Jeremiah 34:10
New International Version
So all the officials and people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their male and female slaves and no longer hold them in bondage. They agreed, and set them free.

New Living Translation
The officials and all the people had obeyed the king’s command,

English Standard Version
And they obeyed, all the officials and all the people who had entered into the covenant that everyone would set free his slave, male or female, so that they would not be enslaved again. They obeyed and set them free.

Berean Standard Bible
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,

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Now when all the princes and all the people, who had entered into the covenant, heard that everyone should set free his male and female slaves, that no one should keep them in bondage anymore, they obeyed and let them go.

New American Standard Bible
And all the officials and all the people obeyed who had entered into the covenant that each person was to set his male servant free and each his female servant, so that no one would keep them in bondage any longer; they obeyed, and set them free.

NASB 1995
And all the officials and all the people obeyed who had entered into the covenant that each man should set free his male servant and each man his female servant, so that no one should keep them any longer in bondage; they obeyed, and set them free.

NASB 1977
And all the officials and all the people obeyed, who had entered into the covenant that each man should set free his male servant and each man his female servant, so that no one should keep them any longer in bondage; they obeyed, and set them free.

Legacy Standard Bible
And all the officials and all the people obeyed who had entered into the covenant that each man should let his male slave go free and each man his female slave, so that no one should enslave them any longer; they obeyed and let them go free.

Amplified Bible
So all the princes and all the people who had entered into the covenant agreed that everyone would let his male servant and his female servant go free, and that no one would keep them in bondage any longer; they obeyed, and set them free.

Christian Standard Bible
All the officials and people who entered into covenant to let their male and female slaves go free—in order not to enslave them any longer—obeyed and let them go free.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All the officials and people who entered into covenant to free their male and female slaves—in order not to enslave them any longer—obeyed and freed them.

American Standard Version
And all the princes and all the people obeyed, that had entered into the covenant, that every one should let his man-servant, and every one his maid-servant, go free, that none should make bondmen of them any more; they obeyed, and let them go:

English Revised Version
And all the princes and all the people obeyed, which had entered into the covenant, that every one should let his manservant, and every one his maidservant, go free, that none should serve themselves of them any more; they obeyed, and let them go:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
All the officials and all the people agreed and promised to free their male and female slaves and not to keep them as slaves anymore. So they set them free.

Good News Translation
All the people and their leaders agreed to free their slaves and never to enslave them again. They did set them free,

International Standard Version
All the officials and all the people who had entered into the covenant agreed that each would set his male and female slaves free so that they would not enslave them any longer. They obeyed and they released them.

Majority Standard Bible
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,

NET Bible
All the people and their leaders had agreed to this. They had agreed to free their male and female slaves and not keep them enslaved any longer. They originally complied with the covenant and freed them.

New Heart English Bible
And all the officials and all the people obeyed, who had entered into the covenant, that everyone should let his male servant, and everyone his female servant, go free, that none should make bondservants of them any more; they obeyed, and let them go:

Webster's Bible Translation
Now when all the princes, and all the people who had entered into the covenant, heard that every one should liberate his man-servant, and every one his maid-servant, that none should retain them in service any more, then they obeyed, and let them go.

World English Bible
All the princes and all the people obeyed who had entered into the covenant, that everyone should let his male servant and everyone his female servant go free, that no one should make bondservants of them any more. They obeyed and let them go,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and all the heads listen, and all the people who have come into the covenant to each send forth his manservant and each his maidservant free, so as not to lay service on them anymore, indeed, they listen, and send them away;

Young's Literal Translation
and hearken do all the heads, and all the people who have come in to the covenant to send forth each his man-servant and each his maid-servant free, so as not to lay service on them any more, yea, they hearken, and send them away;

Smith's Literal Translation
And all the chiefs will hear, and all the people which came into the covenant, to send away a man his servant and a man his maid, free, no more to serve with them, and they will hear and will send away.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And all the princes, and all the people who entered into the covenant, heard that every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant go free, and should no more have dominion over them: and they obeyed, and let them go free.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then all the leaders and all the people who entered into the pact, heard that each one should release his man servant, and each one his woman servant, to be free, and that they should no longer rule over them. Therefore, they listened, and they released them.

New American Bible
All the princes and the people who entered this covenant agreed to set free their slaves, their male and female servants, so that they should no longer be in servitude. But even though they agreed and freed them,

New Revised Standard Version
And they obeyed, all the officials and all the people who had entered into the covenant that all would set free their slaves, male or female, so that they would not be enslaved again; they obeyed and set them free.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And all the princes and all the people obeyed, and took upon themselves to let every one his manservant and his maidservant go free, that they should not make them to serve them any more; so they let them go free.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And all of the Princes and all the people heard, and they took upon themselves that they would release, each man, his Servant, and each man his Handmaid, as children of freedom, that they would not serve them again, and they freed them
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and all the princes and all the people hearkened, that had entered into the covenant to let every one his man-servant, and every one his maid-servant, go free, and not to make bondmen of them any more; they hearkened, and let them go;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Then all the nobles, and all the people who had entered into the covenant, engaging to set free every one his man-servant, and every one his maid, turned,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Freedom for Hebrew Slaves
9that each man should free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female, and no one should hold his fellow Jew in bondage. 10So 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, 11but later they changed their minds and took back the menservants and maidservants they had freed, and they forced them to become slaves again.…

Cross References
Exodus 21:2-6
If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, he shall go free without paying anything. / If he arrived alone, he is to leave alone; if he arrived with a wife, she is to leave with him. / If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the woman and her children shall belong to her master, and only the man shall go free. ...

Deuteronomy 15:12-15
If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, is sold to you and serves you six years, then in the seventh year you must set him free. / And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. / You are to furnish him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor, and your winepress. You shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. ...

Leviticus 25:39-46
If a countryman among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, then you must not force him into slave labor. / Let him stay with you as a hired worker or temporary resident; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. / Then he and his children are to be released, and he may return to his clan and to the property of his fathers. ...

Nehemiah 5:1-13
About that time there was a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews. / Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous. We must get grain in order to eat and stay alive.” / Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.” ...

Isaiah 58:6
Isn’t this the fast that I have chosen: to break the chains of wickedness, to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and tear off every yoke?

Ezekiel 34:4
You have not strengthened the weak, healed the sick, bound up the injured, brought back the strays, or searched for the lost. Instead, you have ruled them with violence and cruelty.

Ezekiel 46:17
But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, it will belong to that servant until the year of freedom; then it will revert to the prince. His inheritance belongs only to his sons; it shall be theirs.

1 Corinthians 7:21-23
Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity. / For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave. / You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.

Philemon 1:15-16
For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a while, so that you might have him back for good— / no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.

Matthew 18:27
His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.

Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,

Romans 6:18
You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

Romans 8:21
that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

1 Peter 2:16
Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.


Treasury of Scripture

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.

when.

Jeremiah 26:10,16
When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king's house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD'S house

Jeremiah 36:12,24,25
Then he went down into the king's house, into the scribe's chamber: and, lo, all the princes sat there, even Elishama the scribe, and Delaiah the son of Shemaiah, and Elnathan the son of Achbor, and Gemariah the son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah the son of Hananiah, and all the princes…

Jeremiah 38:4
Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.

then.

Jeremiah 3:10,11
And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD…

Isaiah 29:13
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Mark 6:20
For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Jump to Previous
Bondmen Bondservants Covenant Entered Female Free Heard Hearkened Liberate Maidservant Maid-Servant Male Manservant Man-Servant Obeyed Officials Princes Retain Servant Serve Service Themselves
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Bondmen Bondservants Covenant Entered Female Free Heard Hearkened Liberate Maidservant Maid-Servant Male Manservant Man-Servant Obeyed Officials Princes Retain Servant Serve Service Themselves
Jeremiah 34
1. Jeremiah prophesies the captivity of Zedekiah and the city.
8. The princes and the people having dismissed their bond-servants,
11. contrary to the covenant of God, re-assume them.
12. Jeremiah gives them and Zedekiah into the hands of their enemies.














So all the officials and all the people who entered into the covenant
This phrase highlights the collective commitment of both the leaders and the general populace. The Hebrew word for "officials" (שָׂרִים, sarim) often refers to those in positions of authority or leadership. In the context of ancient Judah, these were likely the king's advisors or nobles who had significant influence over national decisions. The inclusion of "all the people" (כָּל־הָעָם, kol-ha'am) emphasizes a communal action, suggesting a widespread acknowledgment of the covenant's importance. Historically, covenants were solemn agreements, often sealed with religious rituals, indicating a deep spiritual and social commitment.

agreed that everyone should free his Hebrew slaves, male and female
The phrase "agreed that everyone should free his Hebrew slaves" reflects a return to the Mosaic Law, specifically the laws concerning the release of Hebrew slaves after six years of service (Exodus 21:2). The Hebrew word for "free" (שָׁלַח, shalach) implies sending away or releasing, which in this context is an act of liberation. This action was not merely a social reform but a spiritual renewal, aligning the people with God's commandments. The inclusion of "male and female" underscores the comprehensive nature of this liberation, ensuring that both genders were granted freedom, reflecting God's impartial justice.

so that no one should enslave his fellow Jew
The phrase "so that no one should enslave his fellow Jew" highlights the ethical and spiritual dimensions of the covenant. The term "fellow Jew" (אָחִיו, achiv) is significant, as it denotes a brotherly relationship among the Israelites, rooted in their shared covenant with God. This reflects the biblical principle of loving one's neighbor and treating others with dignity and respect. Historically, this was a radical move towards social equality and justice, challenging the prevailing norms of the time. It serves as a reminder of the Israelites' own deliverance from slavery in Egypt, calling them to emulate God's mercy and justice in their own society.

Verse 10. - Now when all the princes, etc. This verse should rather be rendered thus: Then all the princes, and all the people, etc., obeyed, every one letting his slave, and every one his handmaid, go free, not serving them. selves of them any more; they even obeyed, and let them go.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So all
כָל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the officials
הַשָּׂרִ֨ים (haś·śā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

and all
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the people
הָעָ֜ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

who
אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

entered
בָּ֣אוּ (bā·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

into this covenant
בַבְּרִ֗ית (ḇab·bə·rîṯ)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1285: A covenant

agreed
וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ֩ (way·yiš·mə·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

to free
לְ֠שַׁלַּח (lə·šal·laḥ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

their menservants
עַבְדּ֞וֹ (‘aḇ·dōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

and maidservants
שִׁפְחָתוֹ֙ (šip̄·ḥā·ṯōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8198: Maid, maidservant

and no longer
לְבִלְתִּ֥י (lə·ḇil·tî)
Preposition-l
Strong's 1115: A failure of, not, except, without, unless, besides, because not, until

to hold them in bondage.
עֲבָד־ (‘ă·ḇāḏ-)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

They obeyed
וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּ (way·yiš·mə·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

and released them,
וַיְשַׁלֵּֽחוּ׃ (way·šal·lê·ḥū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 34:10 All the princes and all the people (Jer.)
Jeremiah 34:9
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