Berean Standard Bible

Jeremiah 34

1This is the wordהַדָּבָ֛רha.da.VarH1697thatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834cameהָיָ֥הha.YahH1961toאֶֽל־'el-H413Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֖הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414מֵאֵ֣תme.'EtH854from the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068when Nebuchadnezzarוּנְבוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣רu.ne.vu.khad.re.TzarH5019kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Babylonבָּבֶ֣ל׀ba.VelH894,allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605his armyחֵיל֡וֹchei.LoH2428,allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605the earthlyאֶרֶץ֩'e.RetzH776kingdomsמַמְלְכ֣וֹתmam.le.KhotH4467under his controlמֶמְשֶׁ֨לֶת יָד֜וֹmem.She.let ya.DoH4475 H3027,and allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605the other nationsהָעַמִּ֗יםha.'a.MimH5971were fightingנִלְחָמִ֧יםnil.cha.MimH3898againstעַל־'al-H5921Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֛ם וְעַל־ye.ru.sha.Lim ve.'al-H3389 H5921and allכָּל־kol-H3605its surrounding citiesעָרֶ֖יהָ לֵאמֹֽר׃'a.Rei.ha le.MorH5892 H559.

2כֹּֽה־koh-H3541The LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068,the Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478,toldאָמַ֤ר'a.MarH559Jeremiahto goהָלֹךְ֙ha.loKhH1980and speakוְאָ֣מַרְתָּ֔ve.'A.mar.taH559toאֶל־'el-H413Zedekiahצִדְקִיָּ֖הוּtzid.ki.Ya.huH6667kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Judahיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063and tellוְאָמַרְתָּ֣ve.'a.mar.TaH559himאֵלָ֗יו'e.LavH413that this is whatכֹּ֚הkohH3541the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068saysאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559: “Beholdהִנְנִ֨יhi.NiH2005,I am about to deliverנֹתֵ֜ןno.TenH5414thisהַזֹּאת֙ha.zoTH2063cityהָעִ֤ירha.'IrH5892אֶת־'et-H853into the handבְּיַ֣דbe.YadH3027of the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Babylonבָּבֶ֔לba.VelH894,and he will burn it downוּשְׂרָפָ֖הּ בָּאֵֽשׁ׃u.se.ra.Fah ba.'EshH8313 H784.

3And you yourselfוְאַתָּ֗הve.'a.TahH859will notלֹ֚אlo'H3808escapeתִמָּלֵט֙ti.ma.LetH4422his graspמִיָּד֔וֹmi.ya.DoH3027,butכִּ֚יkiH3588will surely be capturedH8610and deliveredתִּנָּתֵ֑ןti.na.TenH5414into his handוּבְיָד֖וֹu.ve.ya.DoH3027.You will seeתִּרְאֶ֗ינָהtir.'Ei.nahH7200the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Babylonבָּבֶ֜לba.VelH894eyeוְֽ֠עֵינֶיךָVe.'ei.nei.khaH5869אֶת־'et-H853to eyeעֵינֵ֨י'ei.NeiH5869and speak with himיְדַבֵּ֖רye.da.BerH1696faceוּפִ֛יהוּu.Fi.huH6310toאֶת־'et-H854faceפִּ֥יךָPi.khaH6310;and you will goתָּבֽוֹא׃ta.Vo'H935to Babylonוּבָבֶ֥לu.va.VelH894.

4Yetאַ֚ךְ'akhH389hearשְׁמַ֣עshe.Ma'H8085the wordדְּבַר־de.var-H1697of the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,O Zedekiahצִדְקִיָּ֖הוּtzid.ki.Ya.huH6667kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Judahיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063.This is whatכֹּֽה־koh-H3541the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068saysאָמַ֤ר'a.MarH559concerning youעָלֶ֔יךָ'a.Lei.khaH5921:You will notלֹ֥אlo'H3808dieתָמ֖וּתta.MutH4191by the swordבֶּחָֽרֶב׃be.Cha.revH2719;

5you will dieתָּמ֗וּתta.MutH4191in peaceבְּשָׁל֣וֹםbe.sha.LomH7965.As spices were burnedוּֽכְמִשְׂרְפ֣וֹתu.khe.mis.re.FotH4955for your fathersאֲ֠בוֹתֶיךָ'A.vo.tei.khaH1,the formerהָרִֽאשֹׁנִ֜יםha.ri.sho.NimH7223kingsהַמְּלָכִ֨יםha.me.la.KhimH4428whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834precededהָי֣וּha.YuH1961youלְפָנֶ֗יךָle.fa.Nei.khaH6440,soכֵּ֚ןkenH3651peoplewill burnיִשְׂרְפוּ־yis.re.fu-H8313spices for youand lamentיִסְפְּדוּ־yis.pe.du-H5594, ‘Alasוְה֥וֹיve.HoH1945,O masterאָד֖וֹן'a.DonH113!’Forכִּֽי־ki-H3588I Myselfאֲנִֽי־'a.ni-H589have spokenדִבַּ֖רְתִּיdi.Bar.tiH1696this wordדָבָ֥רda.VarH1697,declaresנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002the LORDיְהוָֽה׃ סYah.wehH3068.”

6In Jerusalem, thenבִּירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃bi.ru.sha.LimH3389,Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֣הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414the prophetהַנָּבִ֔יאha.na.Vi'H5030relayedוַיְדַבֵּר֙vay.da.BerH1696allכָּל־kol-H3605theseהָאֵ֖לֶּהha.'E.lehH428wordsהַדְּבָרִ֥יםha.de.va.RimH1697toאֶל־'el-H413Zedekiahצִדְקִיָּ֖הוּtzid.ki.Ya.huH6667kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Judahיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063אֵ֛ת'etH853

7as the armyוְחֵ֣ילve.CheilH2428of the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Babylonבָּבֶ֗לba.VelH894was fightingנִלְחָמִים֙nil.cha.MimH3898againstעַל־'al-H5921Jerusalemיְר֣וּשָׁלִַ֔ם וְעַ֛לye.Ru.sha.Lim ve.'AlH3389 H5921and the remainingכָּל־ הַנּֽוֹתָר֑וֹתkol- ha.no.ta.RotH3605 H3498citiesעָרֵ֥י'a.ReiH5892of Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063—againstאֶל־'el-H413Lachishלָכִישׁ֙ וְאֶל־la.Khish ve.'el-H3923 H413and Azekahעֲזֵקָ֔ה'a.ze.KahH5825.Forכִּ֣יkiH3588these were the onlyהֵ֗נָּהHe.nahH2007fortifiedמִבְצָֽר׃ פmiv.TzarH4013citiesבְּעָרֵ֥יbe.'a.ReiH5892עָרֵ֥י'a.ReiH5892remainingנִשְׁאֲר֛וּnish.'a.RuH7604in Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063.

Freedom for Hebrew Slaves

8Afterאַחֲרֵ֡י'a.cha.ReiH310Kingהַמֶּ֨לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428Zedekiahצִדְקִיָּ֜הוּtzid.ki.Ya.huH6667had madeכְּרֹת֩ke.RotH3772a covenantבְּרִ֗יתbe.RitH1285withמֵאֵ֣תme.'EtH854allכָּל־kol-H3605the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834in Jerusalemבִּירֽוּשָׁלִַ֔םbi.ru.sha.LimH3389to proclaimלִקְרֹ֥אlik.Ro'H7121libertyדְּרֽוֹר׃de.RorH1865,the wordהַדָּבָ֛רha.da.VarH1697אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834cameהָיָ֥הha.YahH1961toאֶֽל־'el-H413Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֖הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414fromאֶת־'et-H854the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068

9that each manאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376אֶת־'et-H853should freeלְ֠שַׁלַּח חָפְשִׁ֑יםLe.sha.lach cha.fe.ShimH7971 H2670his Hebrewהָעִבְרִ֥יha.'iv.RiH5680slavesעַבְדּ֞וֹav.DoH5650, both maleand femaleשִׁפְחָת֛וֹ וְהָעִבְרִיָּ֖הshif.cha.To ve.ha.'iv.ri.YahH5680 H8198,and noלְבִלְתִּ֧יle.vil.TiH1115oneוְאִ֧ישׁve.'IshH376אֶת־'et-H853should holdעֲבָד־'a.vod-H5647his fellowאָחִ֖יהוּ'a.Chi.huH251Jew in bondageבִּיהוּדִ֥יbi.hu.DiH3064אִֽישׁ׃'IshH376.

10So allכָל־khol-H3605the officialsהַשָּׂרִ֨יםha.sa.RimH8269and allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605the peopleהָעָ֜םha.'AmH5971whoאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834enteredבָּ֣אוּBa.'uH935into this covenantבַבְּרִ֗יתva.be.RitH1285agreedוַיִּשְׁמְעוּ֩vai.yish.me.'UH8085that they would freeלְ֠שַׁלַּח אִ֣ישׁLe.sha.lach 'ishH7971 H376אֶת־'et-H853חָפְשִׁ֔יםcha.fe.ShimH2670their menservantsעַבְדּ֞וֹ וְאִ֤ישׁav.Do ve.'IshH5650 H376אֶת־'et-H853and maidservantsשִׁפְחָתוֹ֙shif.cha.ToH8198and no longerלְבִלְתִּ֥יle.vil.TiH1115hold them in bondageעֲבָד־'a.vod-H5647ע֑וֹדodH5750.They obeyedוַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּvai.yish.me.'UH8085and released themוַיְשַׁלֵּֽחוּ׃vay.sha.Le.chuH7971,

11but laterאַחֲרֵי־'a.cha.rei-H310כֵ֔ןKhenH3651they changed their mindsוַיָּשׁ֙וּבוּ֙vai.ya.Shu.vuH7725and took backוַיָּשִׁ֗בוּvai.ya.Shi.vuH7725אֶת־'et-H853the menservantsהָֽעֲבָדִים֙ha.'a.va.DimH5650andוְאֶת־ve.'EtH853maidservantsהַשְּׁפָח֔וֹתha.she.fa.ChotH8198אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834they had freedשִׁלְּח֖וּ חָפְשִׁ֑יםshi.le.Chu cha.fe.ShimH7971 H2670,and they forced themוַֽיִּכְבְּשׁ֔וּםvai.yakh.bi.shumH3533to become slavesלַעֲבָדִ֖יםla.'a.va.DimH5650againוְלִשְׁפָחֽוֹת׃ סve.lish.fa.ChotH8198.

12Then the wordדְבַר־de.var-H1697of the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah.wehH3068cameוַיְהִ֤יvay.HiH1961toאֶֽל־'el-H413Jeremiahיִרְמְיָ֔הוּyir.me.Ya.huH3414מֵאֵ֥תme.'EtH854from the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

13“This is whatכֹּֽה־koh-H3541the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,the Godאֱלֹהֵ֣י'e.lo.HeiH430of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478,saysאָמַ֥ר'a.MarH559:Iאָנֹכִ֗י'a.no.KhiH595madeכָּרַ֤תִּֽיka.Ra.tiH3772a covenantבְרִית֙ve.RitH1285withאֶת־'et-H854your forefathersאֲב֣וֹתֵיכֶ֔ם'a.Vo.tei.KhemH1whenבְּי֨וֹםbe.YomH3117I brought them outהוֹצִאִ֤יho.tzi.'IH3318אוֹתָם֙'o.TamH853of the landמֵאֶ֣רֶץme.'E.retzH776of Egyptמִצְרַ֔יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714,out of the houseמִבֵּ֥יתmi.BeitH1004of slaveryעֲבָדִ֖ים'a.va.DimH5650,sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559:

14Everyמִקֵּ֣ץmi.KetzH7093seventhשֶׁ֣בַעShe.va'H7651yearשָׁנִ֡יםsha.NimH8141,eachאִישׁ֩'ishH376אֶת־'et-H853of you must freeתְּֽשַׁלְּח֡וּte.sha.le.ChuH7971his Hebrewהָעִבְרִ֜יha.'iv.RiH5680brotherאָחִ֨יו'a.ChivH251whoאֲשֶֽׁר־'a.Sher-H834has sold himselfיִמָּכֵ֣רyi.ma.KherH4376to you.He may serveוַעֲבָֽדְךָ֙va.'a.va.de.KhaH5647you sixשֵׁ֣שׁsheshH8337yearsשָׁנִ֔יםsha.NimH8141,but then you must let him goוְשִׁלַּחְתּ֥וֹve.shi.lach.ToH7971freeחָפְשִׁ֖יcha.fe.ShiH2670מֵֽעִמָּ֑ךְme.'i.MakhH5973.But your fathersוְלֹֽא־ אֲבֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ אֵלַ֔יve.lo'- 'a.vo.tei.Khem 'e.LaiH1 H413 H3808did notוְלֹ֥אve.Lo'H3808listenשָׁמְע֤וּsha.me.'UH8085or inclineהִטּ֖וּhi.TuH5186אֶת־'et-H853their earאָזְנָֽם׃'a.ze.NamH241.

15Recentlyהַיּ֗וֹםhai.YomH3117youאַתֶּ֜ם'a.TemH859repentedוַתָּשֻׁ֨בוּva.ta.Shu.vuH7725and didוַתַּעֲשׂ֤וּva.ta.'a.SuH6213אֶת־'et-H853what pleasedהַיָּשָׁר֙hai.ya.SharH3477Meבְּעֵינַ֔יbe.'ei.NaiH5869;eachאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376of you proclaimedלִקְרֹ֥אlik.Ro'H7121freedomדְר֖וֹרde.RorH1865for his neighborלְרֵעֵ֑הוּle.re.'E.huH7453.You madeוַתִּכְרְת֤וּva.tikh.re.TuH3772a covenantבְרִית֙ve.RitH1285before Meלְפָנַ֔יle.fa.NaiH6440in the houseבַּבַּ֕יִתba.Ba.yitH1004thatאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834bearsנִקְרָ֥אnik.Ra'H7121My Nameשְׁמִ֖י עָלָֽיו׃she.Mi 'a.LavH8034 H5921.

16But now you have changed your mindsוַתָּשֻׁ֙בוּ֙va.ta.Shu.vuH7725and profanedוַתְּחַלְּל֣וּva.te.cha.le.LuH2490אֶת־'et-H853My nameשְׁמִ֔יshe.MiH8034.Each of youאִ֤ישׁ'ishH376אֶת־'et-H853has taken backוַתָּשִׁ֗בוּva.ta.Shi.vuH7725the menservants and maidservantsעַבְדּוֹ֙ וְאִ֣ישׁav.Do ve.'IshH5650 H376אֶת־'et-H853שִׁפְחָת֔וֹshif.cha.ToH8198whomאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834you had setשִׁלַּחְתֶּ֥םshi.lach.TemH7971at libertyחָפְשִׁ֖יםcha.fe.ShimH2670to go wherever they wantedלְנַפְשָׁ֑םle.naf.ShamH5315,and you have again forcedוַתִּכְבְּשׁ֣וּva.tikh.be.ShuH3533themאֹתָ֔ם'o.TamH853to beלִֽהְי֣וֹתlih.YotH1961yourslavesלַעֲבָדִ֖ים וְלִשְׁפָחֽוֹת׃ סla.'a.va.Dim ve.lish.fa.ChotH5650 H8198.

17Thereforeלָכֵן֮la.KhenH3651this is whatכֹּה־koh-H3541the LORDיְהוָה֒Yah.wehH3068saysאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559:Youאַתֶּם֙'a.TemH859have notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808obeyedשְׁמַעְתֶּ֣םshe.ma'.TemH8085Meאֵלַ֔י'e.LaiH413;you have not proclaimedלִקְרֹ֣אlik.Ro'H7121freedomדְר֔וֹרde.RorH1865,each manאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376for his brotherלְאָחִ֖יו וְאִ֣ישׁle.'a.Chiv ve.'IshH251 H376and for his neighborלְרֵעֵ֑הוּle.re.'E.huH7453.So nowהִנְנִ֣יhi.NiH2005I proclaimקֹרֵא֩ko.Re'H7121freedomדְּר֜וֹרde.RorH1865for you,declaresנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002the LORDיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068—freedomtoאֶל־'el-H413fallby swordהַחֶ֙רֶב֙ha.Che.revH2719,byאֶל־'el-H413plagueהַדֶּ֣בֶרha.De.verH1698,and byוְאֶל־ve.'el-H413famineהָרָעָ֔בha.ra.'AvH7458!I will make youוְנָתַתִּ֤יve.na.ta.TiH5414אֶתְכֶם֙'et.KhemH853a horrorH2113to allלְכֹ֖לle.KholH3605the kingdomsמַמְלְכ֥וֹתmam.le.KhotH4467of the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776.

18And those who have transgressedהָעֹֽבְרִים֙ha.'oe.RimH5674אֶת־'et-H853My covenantבְּרִתִ֔יbe.ri.TiH1285אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834and have notלֹֽא־lo'-H3808fulfilledהֵקִ֙ימוּ֙he.Ki.muH6965אֶת־'et-H853the termsדִּבְרֵ֣יdiv.ReiH1697of the covenantהַבְּרִ֔יתha.be.RitH1285אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834they madeכָּרְת֖וּka.re.TuH3772before Meלְפָנָ֑יle.fa.NaiH6440,I will treatוְנָתַתִּ֣יve.na.ta.TiH5414אֶת־'et-H853הָאֲנָשִׁ֗יםha.'a.na.ShimH582like the calfהָעֵ֙גֶל֙ha.'E.gelH5695אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834they cutכָּרְת֣וּka.re.TuH3772in twoלִשְׁנַ֔יִםlish.Na.yimH8147in order to passוַיַּעַבְר֖וּvai.ya.'av.RuH5674betweenבֵּ֥יןbeinH996its piecesבְּתָרָֽיו׃be.ta.RavH1335.

19The officialsשָׂרֵ֨יsa.ReiH8269of Judahיְהוּדָ֜ה וְשָׂרֵ֣יye.hu.Dah ve.sa.ReiH3063 H8269and Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֗םye.ru.sha.LimH3389,the court officialsהַסָּֽרִסִים֙ha.sa.ri.SimH5631,the priestsוְהַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔יםve.ha.Ko.ha.NimH3548,and allוְכֹ֖לve.KholH3605the peopleעַ֣ם'amH5971of the landהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776who passedהָעֹ֣בְרִ֔יםha.'oe.RimH5674betweenבֵּ֖יןbeinH996the piecesבִּתְרֵ֥יbit.ReiH1335of the calfהָעֵֽגֶל׃ha.'E.gelH5695,

20I will deliverוְנָתַתִּ֤יve.na.ta.TiH5414אוֹתָם֙'o.TamH853into the handsבְּיַ֣דbe.YadH3027of their enemiesאֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔ם וּבְיַ֖ד'o.ye.vei.Hem u.ve.YadH341 H3027who seekמְבַקְשֵׁ֣יme.vak.SheiH1245their livesנַפְשָׁ֑םnaf.ShamH5315.Their corpsesנִבְלָתָם֙niv.la.TamH5038will becomeוְהָיְתָ֤הve.ha.ye.TahH1961foodלְמַֽאֲכָ֔לle.ma.'a.KhalH3978for the birdsלְע֥וֹףle.'ofH5775of the airהַשָּׁמַ֖יִםha.sha.Ma.yimH8064and the beastsוּלְבֶהֱמַ֥תu.le.ve.he.MatH929of the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776.

21Andוְאֶת־ve.'EtH853I will deliverאֶתֵּן֙'e.TenH5414Zedekiahצִדְקִיָּ֨הוּtzid.ki.Ya.huH6667kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Judahיְהוּדָ֜הye.hu.DahH3063וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853and his officialsשָׂרָ֗יוsa.RavH8269into the handsבְּיַ֣דbe.YadH3027of their enemiesאֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔ם'o.ye.vei.HemH341וּבְיַ֖דu.ve.YadH3027who seekמְבַקְשֵׁ֣יme.vak.SheiH1245their livesנַפְשָׁ֑ם וּבְיַדnaf.Sham u.ve.yadH5315 H3027,to the armyחֵ֚ילcheilH2428of the kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Babylonבָּבֶ֔לba.VelH894that had withdrawnהָעֹלִ֖יםha.'o.LimH5927from youמֵעֲלֵיכֶֽם׃me.'a.lei.KhemH5921.

22Beholdהִנְנִ֨יhi.NiH2005,I am going to give the commandמְצַוֶּ֜הme.tza.VehH6680,declaresנְאֻם־ne.'um-H5002the LORDיְהוָ֗הYah.wehH3068,and I will bring them backוַהֲשִׁ֨בֹתִ֜יםva.ha.Shi.vo.TimH7725toאֶל־'el-H413thisהַזֹּאת֙ha.zoTH2063cityהָעִ֤ירha.'IrH5892.They will fightוְנִלְחֲמ֣וּve.nil.cha.MuH3898against itעָלֶ֔יהָ'a.Lei.haH5921,capture itוּלְכָד֖וּהָu.le.kha.Du.haH3920,and burn it downוּשְׂרָפֻ֣הָ בָאֵ֑שׁu.se.ra.Fu.ha va.'EshH8313 H784.Andוְאֶת־ve.'EtH853I will makeאֶתֵּ֥ן'e.TenH5414the citiesעָרֵ֧י'a.ReiH5892of Judahיְהוּדָ֛הye.hu.DahH3063a desolationשְׁמָמָ֖הshe.ma.MahH8077,withoutמֵאֵ֥יןme.'EinH369inhabitantיֹשֵֽׁב׃ פyo.ShevH3427.”

Freedom for Hebrew Slaves

Commentaries on Jeremiah 34