Jeremiah 27:12

ยถ I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.

I spake {H1696} also to Zedekiah {H6667} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063} according to all these words {H1697}, saying {H559}, Bring {H935} your necks {H6677} under the yoke {H5923} of the king {H4428} of Babylon {H894}, and serve {H5647} him and his people {H5971}, and live {H2421}.

Then I spoke to Tzidkiyahu king of Y'hudah in just the same way: "Put your necks under the yoke of the king of Bavel, serve him and his people, and you will live.

And to Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke the same message: โ€œPut your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and live!

And I spake to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.

Commentary

Jeremiah 27:12 presents a direct and stark message from the prophet Jeremiah to King Zedekiah of Judah, urging him and his people to submit to the Babylonian Empire. This verse encapsulates a critical period in Judah's history, where God's judgment was imminent due to the nation's persistent idolatry and disobedience.

Context

This verse is part of a broader prophetic message delivered by Jeremiah during the reign of King Zedekiah, around 597-586 BC. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had already asserted his dominance in the region, and many nations, including Judah, were contemplating rebellion. Jeremiah, however, was commissioned by God to declare that Babylonian supremacy was part of God's divine plan and judgment. In Jeremiah 27, the prophet dramatically illustrates this message by wearing a literal yoke around his neck, symbolizing the servitude God decreed for Judah and surrounding nations. The message to Zedekiah here is a direct, personal appeal to accept this reality, contrasting sharply with the false prophets who promised swift deliverance and encouraged resistance (as seen in Jeremiah 28 with Hananiah).

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty and Judgment: The passage underscores God's absolute control over world events and nations. He is using Babylon, a pagan empire, as an instrument of His judgment against Judah's sin. This was a difficult truth for the people of Judah to accept, as it meant their suffering was divinely ordained.
  • The Path to Life Through Submission: Jeremiah's message is paradoxical: "Bring your necks under the yoke...and serve him...and live." Submission to a foreign oppressor, a seemingly humiliating act, is presented as the only way to preserve life and avoid utter destruction. This reveals God's mercy amidst judgment, offering a way out even in dire circumstances.
  • Obedience vs. Rebellion: The choice presented to Zedekiah and Judah was stark: obey God's difficult command to submit, or rebel and face the devastating consequences of war, famine, and pestilence (Jeremiah 27:8).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "bring your necks under the yoke" uses the Hebrew word motah (ืžึนื˜ึธื”), which literally refers to a wooden bar or pole used to harness oxen, symbolizing servitude or burden. In this context, it's a powerful metaphor for yielding to authority and accepting a decreed servitude. The promise "and live" (ื•ึฐื—ึธื™ื•ึผ - v'chayu) is a direct, life-affirming consequence of obedience, contrasting with the death and desolation that rebellion would bring.

Practical Application

Jeremiah 27:12 offers profound lessons for believers today:

  • Trusting God's Plan in Hardship: Sometimes, God's path for us involves circumstances that seem difficult, undesirable, or even humiliating. This verse reminds us to trust His sovereignty, even when His methods are counter-intuitive.
  • Discerning God's Voice: Like Judah, we can be tempted to listen to "false prophets" (voices, philosophies, or desires) that promise easy solutions or contradict God's revealed will. Wisdom lies in discerning and adhering to God's difficult truths.
  • Humility and Surrender: The call to "bring your necks under the yoke" is a call to humility and surrender to God's will, even when it requires personal sacrifice or temporary hardship. True life and blessing often come through such submission, as opposed to self-reliance or rebellion.

Ultimately, Zedekiah chose to rebel, leading to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, and the exile of its people, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 28:1 (4 votes)

    ยถ And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, [and] in the fifth month, [that] Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which [was] of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,

  • Jeremiah 38:17 (4 votes)

    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:

  • Ezekiel 17:11 (2 votes)

    Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

  • Ezekiel 17:21 (2 votes)

    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 27:8 (2 votes)

    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.

  • Jeremiah 27:2 (2 votes)

    Thus saith the LORD to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck,

  • Jeremiah 27:3 (2 votes)

    And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah;