Jeremiah 34:17
Jeremiah 34:17 in Multiple Translations
Therefore this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed Me; you have not proclaimed freedom, each man for his brother and for his neighbor. So now I proclaim freedom for you, declares the LORD—freedom to fall by sword, by plague, and by famine! I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.
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.
Therefore thus saith Jehovah: Ye have not hearkened unto me, to proclaim liberty, every man to his brother, and every man to his neighbor: behold, I proclaim unto you a liberty, saith Jehovah, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth.
And so the Lord has said, You have not given ear to me and undertaken publicly, every man to let loose his countryman and his neighbour: see, I undertake to let loose against you the sword and disease and need of food; and I will send you wandering among all the kingdoms of the earth.
So this is what the Lord says: You haven't obeyed me. You haven't announced freedom for your slaves, your own people. So now I announce “Freedom” for you, declares the Lord: Freedom to be killed by war, by disease, and by famine! I will make all the kingdoms of the world horrified by you.
Therefore thus saith the Lord, Ye haue not obeyed mee, in proclayming freedome euery man to his brother, and euery man to his neighbour: beholde, I proclaime a libertie for you, saith the Lord, to the sworde, to the pestilence, and to the famine, and I will make you a terrour to all the kingdomes of the earth.
'Therefore, thus said Jehovah: Ye have not hearkened unto Me to proclaim freedom, each to his brother, and each to his neighbour; lo, I am proclaiming to you liberty — an affirmation of Jehovah — unto the sword, unto the pestilence, and unto the famine, and I have given you for a trembling to all kingdoms of the earth.
Therefore the LORD says: “You have not listened to me, to proclaim liberty, every man to his brother, and every man to his neighbor. Behold, I proclaim to you a liberty,” says the LORD, “to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine. I will make you be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth.
Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ye have not hearkened to me, in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother, and every man to his neighbor: 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.
Therefore thus saith the Lord: You have not hearkened to me, in proclaiming liberty every man to his brother and every man to his friend: behold I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine: and I will cause you to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth.
Therefore, this is what I, Yahweh, say: ‘Because you have not obeyed me by freeing your fellow Israelis, I will free you to be destroyed by the swords of your enemies and by famines and diseases. All the nations of the earth will be horrified because of what happens to you.
Berean Amplified Bible — Jeremiah 34:17
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Jeremiah 34:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Jeremiah 34:17
Study Notes — Jeremiah 34:17
- Context
- Cross References
- Jeremiah 34:17 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 34:17
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 34:17
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 34:17
- Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 34:17
- Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 34:17
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 34:17
- Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 34:17
- Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 34:17
- Sermons on Jeremiah 34:17
Context — Freedom for Hebrew Slaves
17Therefore this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed Me; you have not proclaimed freedom, each man for his brother and for his neighbor. So now I proclaim freedom for you, declares the LORD—freedom to fall by sword, by plague, and by famine! I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth.
18And those who have transgressed My covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before Me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two in order to pass between its pieces. 19The officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials, the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the pieces of the calf,Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew 7:2 | For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. |
| 2 | Deuteronomy 28:25 | The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You will march out against them in one direction but flee from them in seven. You will be an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. |
| 3 | Galatians 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. |
| 4 | Jeremiah 29:18 | I will pursue them with sword and famine and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth—a curse, a desolation, and an object of scorn and reproach among all the nations to which I banish them. |
| 5 | James 2:13 | For judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. |
| 6 | Daniel 6:24 | At the command of the king, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought and thrown into the den of lions—they and their children and wives. And before they had reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. |
| 7 | Jeremiah 15:4 | I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem. |
| 8 | Esther 7:10 | So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the fury of the king subsided. |
| 9 | Leviticus 26:34–35 | Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths all the days it lies desolate, while you are in the land of your enemies. At that time the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths. As long as it lies desolate, the land will have the rest it did not receive during the Sabbaths when you lived in it. |
| 10 | Deuteronomy 28:64 | Then the LORD will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you will worship other gods, gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. |
Jeremiah 34:17 Summary
Jeremiah 34:17 is a warning from God to the Israelites that they will face severe consequences for their disobedience to His commands. Because they failed to free their slaves as they had promised, God says He will give them 'freedom' to experience the devastating effects of war, disease, and famine (similar to the judgments in Leviticus 26:33). This verse reminds us of the importance of obeying God's commands and treating others with kindness and respect (as seen in Micah 6:8). By following God's ways, we can avoid the negative consequences of disobedience and live in harmony with Him and those around us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the context of Jeremiah 34:17 and why is God speaking so harshly?
God is speaking in response to the Israelites' failure to follow through on their promise to free their slaves, as mentioned in Jeremiah 34:15-16, which is a violation of the covenant they made before Him, similar to the covenant mentioned in Exodus 24:7-8.
What does it mean for God to 'proclaim freedom' for the Israelites in Jeremiah 34:17?
In this context, 'freedom' is ironic, as God is declaring that the Israelites will be free to experience the devastating consequences of sword, plague, and famine, much like the judgments described in Leviticus 26:33 and Deuteronomy 28:47-48.
How does Jeremiah 34:17 relate to the overall theme of the book of Jeremiah?
This verse fits into the larger narrative of Jeremiah, which emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commands and the consequences of disobedience, as seen in Jeremiah 7:23 and Jeremiah 11:4.
What can we learn from the Israelites' failure to obey God's command to free their slaves?
We can learn the importance of following through on our commitments to God and treating others with kindness and respect, as commanded in Micah 6:8 and Ephesians 6:9.
Reflection Questions
- What are some areas in my life where I have failed to obey God's commands, and what are the consequences of my disobedience?
- How can I apply the principle of treating others with kindness and respect, as seen in Jeremiah 34:17, to my relationships with those around me?
- What does it mean for me to 'proclaim freedom' for those around me, and how can I live out this mandate in my daily life?
- In what ways can I seek to obey God's commands, even when it is difficult or unpopular, and trust in His sovereignty and goodness?
Gill's Exposition on Jeremiah 34:17
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Jeremiah 34:17
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Jeremiah 34:17
Trapp's Commentary on Jeremiah 34:17
Ellicott's Commentary on Jeremiah 34:17
Adam Clarke's Commentary on Jeremiah 34:17
Cambridge Bible on Jeremiah 34:17
Whedon's Commentary on Jeremiah 34:17
Sermons on Jeremiah 34:17
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Sacrifice That Is Pleasing to God by Duncan Campbell | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the concept of God's second chance. He highlights that after death, there is no second chance, but in life, God gives us the opportunity to c |
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Be a Blessing by Jim Cymbala | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the promises made by God to Abraham in Genesis. The four promises mentioned are: making Abraham into a great nation, blessing him, making his |
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Beatitudes - Part 7 by Leonard Ravenhill | In this sermon, the speaker recounts a conversation with a woman named Mrs. Crook who shares some distressing news. The speaker emphasizes the importance of obeying God and trustin |
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When You Pray by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the importance of prayer and the kingdom of God. He begins by sharing a parable from Matthew 18, where Jesus illustrates the concept of forg |
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The Day of Judgment by Aaron Dunlop | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the judgment of God and its various aspects. The first aspect is the event of the judgment, which is referred to as the day of the Lord. The s |
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(Obadiah) How God Deals With Pride by David Guzik | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the downfall of a proud and fortified nation. He emphasizes that despite their confidence in their defenses, God declares that they will be s |
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Mid South Conference 1982-08 Luke 9:25 by Lew Clarkson | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the shortness of time and the importance of using it wisely. He highlights the fact that the average lifespan is only two billion seconds, an |







