Jeremiah 34:18
New International Version
Those who have violated my covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two and then walked between its pieces.

New Living Translation
Because you have broken the terms of our covenant, I will cut you apart just as you cut apart the calf when you walked between its halves to solemnize your vows.

English Standard Version
And the men who transgressed my covenant and did not keep the terms of the covenant that they made before me, I will make them like the calf that they cut in two and passed between its parts—

Berean Standard Bible
And those who have transgressed My covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before Me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two in order to pass between its pieces.

King James Bible
And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in twain, and passed between the parts thereof,

New King James Version
And I will give the men who have transgressed My covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before Me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between the parts of it—

New American Standard Bible
I will give the people who have violated My covenant, who have not fulfilled the words of the covenant which they made before Me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts—

NASB 1995
I will give the men who have transgressed My covenant, who have not fulfilled the words of the covenant which they made before Me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts—

NASB 1977
‘And I will give the men who have transgressed My covenant, who have not fulfilled the words of the covenant which they made before Me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts—

Legacy Standard Bible
And I will give the men who have trespassed against My covenant, who have not established the words of the covenant which they cut before Me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts—

Amplified Bible
The men who have violated My covenant, who have not kept the terms of the solemn pledge which they made before Me when they split the [sacrificial] calf in half, and then afterwards walked between its separated pieces [sealing their pledge to Me by placing a curse on themselves should they violate the covenant—those men I will make like the calf]!

Christian Standard Bible
As for those who disobeyed my covenant, not keeping the terms of the covenant they made before me, I will treat them like the calf they cut in two in order to pass between its pieces.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
As for those who disobeyed My covenant, not keeping the terms of the covenant they made before Me, I will treat them like the calf they cut in two in order to pass between its pieces.

American Standard Version
And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, that have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before me, when they cut the calf in twain and passed between the parts thereof;

Contemporary English Version
You asked me to be a witness when you made the agreement to set your slaves free. And as part of the ceremony you cut a calf into two parts, then walked between the parts. But you people of Jerusalem have broken that agreement as well as my agreement with Israel. So I will do to you what you did to that calf.

English Revised Version
And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before me, when they cut the calf in twain and passed between the parts thereof;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
I will hand over the people who have rejected my promise. They have not kept the terms of the promise which they made in my presence when they cut a calf in two and passed between its pieces.

International Standard Version
I'll give over the men who transgressed my covenant, who haven't fulfilled the terms of the covenant that they made before me when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts—

Majority Standard Bible
And those who have transgressed My covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before Me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two in order to pass between its pieces.

NET Bible
I will punish those people who have violated their covenant with me. I will make them like the calf they cut in two and passed between its pieces. I will do so because they did not keep the terms of the covenant they made in my presence.

New Heart English Bible
I will give the men who have transgressed my covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts;

Webster's Bible Translation
And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in two, and passed between the parts of it,

World English Bible
I will give the men who have transgressed my covenant, who have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before me when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts:
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And I have given the men who are transgressing My covenant, who have not established the words of the covenant that they have made before Me, by the calf, that they have cut in two, and pass through between its pieces—

Young's Literal Translation
'And I have given the men who are transgressing My covenant, who have not established the words of the covenant that they have made before Me, by the calf, that they have cut in two, and pass through between its pieces --

Smith's Literal Translation
And I gave the men passing by my covenant who raised not up the words of the covenant which they cut out before me, the calf which they cut in two, and they will pass through between its parts.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, and have not performed the words of the covenant which they agreed to in my presence, when they cut the calf in two and passed between the parts thereof:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And I will give over the men who have betrayed my covenant, and who have not observed the words of the covenant, to which they assented in my sight when they cut the calf into two parts and passed between its parts:

New American Bible
Those who violated my covenant and did not observe the terms of the covenant they made in my presence—I will make them like the calf which they cut in two so they could pass between its parts—

New Revised Standard Version
And those who transgressed my covenant and did not keep the terms of the covenant that they made before me, I will make like the calf when they cut it in two and passed between its parts:
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And I will deliver up the men who have transgressed my covenant, who have not confirmed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between the parts thereof,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And I shall give to the men who violated against my covenant, for they did not confirm my words of the covenant, for they set up before me a calf that they cut into two, and they passed between its halves
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And I will give the men that have transgressed My covenant, that have not performed the words of the covenant which they made before Me, when they cut the calf in twain and passed between the parts thereof;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, who have not kept my covenant, which they made before me, the calf which they prepared to sacrifice with it,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Freedom for Hebrew Slaves
17Therefore this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed Me; you have not proclaimed freedom, each man for his brother and for his neighbor. So now I proclaim freedom for you, declares the LORD—freedom to fall by sword, by plague, and by famine! I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. 18And those who have transgressed My covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before Me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two in order to pass between its pieces. 19The officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials, the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the pieces of the calf,…

Cross References
Genesis 15:9-18
And the LORD said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat, and a ram, each three years old, along with a turtledove and a young pigeon.” / So Abram brought all these to Him, split each of them down the middle, and laid the halves opposite each other. The birds, however, he did not cut in half. / And the birds of prey descended on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. ...

Exodus 24:6-8
Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splattered on the altar. / Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people, who replied, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” / So Moses took the blood, splattered it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

Deuteronomy 29:12-15
so that you may enter into the covenant of the LORD your God, which He is making with you today, and into His oath, / and so that He may establish you today as His people, and He may be your God as He promised you and as He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. / I am making this covenant and this oath not only with you, ...

2 Kings 23:3
So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments, decrees, and statutes with all his heart and all his soul, and to carry out the words of the covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.

Nehemiah 9:38
In view of all this, we make a binding agreement, putting it in writing and sealing it with the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.”

Psalm 50:5
“Gather to Me My saints, who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”

Isaiah 24:5
The earth is defiled by its people; they have transgressed the laws; they have overstepped the decrees and broken the everlasting covenant.

Isaiah 55:3
Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant—My loving devotion promised to David.

Ezekiel 17:13-19
He took a member of the royal family and made a covenant with him, putting him under oath. Then he carried away the leading men of the land, / so that the kingdom would be brought low, unable to lift itself up, surviving only by keeping his covenant. / But this king rebelled against Babylon by sending his envoys to Egypt to ask for horses and a large army. Will he flourish? Will the one who does such things escape? Can he break a covenant and yet escape?’ ...

Ezekiel 20:37
I will make you pass under the rod and will bring you into the bond of the covenant.

Hosea 6:7
But they, like Adam, have transgressed the covenant; there they were unfaithful to Me.

Zechariah 11:10
Next I took my staff called Favor and cut it in two, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations.

Matthew 26:28
This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Mark 14:24
He said to them, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

Luke 22:20
In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.


Treasury of Scripture

And I will give the men that have transgressed my covenant, which have not performed the words of the covenant which they had made before me, when they cut the calf in two, and passed between the parts thereof,

have transgressed.

Deuteronomy 17:2
If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant,

Joshua 7:11
Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.

Joshua 23:16
When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

when.

Deuteronomy 29:12
That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy God, and into his oath, which the LORD thy God maketh with thee this day:

Joshua 9:7
And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?

Genesis 15:10,17,18
And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not…

Jump to Previous
Agreement Calf Covenant Cut Effect Established Fulfilled Parts Passed Performed Pieces Terms Thereof Transgressed Transgressing Treat Twain Violated Walked Words
Jump to Next
Agreement Calf Covenant Cut Effect Established Fulfilled Parts Passed Performed Pieces Terms Thereof Transgressed Transgressing Treat Twain Violated Walked Words
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.














And I will give the men
This phrase indicates a divine action where God is actively involved in delivering judgment. The Hebrew word for "give" here is "נָתַן" (natan), which often implies granting or delivering something, whether it be a blessing or a curse. In this context, it is a foreboding promise of judgment. The men referred to are those who have broken a solemn agreement with God, highlighting the seriousness of covenantal faithfulness in the biblical narrative.

who have transgressed My covenant
The word "transgressed" comes from the Hebrew "עָבַר" (avar), meaning to pass over or to violate. This indicates a deliberate act of disobedience against God's established covenant. The covenant, in biblical terms, is a sacred agreement between God and His people, often accompanied by specific stipulations and promises. The violation of such a covenant is seen as a grave sin, reflecting a breach of trust and relationship with God.

who have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant
This phrase underscores the failure to uphold the obligations of the covenant. The Hebrew word for "fulfilled" is "קָיָם" (qayam), which means to establish or maintain. The covenant terms were not just legalistic requirements but were meant to be a reflection of the people's commitment to God. The failure to fulfill these terms indicates a deeper spiritual failure and a lack of integrity in their relationship with God.

they made before Me
The phrase "before Me" emphasizes the presence and witness of God in the making of the covenant. It is a reminder that all covenants are made in the sight of God, who is the ultimate witness and judge. This adds a layer of accountability, as the covenant is not just a human agreement but a divine one, with God as an active participant.

when they cut the calf in two and passed between its pieces
This refers to an ancient Near Eastern ritual of covenant-making, where animals were cut in half, and the parties of the covenant would walk between the pieces. This act symbolized the seriousness of the covenant, implying that breaking it would result in a fate similar to that of the animals. The imagery is powerful, serving as a stark reminder of the consequences of covenant unfaithfulness. The ritual underscores the gravity and solemnity of entering into a covenant with God, who expects His people to honor their commitments fully.

(18) When they cut the calf in twain . . .--The passage is interesting, as showing the survival of one of the oldest rites of Patriarchal times. So, when Jehovah made a covenant with Abraham, the victims that had been slain were cut up and arranged opposite each other, and when the "burning lamp" passed between the pieces it was the token that Jehovah had completed the covenant, even as men complete it (Genesis 15:10-17). The implied thought thus symbolised was that the parties to the contract prayed, as in the analogous case of 1Samuel 11:7, that they might be torn limb from limb like the victims if they broke the covenant, The antiquity and wide extent of the symbolism is shown by its appearing in the ritual of Greece, as in the phrase ????? ?????? --to ratify (literally, to cut) oaths, in Homer (Iliad, ii. 124, Od. xxiv. 483, and elsewhere), and the Latin f?dus ferire. In Livy (i. 24) we have both the phrase, the act which it implied, and the prayer which accompanied it, that if the Roman people proved unfaithful to their covenant Jupiter would slay them as the priest slew the victim. "Tu illo die, Jupiter, populum Romanum sic ferito, ut ego hunc porcum hic hodie feriam, tantoque magis ferito, quanto magis potes pollesque." ("Do thou, Jupiter, on that day so smite the Roman people [if they break the covenant] as I this day smite this swine--yea, so much the more smite them as thou art mightier and more prevailing.")

Verse 18. - When they out the calf in twain, etc. This clause should be translated differently, and placed, for clearness, in a parenthesis (the calf which they cut in twain, and between the parts of which they passed). The division of the calf might, in fact, be called in Hebrew either "the covenant" or "the token of the covenant" (comp. Genesis 17:10, 11). It was a solemn assurance that he who should transgress God's Law should share the same fate as the victim. The same idea seems to have dictated the Hebrew phrase, "to cut a covenant," and the Greek and Latin equivalents (ὅρκια τέμνειν: foedus icere); comp. the parallel narrative in Genesis 15:10.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And those who have transgressed
הָעֹֽבְרִים֙ (hā·‘ō·ḇə·rîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

My covenant
בְּרִתִ֔י (bə·ri·ṯî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1285: A covenant

and have not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

fulfilled
הֵקִ֙ימוּ֙ (hê·qî·mū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

the terms
דִּבְרֵ֣י (diḇ·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

of the covenant
הַבְּרִ֔ית (hab·bə·rîṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1285: A covenant

they made
כָּרְת֖וּ (kā·rə·ṯū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

before Me,
לְפָנָ֑י (lə·p̄ā·nāy)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6440: The face

I will treat
וְנָתַתִּ֣י (wə·nā·ṯat·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

like the calf
הָעֵ֙גֶל֙ (hā·‘ê·ḡel)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5695: A, calf, one nearly grown

they cut
כָּרְת֣וּ (kā·rə·ṯū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3772: To cut, to destroy, consume, to covenant

in two
לִשְׁנַ֔יִם (liš·na·yim)
Preposition-l | Number - md
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

in order to pass
וַיַּעַבְר֖וּ (way·ya·‘aḇ·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5674: To pass over, through, or by, pass on

between
בֵּ֥ין (bên)
Preposition
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

its pieces.
בְּתָרָֽיו׃ (bə·ṯā·rāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1335: A part, piece


Links
Jeremiah 34:18 NIV
Jeremiah 34:18 NLT
Jeremiah 34:18 ESV
Jeremiah 34:18 NASB
Jeremiah 34:18 KJV

Jeremiah 34:18 BibleApps.com
Jeremiah 34:18 Biblia Paralela
Jeremiah 34:18 Chinese Bible
Jeremiah 34:18 French Bible
Jeremiah 34:18 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Jeremiah 34:18 I will give the men who have (Jer.)
Jeremiah 34:17
Top of Page
Top of Page