Jeremiah 34:8

ยถ [This is] the word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which [were] at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;

This is the word {H1697} that came unto Jeremiah {H3414} from the LORD {H3068}, after {H310} that the king {H4428} Zedekiah {H6667} had made {H3772} a covenant {H1285} with all the people {H5971} which were at Jerusalem {H3389}, to proclaim {H7121} liberty {H1865} unto them;

This word came to Yirmeyahu from ADONAI after King Tzidkiyahu had made a covenant with all the people in Yerushalayim to emancipate them.

After King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim liberty, the word came to Jeremiah from the LORD

The word that came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people that were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;

Commentary

Context

Jeremiah 34:8 introduces a pivotal moment during the final desperate days of the Kingdom of Judah, as Jerusalem faced imminent destruction by the Babylonian army under King Nebuchadnezzar. King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, found himself in a precarious position, caught between the warnings of the prophet Jeremiah and the political pressures of his officials. In a moment of crisis, perhaps hoping to appease God or gain divine favor for their defense, Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem entered into a solemn covenant. This covenant specifically involved proclaiming liberty and releasing Hebrew slaves, a command rooted in the Mosaic Law (see Exodus 21:2 and Deuteronomy 15:12). The people had long neglected this commandment, and their sudden adherence was a desperate, temporary measure, not a genuine, sustained act of obedience.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Broken Promises and Hypocrisy: This verse sets the stage for a dramatic display of human unfaithfulness. While a covenant was made to "proclaim liberty," the subsequent verses in this chapter (particularly Jeremiah 34:11) reveal that this promise was swiftly broken once the immediate threat seemed to subside. This highlights the danger of superficial repentance or obedience driven by fear rather than a sincere change of heart.
  • Divine Observation and Justice: The phrase "the word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD" emphasizes that God is keenly aware of human actions, especially those made under covenant. God's response to their hypocrisy underscores His unwavering justice and the consequences of violating solemn oaths made in His name.
  • The Nature of True Liberty: The concept of "liberty" (Hebrew: deror) here refers to freedom from physical servitude. However, the narrative implicitly contrasts this temporary, humanly-granted freedom with the deeper spiritual liberty that comes from genuine obedience to God's commands. Their failure to maintain physical liberty for others ultimately led to their own loss of national liberty and subjugation.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "proclaim liberty" translates the Hebrew word deror (ื“ึฐึผืจื•ึนืจ). This term is significant as it is also used in Leviticus 25:10 to describe the Year of Jubilee, a time of widespread release for slaves, return of ancestral lands, and restoration. The use of deror here emphasizes the comprehensive and permanent nature of the release that was intended by the Mosaic Law. The irony is poignant: Zedekiah and the people proclaimed this profound "liberty" only to quickly retract it, violating the very spirit of deror and inviting divine judgment for their treachery.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 34:8 serves as a powerful reminder of several timeless principles:

  • Integrity in Covenants: It underscores the importance of keeping one's word, especially solemn promises made to God or others. Our integrity is tested not just in moments of convenience but, more profoundly, in times of difficulty or when the immediate pressure is lifted.
  • Genuine Repentance: The verse highlights the difference between crisis-driven compliance and true repentance. Authentic change of heart leads to sustained obedience, not just temporary adherence to rules when circumstances demand it. God desires a sincere heart, not just outward actions (as seen in 1 Samuel 15:22).
  • Consequences of Disobedience: The narrative that follows this verse demonstrates that God holds His people accountable for their actions, particularly when they violate His laws and their own solemn oaths. There are real consequences for unfaithfulness and hypocrisy.
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Cross-References

  • Leviticus 25:10

    And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout [all] the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.

  • 2 Kings 23:2

    And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD.

  • 2 Kings 23:3

    And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all [their] heart and all [their] soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.

  • 2 Kings 11:17

    ยถ And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD'S people; between the king also and the people.

  • Jeremiah 34:17

    Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened unto me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbour: behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the LORD, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

  • Nehemiah 5:1

    ยถ And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.

  • Nehemiah 5:13

    Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.