King James Version

What Does Jeremiah 27:6 Mean?

Jeremiah 27:6 in the King James Version says “And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of ...” — study this verse from Jeremiah chapter 27 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.”

Jeremiah 27:6 · KJV

Context

4

And command them to say unto their masters, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say unto your masters; to say: or, concerning their masters, saying

5

I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me.

6

And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.

7

And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son's son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.

8

And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the LORD, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.

Read Jeremiah 27 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant—This verse contains a shocking declaration: Nebuchadnezzar, the pagan destroyer of Jerusalem, is called my servant ('avdi, עַבְדִּי). This title typically designates chosen instruments of God's purposes (Moses, David, the prophets, and supremely the Messiah in Isaiah 42-53). God takes full responsibility—I have given (natati, נָתַתִּי, perfect tense indicating completed action)—for Babylon's dominion. This was not merely God 'allowing' or 'permitting' Nebuchadnezzar's conquests; God actively ordained them.

The phrase and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him establishes Nebuchadnezzar's dominion as comprehensive—extending even to the animal kingdom, echoing the Edenic mandate (Genesis 1:26-28) and anticipating the messianic kingdom where creation submits to God's appointed ruler (Isaiah 11:6-9). This language presents Nebuchadnezzar as a type of Adam-figure with universal dominion, though under God's sovereignty. The theological point is critical: resistance to Babylon was resistance to God's ordained purposes. This doesn't absolve Babylon's brutality—they would later be judged for their pride and cruelty (Jeremiah 50-51)—but for this season, God was using them as His instrument of discipline.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BC) was the most powerful ruler of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. He defeated Egypt at Carchemish (605 BC), besieged Jerusalem three times (605, 597, 586 BC), destroyed the temple, and deported the Jewish elite. Archaeological excavations at Babylon reveal his massive building projects including the Ishtar Gate and the possible Hanging Gardens. The title 'my servant' applied to this pagan oppressor would have scandalized Jewish nationalism, yet God used him to accomplish divine purposes: purging idolatry from Israel, humbling national pride, and preparing for exile's refining work. Daniel 4 records Nebuchadnezzar's eventual acknowledgment of Yahweh's sovereignty, suggesting God's purposes included even this king's spiritual awakening.

Reflection Questions

  1. How should we respond when God uses ungodly leaders or difficult circumstances to accomplish His purposes in our lives?
  2. What does it mean that God can call someone 'my servant' who doesn't acknowledge Him or serve Him willingly?
  3. How do we reconcile God's sovereignty in ordaining difficult circumstances with the reality that He will judge those who carry out evil?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וְעַתָּ֗ה1 of 19
H6258

at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive

אָֽנֹכִי֙2 of 19
H595

i

נָתַ֥תִּי3 of 19

“And now have I given”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

אֶת4 of 19
H853

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

כָּל5 of 19
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הָאֲרָצ֣וֹת6 of 19

“all these lands”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

הָאֵ֔לֶּה7 of 19
H428

these or those

בְּיַ֛ד8 of 19

“into the hand”

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֥ר9 of 19

“of Nebuchadnezzar”

H5019

nebukadnetstsar (or nebukadretsts(-ar, or)), king of babylon

מֶֽלֶךְ10 of 19

“the king”

H4428

a king

בָּבֶ֖ל11 of 19

“of Babylon”

H894

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

עַבְדִּ֑י12 of 19

“my servant”

H5650

a servant

וְגַם֙13 of 19
H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

אֶת14 of 19
H853

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

חַיַּ֣ת15 of 19

“and the beasts”

H2416

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה16 of 19

“of the field”

H7704

a field (as flat)

נָתַ֥תִּי17 of 19

“And now have I given”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

ל֖וֹ18 of 19
H0
לְעָבְדֽוֹ׃19 of 19

“him also to serve”

H5647

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

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 27:6 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 27:6 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jeremiah 28:14Jeremiah 25:9Daniel 2:37-38Jeremiah 43:10Ezekiel 29:18-20Isaiah 44:28

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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