Jeremiah 34:10

8 This is the word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;

9 That every man should let his manservant, and every man his maidservant, being an Hebrew or an Hebrewess, go free; that none should serve himself of them, to wit, of a Jew his brother.

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.

11 But afterward they turned, and caused the servants and the handmaids, whom they had let go free, to return, and brought them into subjection for servants and for handmaids.

12 Therefore the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
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,
KJV
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.
WEB
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,
ASV
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:
DARBY
And all the princes and all the people that had entered into the covenant obeyed, every man letting his bondman and every man his bondmaid go free, that none should exact service of them any more: they obeyed, and let [them] go.
BLB
And they agreed, all the princes and all the people who had come into this covenant, to send forth free each man his manservant and his maidservant, so as not to lay service on them anymore. And they agreed and sent [them] forth.
ÅB
Da adlød alle høvdingene og alt folket som hadde inngått den pakt at enhver skulle gi sin slave og sin slavekvinne fri og ikke mere holde dem som slaver; de adlød og gav dem fri.
OTB
Alle embetsmennene og folket som hadde inngått denne pakten, gikk med på å frigjøre sine mannlige og kvinnelige slaver og ikke lenger holde dem i trelldom. De fulgte opp og satte dem fri.
B1930
Da adlød alle høvdingene og alt folket som hadde inngått den pakt at enhver skulde gi sin træl og sin trælkvinne fri og ikke mere holde dem i trældom; de adlød og gav dem fri.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Jeremiah 26:16

    Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.

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  • Jeremiah 26:10

    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.

    Read in context
  • 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:

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 36:12

    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.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 36:24–25

    Yet they were not afraid, nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.

    Read in context
  • 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.

    Read in context