Keraia
Jeremiah 34

Jeremiah 34:18

Freedom for Hebrew Slaves · Jeremiah 34:8–22
Read Jeremiah 34

Translations

Modern
And 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.
Traditional
And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof,
Literal
And I will give the men having transgressed My covenant, who have not made stand the words of the covenant that they cut before Me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between the parts of it—
Latin
Et dabo viros qui prævaricantur fœdus meum, et non observaverunt verba fœderis quibus assensi sunt in conspectu meo, vitulum quem conciderunt in duas partes, et transierunt inter divisiones ejus,

Original

Hebrew
English
And 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.

Notes

Jeremiah 34:17–20

Because they broke their covenant, the Lord would separate them from his protection. This expression refers to a covenant ceremony where they killed and cut a calf into two parts from head to tail. Those making a covenant walked between the pieces to show they agreed to be cut apart if they broke the covenant (see Genesis 15:9–18). All classes of people in Judah broke their oath, so they would all receive the punishment they agreed to.

Jeremiah 34:8–22

Zedekiah told the people to free their slaves. He wanted to gain favor with God by following the covenant rules about Hebrew slave ownership (Exodus 21:2–4). These rules had been ignored since the time of Moses. However, the order was useless because the people soon broke this new promise. They had also broken their agreement with Nebuchadnezzar (see Ezekiel 21:23–24) and their original covenant with the Lord. The Lord would punish them for their betrayal.

Jeremiah 34:8–35:19

Here are examples of the faithless (those who break the covenant) (Jeremiah 34:8–22) and the faithful (those who keep the covenant) (35:1–19).

Theme notes and profiles

Basic Laws God’s Covenants

Events

Glossary

Book of Jeremiah Curse, Cursed Feasts and Festivals of Israel Freedom, Liberty

Topics

Covenant of Men with Men by offering a Sacrifice Covenant of Men with Men: Breach of, Punished Covenant: Binding Covenants: Made by Passing Between the Pieces of the Divided Sacrifices Sabbatic Year: Punishment to Follow Violation of the Ordinances Concerning Servant: Bond: Emancipation of The Feast of Sabbatical Year: Jews Threatened for Neglecting