Bible Strands
Jeremiah 2:14
Is Israel a slave? Was he born into slavery? Why then has he become prey?
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jeremiah addresses Judah during a covenant lawsuit, confronting the nation immediately after describing their abandonment of God for broken cisterns. The prophet questions their sudden degradation following their privileged status as God's chosen people.
The words — The Hebrew term עֶ֙בֶד (E.ved) denotes a slave, while יְלִ֥יד בַּ֖יִת (ye.Lid Ba.yit) refers to a household-born servant. Jeremiah juxtaposes these terms with Israel’s identity to highlight their unjust fall from freedom.
The thread — The passage recalls Exodus 4:22, where God identifies Israel as His firstborn son, and contrasts with Genesis 15:3 and Ecclesiastes 2:7, which describe servants born within a household. Jeremiah uses this contrast to underscore Israel’s lost privilege.
Why it lands — The verse demands a clear-eyed assessment of how a privileged people can become prey. It requires the reader to confront the logical contradiction between inherited status and current degradation without offering comfort.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?
Cross-references
- Exodus 4:22 Then tell Pharaoh that this is what the LORD says: ‘Israel is My firstborn son,
- Genesis 15:3 Abram continued, “Behold, You have given me no offspring, so a servant in my household will be my heir.”
- Ecclesiastes 2:7 I acquired menservants and maidservants, and servants were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me,
- Isaiah 50:1 This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.