.

And I bought the field that was in Anathoth of Hanamel mine uncle’s son, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.

Jeremiah 32:9 records a pivotal moment in the prophet Jeremiah's life, demonstrating an act of faith and obedience in the midst of national crisis. This verse details Jeremiah's purchase of a field from his cousin, Hanameel, in his hometown of Anathoth, weighing out seventeen shekels of silver for the transaction.

Historical and Cultural Context

At the time of this event, Jerusalem was under a severe siege by the Babylonian army, and its fall seemed imminent. Jeremiah himself was imprisoned in the court of the prison (Jeremiah 32:2) because of his prophecies of doom against the city. From a human perspective, buying land that was about to be overrun and occupied by an enemy force would appear utterly illogical, even foolish. However, this act was commanded by God as a powerful symbolic gesture, a tangible sign of the Lord's promise of future restoration for Israel.

The transaction itself followed legal customs of the time, involving weighing the silver, which was a common practice before standardized coinage. Anathoth, Jeremiah's ancestral home, was a Levitical city just a few miles northeast of Jerusalem, making the land part of his family's inheritance.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Faith in God's Promises: Jeremiah's obedience in buying the field, despite the dire circumstances, underscores his profound faith in God's word. It was an act of hope against all visible evidence.
  • Divine Assurance of Restoration: The purchase serves as a concrete prophecy that the land of Judah, though currently facing devastation and exile, would one day be bought and sold again, signifying a return to normalcy and prosperity for God's people. This promise is further elaborated in Jeremiah 32:15.
  • God's Sovereignty: Even in moments of national collapse and despair, God remains sovereign over history, orchestrating events and providing signs of His ultimate plan for redemption and renewal.
  • Covenant Faithfulness: This act reaffirms God's enduring covenant with Israel, promising that He would not utterly abandon His people but would bring them back from captivity (Jeremiah 29:10).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "weighed him the money" highlights the ancient practice of using unminted silver as currency. The term "shekel" (Hebrew: sheqel) was a unit of weight, not a standardized coin, so accuracy in weighing was crucial for any transaction. Seventeen shekels of silver, while not a large sum for a field, was a legitimate payment, validating the legal integrity of the prophetic act.

Practical Application

Jeremiah's purchase of the field in Anathoth offers a powerful lesson for believers today. It calls us to exercise faith in God's promises even when our circumstances seem hopeless or contrary to those promises. When facing personal crises, financial difficulties, or overwhelming challenges, this verse reminds us that God's plans for our future are often revealed through acts of obedience that may seem irrational to the world.

It encourages us to look beyond immediate despair to the certainty of God's future restoration and unwavering faithfulness. Just as Jeremiah invested in a seemingly lost cause, we are called to trust in God's ultimate victory and His ability to bring life and hope out of desolation.

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.

  • 1 Kings 20:39

    And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver.

  • Esther 3:9

    If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring [it] into the king's treasuries.

  • Zechariah 11:12

    And I said unto them, If ye think good, give [me] my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty [pieces] of silver.

  • Zechariah 11:13

    And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty [pieces] of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

  • Isaiah 55:2

    Wherefore do ye spend money for [that which is] not bread? and your labour for [that which] satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye [that which is] good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

  • Hosea 3:2

    So I bought her to me for fifteen [pieces] of silver, and [for] an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:

  • Genesis 37:28

    Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty [pieces] of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

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