Jeremiah 34:10

So all the officials and all the people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their menservants and maidservants and no longer hold them in bondage. They obeyed and released them,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The prophet Jeremiah addresses the officials and people of Judah during a siege, recounting their initial agreement to a covenant freeing Hebrew slaves. This occurs after the royal decree of manumission but before their subsequent reversal.

The words — The Hebrew verb וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ (va/yishme'u) translates literally as "and they obeyed," while בָּאוּ בַּבְּרִית (ba'u ba/berit) means "they went into the covenant." These terms mark the populace's initial compliance with the manumission decree.

The thread — The narrative of officials and people responding to divine commands recurs in Jeremiah 26:10 and Jeremiah 26:16, where the same groups confront prophetic messages. Isaiah 29:13 similarly notes the disconnect between verbal agreement and actual obedience.

Why it lands — The text records a temporary compliance that required immediate action to free enslaved neighbors. It demands recognition that verbal consent to a covenant carries no weight without sustained, practical obedience.

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

Now when all the princes, and all the people, which had entered into the covenant, heard that every one should let his manservant, and every one his maidservant, go free, that none should serve themselves of them any more, then they obeyed, and let them go.

Cross-references

Jeremiah 26:10 When the officials of Judah heard these things, they went up from the king’s palace to the house of the LORD and sat there at the entrance of the New Gate.
Jeremiah 26:16 Then the officials and all the people told the priests and prophets, “This man is not worthy of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God!”
Isaiah 29:13 Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.
Jeremiah 3:10 Yet in spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but only in pretense,” declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 36:12 he went down to the scribe’s chamber in the king’s palace, where all the officials were sitting: Elishama the scribe, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.
Jeremiah 36:24 Yet in hearing all these words, the king and his servants did not become frightened or tear their garments.
Jeremiah 38:4 Then the officials said to the king, “This man ought to die, for he is discouraging the warriors who remain in this city, as well as all the people, by speaking such words to them; this man is not seeking the well-being of these people, but their ruin.”
Mark 6:20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.