King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 27:11 Mean?

Jeremiah 27:11 in the King James Version says “But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain stil...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 27 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.”

Jeremiah 27:11 · KJV

Context

9

Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: dreamers: Heb. dreams

10

For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.

11

But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.

12

I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.

13

Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the LORD hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?

Read Jeremiah 27 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him—The Hebrew phrase havi' et-tsavvaro be'ol (הָבִיא אֶת־צַוָּארוֹ בְּעֹל, bring their neck into the yoke) pictures voluntary submission, like an ox accepting the yoke for plowing. What appeared as shameful capitulation was actually wisdom and obedience to God's ordained purposes. Serve him (va'avduhu, וַעֲבָדֻהוּ) uses the same verb for religious service to God—suggesting that serving Babylon in this context was serving God's purposes.

Those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the LORD; and they shall till it, and dwell therein—The reward for submission was preservation: remaining in the land, agricultural continuity (till it, va-avaduhah, וַעֲבָדֻהָ), and dwelling securely. God promises I will let remain (vehinakhti oto, וְהִנַּחְתִּי אֹתוֹ, I will leave it/cause it to rest), using language of rest and security. This passage reveals the counterintuitive nature of God's wisdom: sometimes surrender is victory, submission is freedom, and losing life is finding it. Jesus taught the same paradox: whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Christ's sake will find it (Matthew 16:25). Humble submission to God's ordained circumstances, even painful ones, leads to preservation and blessing.

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Historical & Cultural Context

This prophecy was tested when Zedekiah rebelled (588 BC) and Jerusalem was destroyed. However, Jeremiah himself demonstrated the principle: he remained in the land after Jerusalem's fall (Jeremiah 40:1-6), living under Babylonian-appointed governor Gedaliah. The 'people of the land' who were not deported continued agricultural life under Babylon's authority (2 Kings 25:12). Conversely, those who fled to Egypt against Jeremiah's counsel (Jeremiah 42-44) suffered the judgment they sought to avoid. The principle proved true beyond Judah: nations that submitted to Babylon's hegemony survived; those that resisted were devastated. This wasn't divine favoritism toward Babylon but recognition that God had ordained Babylon's temporary dominance for His purposes.

Reflection Questions

  1. When has God called you to 'bring your neck under the yoke' of difficult circumstances rather than fight them?
  2. How does this passage challenge the cultural assumption that resistance is always noble and submission is always cowardly?
  3. What is the difference between submitting to God's ordained purposes and passively accepting evil?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 17 words
וְהַגּ֗וֹי1 of 17

“But the nations”

H1471

a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts

אֲשֶׁ֨ר2 of 17
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

יָבִ֧יא3 of 17

“that bring”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

אֶת4 of 17
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

צַוָּאר֛וֹ5 of 17

“their neck”

H6677

the back of the neck (as that on which burdens are bound)

בְּעֹ֥ל6 of 17

“under the yoke”

H5923

a yoke (as imposed on the neck), literally or figuratively

מֶֽלֶךְ7 of 17

“of the king”

H4428

a king

בָּבֶ֖ל8 of 17

“of Babylon”

H894

babel (i.e., babylon), including babylonia and the babylonian empire

וַֽעֲבָדָ֖הּ9 of 17

“and serve”

H5647

to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc

וְהִנַּחְתִּ֤יו10 of 17

“him those will I let remain still”

H3240

to deposit; by implication, to allow to stay

עַל11 of 17
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

אַדְמָתוֹ֙12 of 17

“in their own land”

H127

soil (from its general redness)

נְאֻם13 of 17

“saith”

H5002

an oracle

יְהוָ֔ה14 of 17

“the LORD”

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וַֽעֲבָדָ֖הּ15 of 17

“and serve”

H5647

to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc

וְיָ֥שַׁב16 of 17

“it and dwell”

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

בָּֽהּ׃17 of 17
H0

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Jeremiah. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Jeremiah 27:11 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Jeremiah 27:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 38:2Jeremiah 27:2Jeremiah 21:9Jeremiah 27:8Jeremiah 40:9-12Jeremiah 27:12

Places in This Verse

Babylon 1Settlement · Modern: Babylon · 32.54°N, 44.42°E296 verses across 15 books
View all places in Jeremiah 27 →

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