Jeremiah 34:14 - At the end of seven years, every man of you shall release his brother who is a Hebrew, who has been sold to you, and has served you six years. You shall let him go free from you; but your fathers didn’t listen to me, and didn’t incline their ear.
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What does "Jeremiah 34:14" mean?
This verse from Jeremiah 34:14 is a rebuke to the people of Judah for failing to uphold the law regarding the freeing of Hebrew slaves after six years of service. Let's break it down:
"At the end of seven years, every man of you shall release his brother who is a Hebrew, who has been sold to you, and has served you six years." This refers to a law outlined in Exodus 21:2-6 and Deuteronomy 15:12-18. This law stipulated that if a Hebrew (meaning a fellow Israelite) sold himself (or was sold by his family) into slavery due to poverty, he was to be freed in the seventh year of service. The term "brother" emphasizes the shared identity and responsibility towards fellow Israelites. The point of this law was to prevent perpetual debt and oppression among the Israelites and to ensure that no one remained in permanent servitude.
"You shall let him go free from you..." This underscores the obligation to completely release the slave, not just change the terms of his service or continue to exploit him.
"but your fathers didn’t listen to me, and didn’t incline their ear." This is the core of Jeremiah's accusation. He's saying that the people of Judah (and their ancestors) had consistently ignored God's command to release Hebrew slaves. This disobedience reveals a pattern of injustice, oppression, and disregard for God's law and compassion. It emphasizes that this isn't a new problem, but a recurring sin that has plagued the nation.
In summary, the verse means:
God had commanded the Israelites to free their fellow Hebrew slaves after six years of service. However, the people of Judah had historically disobeyed this commandment and had not shown compassion or justice towards their fellow Israelites. Jeremiah is condemning them for this ongoing failure and highlighting their historical disregard for God's law.
The significance in the context of Jeremiah 34:
Jeremiah is prophesying during a time of great crisis, with Jerusalem under siege by the Babylonian army. King Zedekiah had made a covenant with the people to free their slaves in an attempt to gain God's favor and alleviate the impending judgment. The people initially obeyed, but when the Babylonian army temporarily withdrew, they went back on their promise and re-enslaved those they had freed. This act of covenant-breaking and renewed oppression is the immediate trigger for Jeremiah's condemnation. He's pointing out their hypocrisy: they made a show of repentance and obedience in a time of fear, but their hearts remained unchanged, and they quickly reverted to their unjust practices. The judgment that follows in Jeremiah 34 is a direct consequence of this betrayal.
Jeremiah 34:14 - At the end of seven years, every man of you shall release his brother who is a Hebrew, who has been sold to you, and has served you six years. You shall let him go free from you; but your fathers didn’t listen to me, and didn’t incline their ear.
What does "Jeremiah 34:14" mean?
This verse from Jeremiah 34:14 is a rebuke to the people of Judah for failing to uphold the law regarding the freeing of Hebrew slaves after six years of service. Let's break it down:
"At the end of seven years, every man of you shall release his brother who is a Hebrew, who has been sold to you, and has served you six years." This refers to a law outlined in Exodus 21:2-6 and Deuteronomy 15:12-18. This law stipulated that if a Hebrew (meaning a fellow Israelite) sold himself (or was sold by his family) into slavery due to poverty, he was to be freed in the seventh year of service. The term "brother" emphasizes the shared identity and responsibility towards fellow Israelites. The point of this law was to prevent perpetual debt and oppression among the Israelites and to ensure that no one remained in permanent servitude.
"You shall let him go free from you..." This underscores the obligation to completely release the slave, not just change the terms of his service or continue to exploit him.
"but your fathers didn’t listen to me, and didn’t incline their ear." This is the core of Jeremiah's accusation. He's saying that the people of Judah (and their ancestors) had consistently ignored God's command to release Hebrew slaves. This disobedience reveals a pattern of injustice, oppression, and disregard for God's law and compassion. It emphasizes that this isn't a new problem, but a recurring sin that has plagued the nation.
In summary, the verse means:
God had commanded the Israelites to free their fellow Hebrew slaves after six years of service. However, the people of Judah had historically disobeyed this commandment and had not shown compassion or justice towards their fellow Israelites. Jeremiah is condemning them for this ongoing failure and highlighting their historical disregard for God's law.
The significance in the context of Jeremiah 34:
Jeremiah is prophesying during a time of great crisis, with Jerusalem under siege by the Babylonian army. King Zedekiah had made a covenant with the people to free their slaves in an attempt to gain God's favor and alleviate the impending judgment. The people initially obeyed, but when the Babylonian army temporarily withdrew, they went back on their promise and re-enslaved those they had freed. This act of covenant-breaking and renewed oppression is the immediate trigger for Jeremiah's condemnation. He's pointing out their hypocrisy: they made a show of repentance and obedience in a time of fear, but their hearts remained unchanged, and they quickly reverted to their unjust practices. The judgment that follows in Jeremiah 34 is a direct consequence of this betrayal.