What does Jeremiah 34:17 mean?

"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." - Jeremiah 34:17

Jeremiah 34:17 - "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."

Jeremiah 34:17 (KJV) says, "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."

This verse is part of a message from the prophet Jeremiah to the people of Judah. The context of this verse is important to understand its meaning. Jeremiah was warning the people of Judah of the impending judgment of God because of their disobedience and failure to follow his commands.

The verse begins with "Therefore thus saith the Lord", indicating that the message that follows is a direct communication from God. It is a warning to the people that they have not listened to God's command to proclaim liberty to their brothers and neighbors. In the Old Testament, the concept of liberty was tied to the laws concerning the release of slaves every seven years as outlined in the Mosaic Law. This law commanded that slaves be set free after serving for six years, and they were to be given provisions to help them establish themselves in society. By not adhering to this law, the people of Judah were not showing compassion and mercy to their fellow countrymen, which was a direct violation of God's command.

The next part of the verse states, "behold, I proclaim a liberty for you, saith the Lord, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine." This is a powerful and ominous proclamation from God. Instead of experiencing the freedom and blessings that come from obeying God's laws, the people of Judah were about to face the consequences of their disobedience. The liberty that God proclaims for them is not the freedom they desired, but rather a freedom to face the sword, pestilence, and famine. This is a clear warning of the judgment that was about to come upon the people of Judah.

The verse concludes with the warning, "and I will make you to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth." This is a further declaration of the judgment that would befall the people. They would be scattered and exiled from their homeland, taken into captivity by foreign nations. This prediction came to pass when the Babylonians conquered Judah and took the people into captivity, fulfilling the prophecy of Jeremiah.

The themes present in this verse include the consequences of disobedience, God's justice and mercy, and the importance of compassion and mercy towards others. The verse serves as a sobering reminder that God takes obedience to his commands seriously and that there are grave consequences for disobedience.

The symbolism in this verse is powerful. The idea of liberty in the context of the release of slaves is symbolic of the freedom that comes from following God's commands. By failing to uphold this law, the people of Judah were demonstrating a lack of compassion and mercy, which was a reflection of their disobedience and rebellion against God. The proclamation of liberty to the sword, pestilence, and famine symbolizes the judgment and destruction that comes from disobedience. Finally, the scattering of the people into all the kingdoms of the earth symbolizes the widespread and far-reaching consequences of their disobedience.

In conclusion, Jeremiah 34:17 is a poignant and powerful message from God to the people of Judah, warning them of the consequences of their disobedience and failure to show compassion and mercy to their fellow countrymen. It serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commands and the grave consequences of disobedience.

Jeremiah 34:17 Artwork

Jeremiah 34:12 - "¶ Therefore the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,"

Nehemiah 12:34 - "Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,"

Jeremiah 34:6 - "Then Jeremiah the prophet spake all these words unto Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem,"

Jeremiah 49:34 - "¶ The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against Elam in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, saying,"

Exodus 34:17 - "Thou shalt make thee no molten gods."

Jeremiah 32:34 - "But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it."

Young prophet Jeremiah 17 years old

Jeremiah 17:17 - "Be not a terror unto me: thou art my hope in the day of evil."

Psalms 34:17 - "The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles."

Jeremiah 34:8 - "¶ This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;"

Jeremiah 41:17 (KJVA) 17 And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Bethlehem, to go to enter into Egypt,

Genesis 34:17 - "But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone."

Jeremiah 23:34 - "And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the LORD, I will even punish that man and his house."

Job 34:17 - "Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?"

Jeremiah 34:19 - "The princes of Judah, and the princes of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, and the priests, and all the people of the land, which passed between the parts of the calf;"

Jeremiah 2:34 - "Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these."

Jeremiah 17:7 - "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is."

Numbers 34:17 - "These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun."

Jeremiah 34:11 - "But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids."

Jeremiah 7:17 - "¶ Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?"

Jeremiah 17:12 - "¶ A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary."

Jeremiah 28:17 - "So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month."

Jeremiah 34:4 - "Yet hear the word of the LORD, O Zedekiah king of Judah; Thus saith the LORD of thee, Thou shalt not die by the sword:"

2 Chronicles 34:17 - "And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the LORD, and have delivered it into the hand of the overseers, and to the hand of the workmen."

Jeremiah 12:17 - "But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD."

Jeremiah 10:17 - "¶ Gather up thy wares out of the land, O inhabitant of the fortress."

Luke 17:34 - "I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left."

Jeremiah 41:17 - "And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Beth-lehem, to go to enter into Egypt,"