Bible Strands
Jeremiah 27:2
This is what the LORD said to me: “Make for yourself a yoke out of leather straps and put it on your neck.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD addresses Jeremiah at the beginning of Zedekiah’s reign, instructing him to perform a physical act before foreign envoys arrive in Jerusalem (Jeremiah 27:1-3).
The words — The command employs עֲשֵׂה (‘a.Seh, “make”) and מוֹסְרוֹת (mo.se.Rot, “fetters”) alongside מֹטוֹת (mo.Tot, “yoke-bars”) to describe crafting a leather yoke.
The thread — This tangible sign act aligns with other prophetic demonstrations where objects convey divine messages, such as Isaiah walking barefoot (Isaiah 20:2) and Ahijah tearing a cloak (1 Kings 11:30).
Why it lands — The text requires immediate compliance with a visible symbol of subjugation, framing the message as a concrete warning that demands recognition of political and spiritual reality.
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
Thus saith the Lord to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck,
Cross-references
- Amos 7:1 This is what the Lord GOD showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts just after the king’s harvest, as the late spring crop was coming up.
- 1 Kings 11:30 And Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing, tore it into twelve pieces,
- Isaiah 20:2 the LORD had already spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and the sandals from your feet.” And Isaiah did so, walking around naked and barefoot.
- Jeremiah 13:1 This is what the LORD said to me: “Go and buy yourself a linen loincloth and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.”
- Jeremiah 18:2 “Go down at once to the potter’s house, and there I will give you My message.”
- Jeremiah 19:1 This is what the LORD says: “Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take some of the elders of the people and leaders of the priests,
- Jeremiah 27:12 And to Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke the same message: “Put your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and live!
- Jeremiah 28:10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it.
- Ezekiel 4:1 “Now you, son of man, take a brick, place it before you, and draw on it the city of Jerusalem.
- Ezekiel 12:1 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,